New targets to improve the productivity, efficiency and sustainability of the UK's construction sector were unveiled by the Government and industry today.

Business Minister Shriti Vadera launched the joint industry-Government Strategy for Sustainable Construction which sets out challenging but achievable targets to be delivered by industry.

Ms Vadera said: "Our aim is to become a world leader in sustainable construction. An efficient construction sector is essential for the investment in infrastructure and buildings that underpin our competitiveness.

"With the current pressures such as the cost of fuel presenting an extra challenge for the industry, it is even more important that we encourage the sector to perform as efficiently and sustainably as possible. Improvements in these areas will save costs and increase profitability in the long-term.


"This strategy, which has uniquely been developed jointly by Government and business, will provide greater certainty over what is expected from the sector in future, from training and developing skills to tackling the challenges of climate change."

Buildings are responsible for almost half of the country's carbon emissions, produce around a third of landfill waste and account for a quarter of all raw materials used in the economy. It is therefore important that industry changes the way it designs and builds to reduce its environmental impact, and to enable the UK to meet its carbon reduction commitments. The Strategic Forum for Construction is today also publishing its 'Construction Commitments' to promote best practice across the industry, along with its latest four-year targets to ensure their delivery. These commitments support the Strategy for Sustainable Construction.

As part of this industry initiative, key government departments have today also signed up to the 'Construction Commitments', which include best practice on procurement such as collaborative working across the supply chain and whole life costing.

(CD/JM)