The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) have confirmed that the government will soon be appointing a Chief Construction Officer. The announcement comes after the lengthy consultation, which followed the recommendation in the BERR Select Committee’s report Construction Matters that it was necessary to create the post of Chief Construction Officer in order to acknowledge the value of the sector and the importance of delivering a sustainable, competitive and low carbon economy. The Government hopes that the individual appointed will ensure that it takes full account of the impacts of the regulatory regime on the construction industry, securing value for money from the Government’s procurement of construction, and promoting innovation and sustainability in the industry. Ian Lucas, the BIS Minister with responsibility for construction, said:
‘We are now pressing hard ahead with recruiting. I want to see a high quality individual in place by November.’ The Chief Construction Officer will be independent and report jointly to the BIS and Treasury Ministers. The new post’s responsibilities will include:
– Chairing a new Construction Category Board, which will build on the existing Public Sector Construction Clients Forum (PSCCF to oversee the implementation and further development of best value Government construction procurement.
– Chair an enhanced sustainable construction strategy delivery board to help ensure policy regarding the industry is effectively co-ordinated.
– Assess the key barriers to growth in the UK’s low carbon construction sector to ensure the UK industry is well placed to serve developing needs and markets.
– Work with the industry, through the Strategic Forum for Construction, to deliver the industry improvement agenda, including the Construction Commitments.
– Promote innovation in the sector, working closely with the Technology Strategy Board and other funding bodies.
– Co-ordinate the Whitehall response to reports featuring construction.