Culture shift key to reduce errors

At the end of June the first aspects of the new act came into force, including more protection for leaseholders and stricter planning approvals. However, the most important changes for developers are still to come – requiring a fundamental shift in how we approach standards and specification in development.

The industry has already pledged £5bn to remediate what are known to be higher-risk residential buildings: primarily taller developments that are the main focus of the act. However, the expectations set out in the legislation also have implications for a wider range of asset types.

Statistics from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities show that between 6,220 and 8,890 out-of-scope buildings require work to fix ‘life-threatening fire risks’. But this figure is for residential alone, and begs the question of what this implies about build quality on other types of assets such as offices or public sector estates.

While changes in the building regime are primarily about standards for materials and development practices, it must also address a culture where avoidable error has become sadly entrenched.

Research by the Get It Right Initiative estimates the cost of avoidable error in the construction process is around £21bn per year in the UK alone. In a sector with famously tight margins, tackling this issue must be a priority.

Although the regulations being introduced will give rise to new requirements for completed developments, only a change in culture will eliminate avoidable error throughout the construction process.

Developers must view themselves as the catalyst for change and go beyond simply complying with legislation in the form of a tick-box exercise. The shift in culture that the industry so desperately needs will only be kickstarted once developers take ownership of, and accountability for, error in construction.

Leadership from developers

is not just about demanding change but helping to foster it. They need to bring their design and contracting partners on board to adopt a culture of eliminating error. All of us in the sector must exploit this opportunity to introduce improved standards and a more conscientious mindset, so that good practice is universal, not just reserved for higher-risk buildings.

Sustainability boost

There are other benefits, too. A reduction in error reduces costs and brings about improved sustainability. As fewer resources and less energy are wasted on fixing mistakes, carbon footprints will reduce. This will help our industry be greener, demonstrate that developers are taking their ESG commitments seriously and reinforce a more positive image of the built environment that will benefit us all.

These next few months are the time for action. Although culture change does not happen overnight, the passing of the Building Safety Act gives hope that the foundations have already been laid. It is now up to developers to build on them.

Cliff Smith is executive director of the Get It Right Initiative, a non-profit membership group of UK construction industry experts, organisations and businesses.