2012 Construction Commitments adopted by Corporation in groundbreaking agreement for affordable housing construction
Housing Corporation News Release
‘2012 Construction Commitments’ adopted by Corporation in groundbreaking agreement for affordable housing construction
28 March 2007 Ref: 35/07
The 2012 Construction Commitments – developed by industry and Government to set the standards for the construction of the 2012 Olympics - have been adopted by the Housing Corporation, it was announced today (Wednesday 28 March 2007).
The Corporation will expect all bidders to its 2008 National Affordable Housing Programme to sign up to a set of 2012 Construction Commitments adapted for affordable housing providers.
The Commitments will replace the Housing Corporation’s existing Clients Charter as a requirement for bidders. This will result in a reduction of bureaucracy for affordable housing providers as well as a clear industry-supported focus on best practice across this multi-billion construction sector.
The Commitments were developed by the Strategic Forum for Construction’s 2012 Task Group in conjunction with the Department of Culture, Media and Sport and the Department of Trade and Industry. The six areas covered include:
• Client leadership
• Procurement and integration
• Design
• Sustainability
• Commitment to People
• Health and Safety
Margaret Hodge, Minister for Construction at the DTI, said, “One of my first acts on becoming construction Minister was to sign the 2012 Construction Commitments. At that time I said I wanted them to be widely adopted across the public sector and throughout the construction industry.
“I am delighted that the Housing Corporation has followed the Olympic Delivery Authority in adopting the Commitments. It shows a real focus on getting value for money from construction supply chains and helping the industry to deliver its best.”
Peter Rogers, Chair of the Strategic Forum for Construction Olympic Task Group, said,“The 2012 Construction Commitments succinctly set out best practice in construction procurement. I am delighted that the Housing Corporation is showing real leadership in joining with the Strategic Forum for Construction in promoting their use. With clients and the industry working together in this way we really will deliver a better, more sustainable end product and an improved industry.”
Richard Hill, Director of Investment Programmes and Procurement at the Housing Corporation, said, ““Ensuring affordable housing providers follow the Construction Commitments developed for the 2012 Olympics is an important move forward for the whole sector.
“These standards have been developed and adopted by industry leaders and the Government, and offer a clear focus on improving practice for our partners. At the same time, replacing our reliance upon the Clients Charter regime and instead focussing on a sector specific version of these Commitments will minimise bureaucracy for providers, achieving the outcome sought by respondents to our Future Investment Approaches consultation.”
Ends.
Notes to Editors:
1) For further press information, please contact Katy Nicholson on 020 7393 2115 or Sandra White on 0207 393 2094.
2) A full copy of the 2012 Construction Commitments adapted by the Housing Corporation for affordable housing providers, is available via the Housing Corporation’s website
3) Commenting on the 2012 Commitments for affordable housing providers, David Orr, chief executive of the National Housing Federation, said:
"We are glad the Housing Corporation is updating the existing clients' charter, which our members felt was burdensome and not delivering as well as it should. The model we have seen for the new Construction Commitments appears to be a significant improvement. The challenge is making it work on the ground. The new Construction Commitments must deliver for housing associations and the communities they work with, at a time when associations are being pushed to deliver greater volumes of new housing for ever better value to the public purse."
4) Commenting on the 2012 Commitments for affordable housing providers, Peter Woolliscroft, Chair of the Construction Clients’ Group added:
“The Construction Clients’ Group welcomes and supports the use of the 2012 Construction Commitments by the Housing Corporation. As part of the current review of the Construction Clients’ Charter, the CCG is committed to consolidating procurement guidance for construction clients – the 2012 Construction Commitments is included in this process. The review team has worked closely with the Housing Corporation and the Strategic Forum for Construction in the development of the Housing Corporation’s approach and will continue to support this initiative through implementation. The CCG looks forward to seeing the benefit and impact this programme will have on construction procurement in the social housing sector and we look forward to the further integration of the client in future activities.”
5) The Strategic Forum for Construction’s 2012 Task Group members were:
Chairman Peter Rogers
Government The Rt Hon Margaret Hodge MP
Architecture &Design Rab Bennetts OBE
Commercial Richard Clare
The Regions Dr Bryan Jackson OBE
Client David Higgins
Sustainability & Services Peter Head OBE
Specialist Contractor Trevor Hursthouse
Skills Sir Michael Latham
Infrastructure & Engineering Rod Macdonald
Legal Ann Minogue
Distributor Matt Nichols
Unions Alan Ritchie
Secretary Graham Watts
Materials Producer Mike Welton
Observer Bob White
SME Graham Wren
Major Contractor Andrew Wyllie
Secretary Kate Dunne
For more information about the 2012 Construction Commitments, including a list of companies which have signed up to them, click on the Strategic Forum website at http://www.strategicforum.org.uk/2012CC.shtml
6) The Housing Corporation is the Government agency responsible for investing in new affordable homes and regulating nearly 2,000 housing associations across England. Its biggest ever investment programme of £3.9 billion for 2006-08 will fund 84,000 homes; 49,000 of these will be for affordable rent, and 35,000 will be for affordable sale through the Government's new HomeBuy initiative, helping people to get a foot on the property ladder.
7) The Housing Corporation is working with English Partnerships and Communities and Local Government to establish the proposed new national housing and regeneration agency, Communities England.
