A policy meeting of the construction industry's contract writers has asked whether sustainability performance should be written into builder's contracts.

The Joint Contracts Tribunal, meeting in the Swiss Re tower in London, attracted 15 senior executives from organisations across the industry, as well as planners and agencies.

Chairman of the Construction Confederation, James Wates, began a discussion on whether contracts should include stronger sustainability performance provisions for the construction trade.

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A debate followed on how contractual provisions could be effective, what remedies could be sought for failure to meet sustainability requirements, and how contracts and guidance could assist and encourage professional advisers to give priority to sustainable design features.

Professor Peter Hibberd who attended the meeting said: "I was anticipating a 'lukewarm' reaction, but what I actually received was the complete opposite.

"The construction industry generally appears to accept that something has to be done about sustainability, and as it is the largest industry in the economy, it has to take responsibility, and to some degree leadership, in introducing changes.

"Having been given a clear indication of the industry's sentiments, we will now be opening this question up to a wider industry audience to find out how we move this forward."

(DW/JM)