The Construction Playbook - what could be a landmark publication in the development of the UK construction industry - is published today.

Bryden Wood has been closely involved, pushing hard to make sure that Platforms and other modern methods of construction (MMC) are prioritised, and also to try and ensure that smaller players will be able to access the market.

Jaimie Johnston, Board Director and Head of Global Systems, says: 

"Modern methods of construction underpin the Playbook. The smart combination of offsite manufacturing and new onsite construction techniques means we can finally leave behind the crowded, dirty and dangerous construction site, and build more efficiently, more quickly and more sustainably.

The Playbook signals a wholesale shift in the way public buildings should be procured, designed and built, and looks ahead to a new, closely integrated design - construction - manufacturing industry. This will give a massive – and very timely – boost of energy, productivity and innovation to UK manufacturing and construction. Those resistant to modernisation should be left by the wayside, but for those who can see the potential and are willing to adapt, the opportunity is enormous."

The Government says: 

  • The new Construction Playbook details how government and industry can better work together to deliver public sector works in a more modern and efficient way
  • It also outlines green initiatives for the construction industry to minimise greenhouse gas emissions of projects
  • The new guidance has been developed in consultation with construction industry

New plans on how government will work with the construction sector to make sure public sector works are delivered faster, better and greener have been launched today.

In 2018, public sector works contributed some £117 billion to the UK economy, as well as supporting over two million jobs.

The Construction Playbook, launched today, outlines what government expects from these works, from new roads and railway lines to schools, hospitals and prisons.

The Playbook also outlines the key role the construction sector will play in both the UK’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and work to bring greenhouse gas emissions down to net zero by 2050. Green initiatives in the Playbook include promoting the use of carbon assessments to understand and minimise the greenhouse emissions of projects.

Other specific measures include:

  • Providing greater certainty to industry through long term plans for key programmes. This will include longer term contracting across a range of areas which will give industry the certainty required to invest in new technologies, delivering improved productivity and efficiency savings
  • Incentivising industry to innovate by focusing on the output of what we want a project to achieve, rather than micromanaging how it is done
  • Modernising construction by standardising designs and parts, as well as embedding digital technologies including the UK Building Information Management Framework
  • Greater focus on building positive relationships with robust contract management between project leads and industry
  • Investing more in training and apprenticeships, driving forward innovation in construction, boost productivity and focus on value for money in public sector developments

Learning lessons from the Grenfell Tower tragedy, the Construction Playbook also makes it clear that the construction sector must put safety at the heart of everything it does.

You can find the Construction Playbook on the .gov website