The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) “expects” to publicly announce the appointment of the interim chief construction adviser in September.
The department said in a partial response to a freedom of information (FOI) request sent by CM that it is “working to finalise the appointment” of the interim CCA. It did not include reasons for any delays to the original summer announcement plans.
MHCLG did not disclose the finalised scope and appointment process for the permanent chief construction adviser role, citing section 35(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 concerning the formulation of government policy.
Although information falling within this exception must still be provided, a government department can block it if it decides it is not in the public interest to do so.
MHCLG also did not disclose the list of potential candidates for the role of interim CCA identified by it or other government departments because of the same exemption of the FOIA and because it falls “within the absolute exemption from disclosure” at section 40(2) covering the personal data of third parties.
The government revealed in May its plans to announce an interim construction adviser this summer ahead of a permanent appointment in 2026.
Independent advice
The Grenfell Inquiry recommended in its final report the appointment of a chief construction adviser to provide independent advice to the secretary of state and ministers and have direct input into the design and implementation of a new single regulator.
The Inquiry called 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.
A chief construction adviser role existed between 2009 and 2015, when it was scrapped as part of the Conservative government’s austerity measures.
However, Paul Morrell, who held this post from its creation until 2012, told CM last year that the position recommended by the Grenfell Inquiry is very different from the role he had and sounded “much more like [the role] carried out by the Building Regulations Advisory Committee”.
Morrell also said at the time that the number of candidates who fit the new role recommended by the Grenfell Inquiry is “very limited” because of potential conflicts of interest and commercial ties of those at the senior level required to qualify for the post.
