Builders praise ‘fair payment charter’

The National Federation of Builders(NFB) said the strategy shows “clear intentions” to put UK construction at the forefront of a growing global market.

Julia Evans, NFBchief executive, said: “What we have in the industrial strategy is a strong signal that broadcasts the long-term value that co-ordinated efforts between government and industry can bring, while addressing issues that many firms face on a daily basis.

“For the construction industry to grow sustainably and make a long-term contribution to growth, the entire supply chain has to thrive and that will only happen when industry concerns, such as access to finance and payment practices, are adequately addressed. This strategy contains a clear roadmap to that end.”

The strategy has a number of key aspirations it would like to achieve by 2025, including 50% lower greenhouse gas emissions in the built environment and a 50% improvement in exports.

The NFB said it is “most pleased to welcome “ a proposed 50% reduction in delivery times and the development of the fair payment charter.

Some smaller and medium-sized construction companies report that they receive around 60% of their work through local authorities, so the extension of central government’s published pipeline of work to local authorities and higher education establishments is welcomed.

“Publication of a pipeline of work has been hugely helpful and the extension to local government is a step in the right direction,” Ms Evans said: “For a bold strategy such as this, I would have liked an equally bold step of all local authorities with a programme of work being included.”