£1m to help construction sector prepare for green economy

"The Government is determined to maximise the opportunities for UK construction in sustainable development. This money will enable the board to take forward a large programme of activities through the voluntary contributions of many people from the industry, who are keen to engage with us regularly to accelerate the transition to a low carbon economy," said Prisk, who co-chairs the GCB.

Low Carbon Construction Action Plan

The board was set up last November to deliver the Government’s Low Carbon Construction Action Plan, a massive programme of activity to decarbonise the construction, infrastucture and property sectors. 

The GCB is made up of seven working groups, consisting of over 160 industry and Government representatives. Among the initiatives it is currently working on is a 'low carbon routemap', to map out the built environment’s pathway to meeting the UK’s 2050 carbon reduction targets.

"We have made considerable progress already and will be working even harder over the coming months," Dan Labbad, ceo of Lend Lease and co-chair of the GGB, said.
"For example, we will be publishing a final version of our routemap by the end of the year. We will also be developing guidance for construction businesses to show the top 20 steps they should take to green their operations.

Sustainable construction

"In support of business growth we will also publish a set of case studies from the infrastructure sector, demonstrating that cash and embodied carbon reductions can go hand in hand."

The GBC is also creating a 'knowledge database’ for low carbon and research development.

The funding was announced as Prisk visited the Building Research Establishment’s Innovation Park, yesterday, where he also announced the GCB’s new apprenticeship programme.