Sector - Transport & Infrastructure

CIOB report explores quality in the built environment

19 Dec 18

The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has launched a brand new report exploring the quality of the built environment.

‘Improving Quality in the Built Environment‘ has been authored by the Construction Quality Commission, a CIOB initiative established to identify those factors that help or hinder quality in construction. The official launch took place at a parliamentary reception attended by a number of MPs and senior industry figures.

“Quality, or rather the failure of quality, is arguably the most important issue facing the construction industry today,” began Paul Nash, Chairman of the Construction Quality Commission. Addressing delegates, Mr Nash went on to outline the focus of the CIOB report, stating: “Our research identified (…) an underlying cultural issue in the industry. Quality was being sacrificed to achieve targets.”

A CIOB Past President, Mr Nash also spoke of a key outcome of the commission’s work; the forthcoming Code of Quality Practice which will set new standards for the industry and “provide practitioners with the tools and processes needed to deliver quality on construction projects.”

“There is never an excuse for poor quality,” Mr Nash concluded.

Roberta Blackman-Woods – MP for the City of Durham and Shadow Minister for Housing, Communities & Local Government – welcomed the CIOB report, saying: “I think the work you are doing is really important and I’m glad to see that improving the quality of the built environment has gone up the political agenda.”

The Construction Quality Commission was established in early 2017, initially as a response to reported building defects that led to the closure of a number of Edinburgh schools. It was given new impetus in the aftermath of the tragic Grenfell Tower fire however. Led by CIOB Past Presidents, the commission has worked with members and other industry bodies to identify the core issues associated with quality in construction.