Construction Commitments to Attract Wider Client and Business Support 

29 October 2007

The Strategic Forum for Construction (SFfC) is aiming to widen the appeal of the Construction Commitments by encouraging more public sector clients to adopt the industry’s Committments.

Some 300 organisations have already backed the 2012 Construction Commitments initiative.  These Commitments identify six key areas in the construction process that relate to the performance and behaviour of the industry: client leadership, procurement and integration, design, sustainability, commitment to people and health & safety – a programme that suggests the commitments are the natural successor to the Latham and Egan reports.

The Forum has now extended the principles to other public sector work, through the launch by the Housing Corporation of its own social housing version.  All Investment Partners in receipt of grant funding as part of the Housing Corporation's 2008-11 National Affordable Housing Programme (NAHP) will be required either through the Partnering Programme Agreement route (Registered Social Landlords - RSLs) or the Grant Agreement route (unregistered bodies - URBs) to adopt the principles of the 2012 Construction Commitments Affordable Housing Provider version in the construction and delivery of new homes.

The Forum believes that it is now timely to develop a generic version of the Construction Commitments so that the UK construction industry can sign up to these Commitments whether or not they are involved in the 2012 programme.  Work is underway with the Forum’s 2012 Task Group to develop these in to a generic version for the Industry.

Peter Rogers, who chairs the Forum’s 2012 Task Group, said: “We want as much of the industry as possible to sign up.  Companies should not be discouraged if they can’t meet every commitment down to the last letter.  We are looking for commitment to the principles and for companies to show an earnest intent to engage.”

Strategic Forum chairman Mike Davies added: “We are hoping to extend the commitments across the industry – and we are delighted that the Housing Corporation has already launched its own social housing version”