Six-point plan for construction backs Egan recommendations

Following its development of the 2012 Construction Commitments, the forum will focus its attention on these issues:

• client leadership;
• procurement and integration;
• design quality;
• commitment to people;
• sustainable construction;
• health and safety.

The current chairman of the forum, Mike Davies, said that the forum has made significant progress over the past 18 months in implementing the agenda set by the reports on the industry by Sir John Egan.

The most developed area is the Olympics-based 2012 Construction Commitments.

Davies commented: “In a number of these areas, the targets set for the industry in the Accelerating Change report are to be achieved by the end of this year.

In early 2008 we will report on the progress that has been made and set new targets in these and other areas in order to maintain the momentum towards making the whole of our industry truly world class.

New targets are already being developed through the Health and Safety Executive, ConstructionSkills and the draft Sustainable Construction Strategy being developed jointly by the government and industry.

We want to adopt these as an important part of our work.

The forum also received an update on important work on health and safety issues."

Following the Crane Summit in August, the industry has agreed a plan of action to address the problems that have led to the recent spate of accidents involving tower cranes.

The forum has also accepted responsibility for developing an action plan to deal with the growing number of accidents in the housing sector. The aim is to report back to the secretary of state by the end of the year.