Government announces appointment of Chief Construction Adviser

Paul Morrell, OBE, has been appointed as the Government’s Chief Construction Adviser. His role is to work with Government and the industry to act as a link between the two and ensure Britain’s construction sector is equipped with the knowledge, skills and best practice to make the most of the opportunities the 21st century will have to offer.

The Chief Construction Adviser is an independent role, but reports directly to Business, Innovation & Skills and HM Treasury ministers.

He is a chartered quantity surveyor and was senior partner of Davis Langdon until he retired in 2007 and also former deputy chair of CABE.

He will lead the construction innovation and growth team. His first task will be to lead the low-carbon construction review, announced by Lord Mandelson on 18 September and due to report its initial findings in Spring 2010. This is part of the challenge to bring the industry together to identify how best to deliver the 2022 carbon-reduction commitments, to meet the broader challenges of the low-carbon future and to capture the many new opportunities it will bring.

Announcing the appointment, construction minister Ian Lucas said, ‘The Chief Construction Adviser will pay a vital role in championing the sector with the Government and work with the industry to ensure we have a strong, sustainable construction sector in the UK. With broad experience across sectors including commercial, health, residential, arts and transport construction, Paul Morrell is well placed to support the industry to take advantage of the growth opportunities offered by the 21st century.’

Paul Morrell says, ‘I am delighted and excited to have been selected for this role, which presents a real opportunity for the sector to work with the Government and to prepare for the skills, growth and other challenges facing the construction industry.

‘This is a tough time for the industry, but now is the right time to work together, and I know we have the capability to rise to two of our biggest challenges: to get more value out of our product, and to take more carbon out of its creation and use — getting more for less in both cases. The potential for a well designed and well made built environment to lead economic, social and environmental betterment remains enormous, and the challenges are matched by opportunities, both here and abroad.’