CLC unveils construction recovery strategy
The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has unveiled its construction recovery strategy ‘Roadmap to Recovery’ which calls for an updated project pipeline from the Government and support for housebuilders to strengthen demand. Key features include proposals to help the industry to protect cash by suspending CITB Levy payments and abandoning the introduction of Reverse Charge VAT.
The three phased plan, to be delivered over two years, intends to accelerate the process of industry adjustment to the new normal. By building capacity the industry can deliver strategic priorities of decarbonisation; modernisation through digital and manufacturing technologies; and delivering better, safer buildings.
The strategy warns that a failure to grasp opportunities could risk missing an opportunity to deliver a new look industry and pushing construction into a longer term recession, which erodes capability and skills, and leaves a smaller, weaker sector as a legacy.
The CLC is restating its call for the industry to embed an innovation culturethat delivers efficient products, processes and built assets, to improve productivity, quality and increase output, including through embedding digital and offsite manufacturing technologies.
Increased investment in skills and training is integral for the supply chain to function and grasp opportunities to export products and professional services. The plan indicates that the global infrastructure market worth US $2.5 trillion pa is a potential target.
In the short term the industry has to move workers off JRS as soon as possible, and to restart the training of apprentices. The CLC has echoed call for a more flexible Job Retention Scheme (JRS) to enable support to continue to be provided during a phased return to work from next month onward.
The CLC want to explore the introduction of a Talent Retention Scheme for workers in the construction sector and related professions, to match individuals at risk of employment with roles in other firms.
Stimulating demand will give firms throughout the supply chain confidence it is asking the Government to publish a revised Project Pipeline, accelerate the development of viable projects.
In the housing sector the CLC is calling for extending the Help to Buy scheme, accelerate the ACM cladding remediation programme and new £1bn non-ACM Building Safety Fund to provide a pipeline of early work.
Build UK said: ” Improving the delivery of construction projects requires fundamental change, which has been reinforced by recent events, and the Roadmap provides a clear plan not only to get the industry back on its feet but make it more productive, financially viable and sustainable in the long term.”
The roadmap to recovery plan can be downloaded here.
