CIOB - Is the Government building for the future? Asks the CIOB

A report by the National Audit Office (NAO) has shown the majority of government departments and agencies as failing to meet targets to make their new buildings and major refurbishments sustainable.
Chris Blythe, chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) said, "Sustainability and the way we build the future is a serious issue and needs greater cohesion between the Government and the Industry. The report highlights that a lack of consistency and responsibility are part of the problem. The Government must create a more joined up approach to the construction industry, which is the only way we can successfully tackle these issues. We would question whether the current system is building for the future or just treading water."
The report found that most departments have started to consider sustainability in construction and refurbishment projects. But departments are not consistently carrying out the required environmental assessments on new projects. In 2005-06 only 35 per cent (37 of 106) of new builds and 18 per cent (61 of 335) of major refurbishment projects had carried out, or planned to carry out, these environmental assessments
The NAO, with the assistance of specialist consultants, examined a sample of projects that had not been assessed. Of these, 80 per cent would have failed to meet the required assessment standards. But the report also identifies some examples of good practice, including the refurbishment of offices by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the refurbishment of the Treasury's headquarters and Defence Estates' construction of Welbeck Defence Sixth Form College.
Sir John Bourn, head of the NAO, said, "When I last reported on construction in 2005, I emphasised the need to consider both the costs and benefits over the whole life of a building, not just the initial capital required. Despite this, today's report highlights a continuing failure by departments to consider the long-term value of sustainability in their new builds and refurbishments. This is particularly disappointing given the importance of sustainability in promoting a deeper understanding of value for money.
"Government departments and agencies spend in the region of £3 billion each year on new builds and major refurbishments. If sustainability is well handled, and addressed at the very beginning of construction projects, it can and should provide better value for money in the long term."
The NAO report identified a number of barriers to progress towards more sustainable buildings on the government estate including:
a fragmentation of policy responsibility among government bodies for improving sustainable construction and refurbishment and an absence of a coherent approach to monitoring progress and ensuring compliance;
a widespread perception of conflict between sustainability and value for money, partly because project teams are failing to assess the long-term costs and benefits of more sustainable approaches;
a lack of sufficient knowledge and expertise in sustainable procurement among those departmental staff responsible for construction and refurbishment; and
a failure to specify expected benefits and undertake rigorous post-occupancy reviews to evaluate performance against them, and the consequent lack of robust data to inform business appraisals for new projects.
A full copy of the NAO report is available.

Email: stownsend@ciob.org.uk