Grasping the opportunities for growth presented by a sustainable construction and property sector will be the main priority for the new Green Construction Board.

The board, which is co-chaired by Business Minister Mark Prisk and Chief Executive of Lend Lease, EMEA Dan Labbad, will be focused on taking a unified approach to the problems facing the industry and setting out an action plan to combat them. They will also work on persuading sceptics both inside and outside of the industry that a ‘green’ construction sector can lead to growth.

Mr Prisk said: "The potential for low carbon growth is enormous. There are approximately 25 million existing homes to be retrofitted by the end of 2050. This is a huge business opportunity that small construction firms should grasp.

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"We want to seize these opportunities, which is why we have established the Green Construction Board so that Government and industry can work together and make the most of those opportunities.

"By working with the industry and setting out the problems facing them and putting plans in place to tackle them, we can identify the barriers to growth in this sector and overcome them."

Lend Lease Chief Executive Officer – EMEA, Dan Labbad said: "This is a significant opportunity for industry to work in collaboration with Government to help facilitate green growth in our sector, provide a platform for leadership across the UK as well as deliver opportunities to export the talent of our industry overseas."

During the first meeting, the board set out its priorities and the areas that the board’s working groups will focus on. It also set out its terms of reference and governance and was told about the background of the Low Carbon Construction Innovation and Growth Team report and the Government's response.

(CD)