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The government looks set to downgrade the long-promised appointment of a chief construction officer, and instead opt for a part-time construction adviser.

A source close to policy makers said the adviser would report to the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) instead of being independent. The move is leading insiders to speculate that the government will fail to find a candidate to fill the post before the next election.

A source said: 鈥淭he position is being scaled back and scaled down. It鈥檚 been whittled down to a part-time job. It鈥檚 now far away from what was originally envisaged.鈥�

Many of the changes are thought to be the result of a turf battle with the OGC.

The news comes as construction minister Ian Lucas said he was expecting to make an announcement 鈥渟oon鈥� on the position. He said: 鈥淚鈥檝e met lots of construction groups in my first five or six weeks. It鈥檚 come through loud and clear they want this to happen; I鈥檝e heard that very loudly.鈥�

He denied there were 鈥渄ifficulties鈥� with the OGC over the role.

The idea of a construction champion at senior level in the civil service was first proposed by parliament鈥檚 business and enterprise select committee as a way to co-ordinate construction policy across the government, in particular.

Stephen Ratcliffe, chief executive of the UK Contractors Group, said: 鈥淲e had seen this as an important role, but we鈥檙e concerned at the reports coming out that this is going to be downgraded, and this calls into question whether it鈥檚 worth making the appointment.鈥