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Building the Future Commission

The Building the Future Commission is a year-round project looking at radical and challenging ideas that could help transform the built environment. The commission aims to tap into innovative ideas, amplify them and be an agent for change.

It will run over 12 months - as Building celebrates its 180th anniversary - with a report published at the end of 2023. This will be drawn up with the help of a panel of commissioners who are leading figures in the worlds of business, policy, research and education.*

In addition to several commissioner meetings throughout the year, Building the Future will undertake a UK-wide tour of roundtable discussions with experts around the regions. This will form part of the consultation programme and will be delivered in partnership with the regional arms of industry body Constructing Excellence.

With thanks to our headline supporters:

Latest from the Building the Future Commission

Upcoming in the Building the Future Think Tank

24 January: Building the Future Think Tank breakfast (invite only)

26 March: Building the Future Think Tank East of England roundtable (invite only)

18 June: Building the Future Think Tank North-east roundtable (invite only)

25 June: Building the Future Think Tank North-west roundtablee (invite only)

18 September: Building the Future Conference (open)

26 September: Building the Future Think Tank Midlands roundtable (invite only)

23 October: Building the Future Think Tank Wales roundtable (invite only)

Building the Future Commission Regional Roundtables

Wales 1

How Wales can make the most of construction

By , AtkinsRéalis

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Levelling up in the West Midlands: the way forward

By , Confederation of Timber Industries

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How do we boost construction in the North-west?

By , Willmott Dixon

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Tackling the east of England’s construction skills challenge

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Addressing net zero in the North-east

  • How Wales can make the most of construction

  • Levelling up in the West Midlands: the way forward

  • How do we boost construction in the North-west?

  • Tackling the east of England’s construction skills challenge

  • Addressing net zero in the North-east

Andrew Mellor_PRP_crop

Six years on from Grenfell and real change is finally happening

2023-07-19T06:00:00+01:00

The pace of reforms since Grenfell has been frustratingly slow, but real change is being delivered, writes Andrew Mellor

paul morrell

Building bridges: how Paul Morrell would fix our broken products testing system

2023-07-18T06:00:00+01:00

Industry veteran Paul Morrell has written a seminal review on overhauling products testing. The man himself explains his thinking in the first of a two-part interview

Suzannah Nichol index 4

Building safety - it’s time for us all to take responsibility

2023-07-10T13:00:00+01:00

With more regulations coming down the line, we need  true collaboration from the industry, writes Suzannah Nichol

grenfell tower 3

We are entering a new era for building safety - but are we ready for the new regulator?

2023-03-31T05:00:00+01:00

The Building Safety Regulator’s registration process for high-rise buildings starts in a few days’ time. Carl Brown assesses how prepared the new regulator and the industry are for the start of a fresh regime

fire damper

Passive fire protection: do we need a new construction discipline?

2023-03-16T07:00:00+00:00

Tier one contractors have come together to warn they may not be able to give assurances that passive fire protection in designs comply with new regulations. Do we need a new approach?

Planning system cover

Building the Future Commission: Report into the English planning system

2023-09-28T07:41:00+01:00

    DOWNLOAD NOW    

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Reforming planning: one way to solve the housing crisis

2023-09-28T06:41:00+01:00

The Building the Future Commission has spent several months analysing the English planning system. Joey Gardiner reports

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Building the Future Commission calls for new strategic planning tier

2023-09-14T10:10:00+01:00

Interim findings released for consultation - plus find out about this month’s conference where you can hear high level debates and put forward your views

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Tributes paid to ‘remarkable’ Lord Bob Kerslake following death

2023-07-03T07:23:00+01:00

Former head of civil service dies from cancer

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Could stamp duty reform be the answer to making UK homes net zero?

