Five years ago the government held a Construction Summit to reassure the industry
Warm words, cold comfort
This week, as 黑洞社区 assesses chancellor Philip Hammond鈥檚 promise to expand government support for infrastructure capital funding in the face of the probable loss of European Investment Bank funding after Brexit, we were reminded of another time when government felt the need to show public support for the industry, writes Helen Burch.
In 2012, the government held a Construction Summit to reassure 鈥渁n industry thirsty for anything that will help it get through the recession鈥�. The summit announced 12 projects totalling 拢300m and the testing of new procurement methods. However, then-deputy editor Joey Gardiner found some in the industry wondered whether it would really make a difference when the key issue was lack of work from public projects, construction鈥檚 biggest source of employment. 鈥淭hey need to get a lot of money moving quickly,鈥� said Richard Steer of Gleeds.
One move sure to bring a cynical smile to the reader鈥檚 lips was the policy to give councils independent control of finances, which a director at the Homes and Communities Agency assured builders would bring a 鈥渢sunami鈥� of contracts for new council housing and repairs. 鈥淭his will be a catalyst,鈥� he said. We鈥檙e still waiting..
To read the full article from 6 July 2012, download the PDF below
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