The UK construction industry’s recovery from COVID-19
The construction and built environment is a big part of the UK’s economy and can play an important role in helping kick-start the recovery from COVID-19. Throughout the lockdown and as the industry has further reopened with social distancing measures in place, construction operations are continuing to deal with delay and disruption.
Challenges the construction industry is overcoming
Across the industry, there has been disruption to supply chains as construction materials are in short supply and delivery times are delayed. On top of that, following social distancing guidelines on sites, while still striving to keep to timelines, has its additional challenges.
Recently, the Construction Leadership Council’s COVID-19 Task Force published the Roadmap to Recovery to drive the recovery of the sector and wider economy. The report looks to increase the level of activity across the construction industry, accelerate the sector’s adjustment to a new normal and deliver strategic priorities, including modernisation and decarbonisation.
Green and sustainable housing can play a part in recovery
The architecture industry has been advocating for retrofit funding to improve the energy efficiency of existing homes and has also been pushing for a green recovery post-COVID to reduce carbon emissions and boost the sector. In the Government’s summer statement, the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak announced £2bn worth of green home improvements with the Green Homes Grant, which is set to launch at the end of September.
This funding could help upgrade more than 600,000 homes in England and support over 100,000 new and existing jobs. The grants will provide vouchers up to £5,000 per household for retrofit projects to make homes more energy efficient by installing insulation, heat pumps and draft proofing. And for low-income households, up to £10,000 per household of full funding will be available.
Additionally, the Green Homes Grant will help households decrease energy bills. This can also help the UK move towards net zero carbon emissions, but it’s important that the Government goes further to create a sustainable built environment and improve the energy efficiency standards of new builds as well.
Sustainable and energy efficient architecture
Sustainability and low energy design is central to A’Bear & Ball Architects LLP. Recognising the increasing importance of low energy design, Rob A’Bear, co-founder of the Practice, even qualified as a Certified Passivhaus Designer from the Passivhaus Institute.
As an architectural practice, we can deliver low energy housing projects to the full Passivhaus standard and ultra-low energy design principles. At the outset of every project, we agree energy performance targets with our clients.
A’Bear & Ball Architects is a design-led practice seamlessly combining high-quality contemporary residential architecture with low energy performance. Contact us if you’d like to learn more about how we can help you with your energy efficient and sustainable project.