Government axes chief construction adviser role

The government has decided to axe the role of chief construction adviser.

The role will not be renewed when the current incumbent Peter Hansford’s (pictured) tenure ends in November, the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) has confirmed.

BIS said Hansford’s responsibilities would be assumed by a “renewed” Construction Leadership Council (CLC), although this body has been slimmed down from 30 members to just 12.

Six of the 12 members of the CLC have been confirmed by BIS, with Madani Sow, chairman and chief executive of Bouygues UK, joining the body for the first time.

BIS also confirmed Anna Stewart, Mike Putnam and Andrew Wolstenholme - executives at Laing O’Rourke, Skanska and Crossrail respectively - will retain their roles on the CLC.

The CLC will be co-chaired by skills minister Nick Boles - who replaces former business minister Vince Cable - and existing co-chair Sir David Higgins.

A BIS spokesperson told Building the remaining six roles on the CLC will be confirmed “within the very near future”.

BIS said the CLC had been slimmed down “in response to calls from the sector to make it more effective and business-focused”.

CLC members will be allocated ‘workstreams’ to lead, BIS said. Anna Stewart will lead on skills, Madani Sow will lead on supply chain and business models, Andrew Wolstenholme will lead on innovation and Mike Putnam will lead on sustainability.

The BIS spokesperson said a housing workstream was among the outstanding roles left to be allocated.

Boles said: “We will work closely with the newly focussed Construction Leadership Council, with its top business expertise, to deliver that plan and drive growth for the sector and wider economy.”

Higgins said: “I’m delighted the Government has responded to calls for a smaller, more business-focused Construction Leadership Council.

“The new Council of 12, with its business leaders from across the sector, will be best placed to drive the skills, innovation and productivity outcomes to help the industry build on its recent growth.”