2023-06-29T06:01:00+01:00

With carbon emissions from homes going up and little incentive for existing homeowners to make energy efficiency renovations, we talk to policymakers and industry about a proposed solution

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HS2 cuts risk turning railway into ‘shuttle service’ between Acton and Birmingham, says Armitt

2023-09-27T16:30:00+01:00

NIC chair adds chopping and changing flagship project sends ‘incredibly negative message’ to world

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Infrastructure in crisis: ministers must honour commitments so schemes like HS2 can overcome poor perceptions

2023-09-25T06:00:00+01:00

Will the UK’s biggest projects ever be built on time and to budget? Despite recent evidence, it’s not impossible to think that they might – but some things have to change, Dave Rogers reports

Sir John Armitt - meeting shot March 2022

‘Just get on and build the thing.’ John Armitt goes in to bat for HS2

2023-03-10T06:00:00+00:00

The chair of the National Infrastructure Commission on why politics can never be taken out of building and why we should stop dithering

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Meet the commissioners: Kay Hughes

2023-03-07T06:00:00+00:00

Kay Hughes talks about the importance of public purpose behind infrastructure projects, the importance of technology and her love of gardening

infrastructure

Building the Future Commission: introducing the infrastructure and planning stream

2023-01-23T07:00:00+00:00

This stream will look at what tends to go wrong with larger infrastructure projects and suggest potential solutions and new approaches

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Construction cannot ‘tweak broken model’ to solve productivity puzzle, says MMC boss

2023-09-27T16:09:00+01:00

Merit’s Tony Wells tells conference industry needs radical rethink

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New ‘rules of engagement’ needed to meet AI challenge, says Fosters research chief

2023-09-27T16:00:00+01:00

Machine learning need not replace architects, Martha Tsigkari tells Building the Future Commission conference

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Construction leaders must be ‘futurologists’, says Skanska chief

2023-09-27T15:45:00+01:00

Katy Dowding gave first keynote speech at Building the Future Commission conference

martha tsigkari index

The stakes are high – so are the rewards: AI and the future of construction

2023-08-16T04:30:00+01:00

In a special long-read comment piece, Martha Tsigkari of Foster + Partners considers how AI will affect our industry

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How do we fix England’s crumbling school estate?

2023-07-24T06:00:00+01:00

Building has been writing about concerns about the conditions of schools long before the RAAC crisis hit the spotlight. Here we republish a piece we published on the need for refurbishment back in July.

Nasrin Sadeghi symmetrys

My route into construction … Nasrin Sadeghi, structural engineer at Symmetrys

2023-12-04T07:00:00+00:00

The industry includes an impressive range and variety of roles – but unless you are on the inside it can be hard to know how to break in, let alone progress to the top. In this new series, we talk to professionals about their often surprising career twists and turns

Sean O'Regan McLaren

My route into construction … Sean O’Regan, assistant quantity surveyor, McLaren

2023-11-27T07:00:00+00:00

The industry includes an impressive variety of roles – but unless you are on the inside it can be hard to know how to break in, let alone progress to the top. In this new series,  we talk to professionals about their often surprising career twists and turns

Thomas Edgcumbe

My route into construction … Thomas Edgcumbe, managing director, Aggregate Industries

2023-11-20T07:00:00+00:00

The industry includes an impressive range and variety of roles – but unless you are on the inside it can be hard to know how to break in, let alone progress to the top. In this new series, we talk to professionals about their often surprising career twists and turns

Sean Van Buiten

My route into construction … Sean van Buiten, assistant building manager, Willmott Dixon

2023-10-31T07:00:00+00:00

The industry includes an impressive range and variety of roles – but unless you are on the inside it can be hard to know how to break in, let alone progress to the top. In this new series, we talk to professionals about their often surprising career twists and turns

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My route into construction … Kate Sadler, assistant quantity surveyor, McLaren

2023-10-24T06:00:00+01:00

The industry includes an impressive variety of roles – but unless you are on the inside it can be hard to know how to break in, let alone progress to the top. In this new series,  we talk to professionals about their often surprising career twists and turns

JonathanKendall - Fletcher Priest (02)

It’s time to deliver communities that work for those who live and work in and around them

2023-11-30T07:00:00+00:00

The arrival of thousands of new homes and jobs alongside existing communities can sound daunting to existing residents. But developments such as Waterbeach and Oxford North, which support the thriving knowledge economies of Cambridge and Oxford, can enhance lives across the board, writes Jonathan Kendall of Fletcher Priest, masterplanner for ...

