AS THE UK General Election looms closer, the boss of one of the largest independent engineering consultancy firms in Scotland has made an urgent appeal to candidates of all parties to prioritise a number of key areas vital to the construction industry.
The plea by Fergus Adams, Managing Director of East Kilbride-based Dougall Baillie Associates (DBA), comes as the UK construction sector faces a wealth of challenges and remains impacted by rising costs of both materials and labour.
And, though longer-term prospects show some grounds for optimism, construction output fell again at the start of the year, according to the Office for National Statistics, with eight out of the nine components of the industry decreasing. Private commercial new work was down by 4%.
The sector’s importance was emphasised when it proved to be a rare success story throughout the pandemic, when many other sectors closed down. Figures from 2022 show that it contributed 7% of GDP and employed 9% of the entire UK workforce, according to the RICS.
Mr Adams said that infrastructure investment was one of the most important keys to a brighter future for the sector. He urged politicians to commit to sustained and strategic investment in UK-wide infrastructure projects, enhancing transport, energy, and digital networks to drive economic growth.
The National Infrastructure and Construction Pipeline, which relates to primarily to England, includes £379 billion of planned investment, £164 billion of which is planned for 2024/25, according to Government figures.
He added that it was vital to enhance funding for training programmes and apprenticeships to address the skills shortage. He said: “As well as a pipeline of work, we need a pipeline of people coming through with the necessary skills to take us through an era of unprecedented transition.”
On sustainability, Mr Adams said that client demand and environmental regulation had already driven a revolution in the ways of working in the sector, although affordability was still a challenge for firms keen to adopt sustainable practices.
He said: “Our next political leaders must promote green building practices and renewable energy integration, as well as incentivising sustainable construction methods to meet climate goals and reduce carbon footprints.”
He pointed out that regulatory stability was a core requirement for a successful industry and said that politicians should aim to provide a stable and clear regulatory framework to facilitate long-term planning and investment, rather than introducing short-term measures to suit parliamentary timescales.
With rising populations and an ageing housing stock across many parts of the UK, Mr Adams said that it was hardly surprising that many local authorities were declaring housing emergencies
He said: “It is incumbent on whichever party comes into power after the 4th of July to address the housing crisis by supporting policies that accelerate the delivery of affordable homes and streamline planning processes. Builders are ready to build if the conditions prevail that allow them to.”
Mr Adams, whose firm employs 41 people and works on major projects, said that focusing on these priorities would bolster the construction industry and foster innovation, sustainability, and economic prosperity.
