The increased construction output in March 2021 is welcome but needs to be sustained, the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has argued, stressing that the increase could be best sustained with a long-term national retrofit strategy to green UK homes. This would ensure that the government hits its climate change targets.
Construction output gained considerable momentum in March, expanding at the sharpest pace since September 2014, according to the joint report published on 8 April by analytics company IHS Markit and the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply. Housebuilding (index at 64.0) was the best-performing category, with growth the fastest since July 2020.
Brian Berry, the FMB’s chief executive, said: “It’s welcome news to see construction activity recovering in March after a particularly difficult winter for many local builders. Unfortunately, the premature closure of the green homes grant scheme last month has left many small builders in the repair, maintenance and improvement sector out of pocket. If the government is serious about achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050, a long-term national retrofit strategy is needed that can support builders to install green measures at the scale and pace required, while also stimulating local economies and creating jobs.” The construction skills shortage must also be addressed, Brian added, if the industry is to “build back better and greener”.
