The Construction Leadership Council’s (CLC) COVID-19 task force has published the “Roadmap to Recovery”, attempting to drive the recovery of the UK’s construction industry after the COVID-19 health crisis.
With 3.1 million workers and billions of pounds worth of services and products exports, the UK’s construction industry is planned to be a driving force to push for the nation’s economic recovery after the coronavirus pandemic.
The plans detailed in the Roadmap to Recovery aim to increase activity throughout construction and help it to adjust to the “new normal” following the COVID-19 health crisis.
The plan has received positive responses from the industry, the CBI’s Chief UK Policy Director Matthew Fell commenting that:
“The CBI welcomes the Roadmap to Recovery strategy for the UK construction industry published by the Construction Leadership Council today.”
“A major programme of investment in infrastructure and housing is needed to help the UK economy build back better from the coronavirus pandemic and accelerate action on our long-term challenges of climate change and regional growth.”
“But to deliver this, it will be essential that the construction industry is in good financial health, ready to mobilise as one. Investing in long-term project pipelines, improving procurement in the public and private sectors, and committing to collaborate rather than litigate, can all help the sector step up at this time of need.”
“This strategy sets out clear workstreams that government and industry should commit to, ensuring the stability and confidence of the industry, and putting construction on a path to drive the recovery of the UK economy.”
Throughout the CLC’s Roadmap to Recovery, there will be three phases, delivered throughout the course of two years – these being as follows:
- Restart (0 – 3 months): set to increase output whilst maximising employment and minimising disruption.
- Reset (3 – 12 months): drive the demand whilst increasing productivity and strengthening the supply chain’s capability.
- Reinvent (12 – 24 months): the industry undergoes a transformation, delivering improvements in value and collaboration.
The plan claims its outcomes to be “a more capable, professional, productive and profitable sector, which delivers better value to clients, better performing infrastructure and buildings, and competes successfully in global markets.”
“Failure to act will miss an opportunity to deliver this, and risks the industry lapsing into a longer term recession, which erodes capability and skills and leaves a smaller, weaker sector as a legacy.”
The recovery plan lists a range of different outcomes and benefits if followed correctly, including such valuable investment outcomes as driving long-term productivity, as well as reducing carbon emissions an increasing sustainability throughout the sector.
The task force is currently in discussion with the Government, exploring how this recovery plan could be executed.
Chris Griggers, Director of property developers Grigg Homes commented in light of the situation: “Our site teams have shown the upmost professionalism throughout these challenging times. All of our staff, suppliers and sub-contractors have been extremely careful to ensure they are following the latest government guidelines.”
“We will continue to place a strong emphasis on safety as we adjust to a new ‘normal’ and a new way of working. We are making fantastic progress across all of our bespoke client projects and our development sites.”