The government will appoint an official to oversee initial regulatory reforms ahead of the publication of a policy prospectus scheduled for this autumn.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government (MHCLG) announced that it will soon begin the process of appointing a new Chief Construction Adviser.
The recruitment will follow standard public sector appointment procedures, and the new appointee is expected to take up the role later this year.
This will mark the return of this role to the government structure for the first time in a decade, after it was abolished in 2015 by David Cameron’s Conservative government, when the position was held by former President of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Peter Hansford.
Yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner confirmed that the role would be reinstated in response to the final report of the Grenfell tragedy inquiry, which recommended appointing a Chief Construction Adviser to provide expert guidance to government officials.
In accompanying documents, MHCLG stated:
"We must establish appropriate checks and balances to prevent situations where serious risks go unnoticed.
That is why we agree with the inquiry’s recommendation to create a new Chief Construction Adviser, who will provide guidance to the Secretary of State."
The document also highlights:
*"A unilateral government approach, without a sense of collective responsibility and accountability, does not work. The industry must also play its part.
The Chief Construction Adviser will lead this process of shared responsibility, working with those already driving positive change and holding accountable those who continue to lag behind."*
The appointee’s primary task will be to collaborate with representatives of the construction industry, residents, regulators, and experts to develop a single regulatory model that will encompass the key aspects of the construction sector.
MHCLG stated that it will publish a "regulatory reform prospectus" this autumn, outlining plans for changes in industry regulation.
It is expected that the new regulator will begin operations in 2028, consolidating multiple regulatory functions currently spread across various government departments and being accountable to a single Secretary of State.
The position of Chief Construction Adviser was first created by Gordon Brown’s last Labour government in 2009 and was initially held by Paul Morrell, who was succeeded by Peter Hansford in 2012.
Although the role previously lacked a large office of supporting staff, the new structure is expected to have better resources and a significant budget.
In addition to advising the Secretary of State, the Chief Construction Adviser’s responsibilities will include monitoring all aspects related to building regulations and legislative guidelines.