CIOB response to the Autumn Budget and Spending Review 2021
The 2021 Autumn Budget saw commitments from Government to strengthen business investment and further encourage levelling up in the UK, however it lacked key details on how Government will drive the Net Zero agenda.
Eddie Tuttle, Director of Policy, Public Affairs and Research at CIOB, said:
“Many of the announcements, such as a new business rates improvement relief allowing private companies to invest in their property and a £150 billion increase in overall departmental spending which will allow for further public sector work to continue to address prominent issues in the industry, should have a positive impact on the construction industry’s output levels.
“However, piecemeal funding to address specific issues in the built environment will not provide a solution to the overarching issue of quality, and the assurance of £5 billion to remove unsafe cladding must be undertaken by competent and skilled workers. The Government has announced the total spending on skills will increase by £3.8 billion by 2024-25, however industries such as construction need that support now in order to achieve a competent and skilled workforce that is desperately needed.
“Last week, CIOB welcomed the publication of the Heat and Buildings Strategy as a means of addressing some of the key issues surrounding sustainability in the built environment. However, we’re concerned that the Chancellor did not release further information on how the new funding announced in the Strategy would link with the UK’s ambitions to meet Net Zero targets by 2050. The Heat and Buildings Strategy was a clear indicator of the Government’s commitment to decarbonising our homes on the route to Net Zero. However, the £3.9 billion pledge for heat pumps is someway short of the Government’s £9.2 billion manifesto commitment for domestic energy efficiency improvements.
”The Institute is disappointed to see the Autumn Budget gave no further clarity on how Government intends to meet its manifesto spending commitments to drive to UK towards net zero. Both the Heat and Buildings Strategy and Autumn Budget should have included a greater focus on the need for a clear, long-term, National Retrofit Strategy to address the carbon output of homes whilst also tackling the key issue of quality. CIOB would like to see the Government allocate the remaining £5.3 billion towards the Construction Leadership Council’s (CLC) National Retrofit Strategy which has been backed by CIOB and many other bodies within the built environment.”
--CIOB
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
Featured articles and news
A call for prevention and sensitive re-use.
The CIAT principal designer register
Providing assurance and verification of the capability and competence of registered ATs.
Building Safety recommendations and Northern Ireland
The NI roadmap to improving safety in high rise residential.
BSA residential sector competence standards guidance
BSAS 01:2024 Organisational Capability Management System Standard - Competence Assurance.
Specifying rendered external wall insulation for fire safety
How to interrogate the evidence provided to the specifier.
The benefits of writing articles for your organisation
How to create a profile for your organisation and publish for free.
No Falls Week. The importance of safe working at height
What to expect and what is on offer to avoid accidents.
Scottish Government action to reach net-zero targets
Retrofit expert group highlight critical actions needed.
A forward thinking, inclusive global community of members.
From engineered product life-spans, to their extension.
Circular economy in the built environment
A brief description from 2021. Where are we now?
CLC publishes domestic retrofit competency framework
Roadmap of Skills for net zero.
Understanding is key to conservation.
Open industry engagement survey seeks responses
Institutions and the importance of engagement.