Bytes And Mortar - A Digital And Off-site Construction Revolution

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13 July 2018

An ambitious new partnership between the government and the construction industry has been revealed.

With almost half of the economy reliant on the built environment and the services it enables, the government is bringing together the construction, manufacturing, energy and digital sectors to deliver new approaches that improve productivity in construction and accelerate a shift to building safer, healthier and more affordable places that use less energy.

Business and Energy Secretary Greg Clark said on Thursday July 5 at the Northern Powerhouse Summit in Newcastle: "The construction industry is fundamental to growing our economy as we build to invest in our future. As buildings account for around 30% of total emissions, we also want to ensure that we are at the global forefront in designing and building smart, energy efficient and affordable homes and buildings through the Clean Growth Grand Challenge."

This Sector Deal is supported by the biggest government investment in construction for at least a decade.

Andrew Wolstenholme, Co-Chair of the Construction Leadership Council said: "Securing this deal sends out a statement about the vital contribution our sector makes to the country. Our industry builds the schools to educate the young, the hospitals to care for the sick, the police stations to keep us safe, the roads and railways that get us to work, the power stations that keep us warm and the homes we return to each day.

"We are an industry that must be at the forefront of the UK’s drive for future growth and prosperity – and I’m confident that this deal will help to achieve that."

The Construction Sector Deal aims to deliver:

£420 million investment in ‘bytes and mortar smart construction’ - investment in digital building design, new manufacturing technologies and offsite manufacturing helping cut the time taken to deliver new build by 50%.

Cheaper energy bills for families and businesses – supporting the Industrial Strategy mission to halve the energy use of new builds by 2030.

25,000 construction apprenticeship starts and 1,000 Construction T Level placements by 2020 to help give young people the skills that industry needs – with £34 million to scale up training models across the country.

Improved global access to a $2.5 trillion export market set to grow by 70% in the years ahead.

Picture: The Construction Sector Deal aims to use digital and off-site to build quicker and more energy efficiently.

Article written by Cathryn Ellis | Published 13 July 2018

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