WIREDGOV

Business Minister Mark Prisk will today announce that the Green Construction Board (GCB) has secured £1 million to bolster its operations.

The Government finance will underpin key action points the GCB and its working groups develop and deliver in their effort to promote the growth opportunities presented by a more sustainable construction, infrastructure and property sector.

The Minister, who co-chairs the GCB, will announce the funding during a visit to Building Research Establishment in Watford, at which he will launch the organisation’s new apprenticeship programme and tour its Innovation Park.

Business Minister Mark Prisk said:

"The Government is determined to maximise the opportunities for UK construction in sustainable development. This money will enable the Board to take forward a large programme of activities through the voluntary contributions of many people from the industry, who are keen to engage with us regularly to accelerate the transition to a low carbon economy.

“This additional funding will be used to get even more value from those contributions by supporting particular tasks, to ensure that they are delivered more quickly, or in more depth, than would otherwise be the case.”

The GCB has achieved fundamental milestones since its formation, including:

Establishing seven working groups, consisting of over 160 leading industry and Government representatives, who will deliver a comprehensive programme of activity.Creating an initial 'Routemap' to set out the industry’s direction to 2050;Issuing a call for evidence to create a ‘knowledge database’ for low carbon and research development.

Integrating the existing work of the Sustainable Construction Task Force into that of the Board.

Fellow co-Chair of the Board Dan Labbad said:

“I share in the Minister’s praise for the work of the Board and working groups. We have made considerable progress already and will be working even harder over the coming months.

“For example, we will be publishing a final version of our Routemap by the end of the year. We will also be developing guidance for construction businesses to show the top twenty steps they should take to green their operations.

“In support of business growth we will alsopublish a set of case studies from the infrastructure sector, demonstrating that cash and embodied carbon reductions can go hand in hand.”

Today’s announcement is made ahead of the third meeting of the GCB, which will take place later this afternoon.

Launched in November 2011, the GCB is a consultative forum for Government and the UK design, construction, infrastructure and property industries in order to ensure a sustained high level conversation and to develop and implement a long term strategic framework for the promotion of innovation and sustainable growth.

Notes to editors:
1. Government and industry is building on the work of the Low Carbon Construction IGT and working collaboratively through the GCB to drive forward the actions set out in the Low Carbon Construction Action Plan. The full Terms of Reference of the group are available for download (PDF, 28 Kb)

2. To find out more about the Green Construction Board visit www.bis.gov.uk

3. BIS's online newsroom contains the latest press notices, speeches, as well as video and images for download. It also features an up to date list of BIS press office contacts. See http://www.bis.gov.uk/newsroom for more information.

Contacts:

BIS Press Office
bispress.releases@bis.gsi.gov.uk

Andy Aston
Phone: 0207 215 6963
andy.aston@bis.gov.uk