David Rudlin podcast

Building Talks Creating Communities podcast: In conversation with David Rudlin at BDP

2023-11-28T07:00:00+00:00

Episode 3: David Rudlin talks about the importance of urban design and why planning needs to rediscover its capacity to create good quality places

Selina Mason with logo

Building Talks Creating Communities podcast: In conversation with Selina Mason at Lendlease

2023-11-21T07:00:00+00:00

Episode 2: Selina Mason talks about people-focused urbanism and the work she is doing on Birmingham’s Smithfield scheme

Jo Wright index pic

Building Talks Creating Communities podcast: In conversation with Jo Wright at Perkins & Will

2023-11-14T07:09:00+00:00

Episode 1: Jo Wright talks about the impact on her career of working in Berlin before the wall came down and designing for the long term

Clockwise from top left: Selina Mason, Jo Wright, Anna Mansfield and David Rudlin

Building Talks: our new podcast season all about urban design and creating communities

2023-11-13T07:00:00+00:00

Tune into the Building Talks podcast from tomorrow to hear leading experts on how to deliver thriving communities and great places to live

The commission will come up with proposals for change in the following areas:

Covering topics such as vocational pathways, apprenticeships, flexible degree options, and continuous professional development.

For more read: Introducing the skills and education stream

Covering topics such as low carbon tech, retrofitting and adaptation approaches, and regenerative design concepts.

For more read: Introducing the energy and net zero stream

Covering topics such as funding for planning departments, reforming the planning system, and affordable housing incentives.

For more read: Introducing the housing and planning stream

Covering topics such as long-term strategic planning and funding for large projects.

For more read: Introducing the infrastructure and planning stream

Covering topics such as new safety legislation, improving skills competence in the workforce, and factoring new costs and risk.

For more read: Introducing the building safety stream

Covering topics such as procurement routes, risk allocation, new methods and technology, and productivity challenges.

For more read: Introducing the project delivery & digital stream

Covering topics such as diversity & inclusion in the workforce, environmental, social and governance issues, and post covid working patterns and rethinking office space

For more read: Introducing the workplace, culture & leadership stream

Covering topics such as quality and standards, the beauty debate, social value, levelling up, co-design ideas, and reinventing city centres

For more read: Introducing the creating communities stream

Commissioner Q&As

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In pictures: The Building the Future commissioners come together for the first time

Simon Wyatt - Cundall

Meet the commissioners: Simon Wyatt

Rebecca Rees

Meet the commissioners: Rebecca Rees

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Meet the commissioners: Neal Shasore

Nicholas Boys Smith c. Tom Campbell

Meet the commissioners: Nicholas Boys Smith

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Meet the commissioners: Simon Tolson

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Meet the commissioners: Katy Dowding

Andrew Mellor_PRP_crop

Meet the commissioners: Andrew Mellor

Lara Oyedele CIH president (003)

Meet the commissioners: Lara Oyedele

Richard Steer, Chairman, Gleeds lo res

Meet the commissioners: Richard Steer

  • In pictures: The Building the Future commissioners come together for the first time

  • Meet the commissioners: Simon Wyatt

  • Meet the commissioners: Rebecca Rees

  • Meet the commissioners: Neal Shasore

  • Meet the commissioners: Nicholas Boys Smith

  • Meet the commissioners: Simon Tolson

  • Meet the commissioners: Katy Dowding

  • Meet the commissioners: Andrew Mellor

  • Meet the commissioners: Lara Oyedele

  • Meet the commissioners: Richard Steer

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