Dear Mr Michael … construction forms, I believe, one of your many minor portfolios, even though it forms the largest industry in the UK. I know you have much to consider, but I would like to offer you some simple advice.

Any reader will be aware of the costly overruns at projects like Bath Spa and the Scottish parliament. These are far from rare examples and many government projects simply fail to deliver, yet the industry actually seems to reward late projects.

It must be pretty simple to cap fees on government-funded projects and follow a basic rule: if costs on a project go up 10%, then all professional fees should go down 10%. This may really focus the minds of consultants to give a cast-iron guarantee on initial costings. Should any consultant or contractor breach the agreed project’s costs, they should go into the equivalent of a sin bin and for 12 months receive no further government-funded work.

As I said, construction sector is the largest industry in the UK, and it needs clear leadership to challenge all government departments to engage in the proven systems that deliver savings for the taxpayer. Better still, why not engage with people who actually deliver these savings daily as promised and not those designers or consultants who regularly milk the government for appointments to major projects, which almost invariably overrun, thereby generating even higher fees?

Postscript

Paul Conlin, strategic partnering manager, Whitley Bay

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