The Grenfell Inquiry has recommended bringing back the role of chief construction adviser to flag concerns about building regulations and the wider industry.
It calls for the role to have enough budget and staff to advise “on all matters affecting the construction industry”, including monitoring all aspects of the government’s work relating to building regulations and statutory guidance.
The chief construction adviser would also advise the secretary of state on request and alert them on issues affecting construction of which the government should be aware.
The post existed between 2009 and 2015. It was scrapped as part of the Conservative government’s austerity measures.
It was created as a civil service appointment to provide cross-departmental coordination and leadership on UK construction industry policy.
A House of Commons select committee on business had recommended in 2008 the establishment of a ‘chief construction officer’ who would act as a “champion” for the sector and the “single main point of engagement" between government and industry.
Paul Morrell became the first chief construction adviser in November 2009 and stayed in the role until 2012. He was succeeded by Peter Hansford, who stayed in post until November 2015, when the role was discontinued.
Construction library
The Inquiry also recommends that the construction regulator “sponsor[s]” the development of a construction library to be used by building designers similar to the cladding materials library set up by the University of Queensland, Australia.
The University of Queensland cladding materials library, which has free and open access, collects information from all publicly-owned buildings in Queensland. It aims to assist competent fire engineers in assessing the fire hazards of cladding materials in existing buildings.
“The Inquiry recommends the construction regulator sponsor the development of a similar library, perhaps as part of a joint project with the University of Queensland, to provide a continuing resource for designers.”
During phase two of the Inquiry, José Torero, professor and head of the Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering at UCL, advocated for the development of a body of knowledge within the fire safety profession about materials and systems.
Torero told the Inquiry: “If you accept the fact that fire safety is a social responsibility, I think we will always favour and advocate a cooperative approach between government, industry, academia, to try to put forward all the information that is possible so that people can do their job appropriately.”
