Evidence-giving sessions for the APPG for EBE

The first session of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Excellence in the Built Environment Inquiry into the Quality of New Build Housing took place on Monday 16 November, at the House of Commons. The Inquiry examines the potential for improving every aspect of the product handed over to new home-owners. This is a subject of special significance in the wake of the Government’s recently-published National Productivity Plan, which includes the ambition to build more than one million homes in England by 2020.

So far, the Committee has heard evidence from:

• Institute of Clerks of Works and Construction Inspectorate (ICWCI)
• Local Authority Building Control (LABC)
• MD Insurance Services Ltd
• Zero Carbon Hub
• Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)
• Building Research Establishment
• Wingrove Law
• Ben Adam-Smith
• Barry Grossmith and Cornelius Jeronimus,
• and Phil Waller.

On 7 December the Inquiry panel will receive the Professional Institutions’ view from The National House Building Council (NHBC), the House Building Federation (HBF), the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and the Association of Consultant Approved Inspectors (ACAI).

The final evidence session, on Monday 14 December, will look at doing things differently and the witnesses will include Professor Chris Gorse from the Leeds Sustainability Institute at the Centre for the Built Environment, Mineral Wool Insulation Manufacturers Association,Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists, BLP Insurance and Dr &Mrs Watkins.

The Construction Industry Council acts as Secretariat to the Group. This is the Committee's fourth Inquiry. It has previously published reports on better procurement, the Green Deal, and flood mitigation.

Further information about this Inquiry and the APPGEBE can be found on www.appgebe.org.uk