Industry looking for commitments on transport and housing from Boris Johnson’s new government
The government is expected to spell out its agenda for the coming parliament this morning and construction firms will be keenly watching developments following Boris Johnson’s convincing victory in last week’s general election.
In the run up to the general election on 12 December, the Tories pledged that significant sums of public cash would be ploughed into transport, a hospital building programme, housing upgrades and a renewed focus on the Northern powerhouse.
The Conservatives’ manifesto said the party would invest £100bn over five years on road and rail, £2.7bn building six new hospitals with a further 34 due to be built in the coming decade, £6.3bn on upgrading homes across the country to meet new environmental standards and £4bn on public transport initiatives in the Midlands and the North.
It also expressed support for a third runway at London’s Heathrow airport, despite Boris Johnson’s assertion – before he became prime minister – that he would “lie down in front of the diggers” to stop it from happening.
Little has been said about late payments or retentions, although a new bill covering the issue could see the light of day early next year.
Firms will be hoping there will be more certainty around immigration and the ability to hire overseas workers, following Brexit and the government’s aim – continued from the last administration – of slashing the numbers of people coming into the UK.
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