NI to play key role in UK construction future

Northern Ireland is set to become a template for change in UK construction and the champion for increased investment in the industry, according to construction pioneer Sir John Egan.

At the launch of the Rethinking Construction Centre Northern Ireland (RCCNI), Strategic Forum Chairman and author of the landmark Rethinking Construction report, Sir John Egan said that construction had “a key role to play in the economic regeneration of Northern Ireland.”

He added: “I believe that the vision for Northern Ireland will provide the benchmark for others to follow with clients, industry and government working together.

“Northern Ireland has continued to provide a model for the UK and industry across Europe - first with the success of its demonstration project programme and now with the delivery of the first regional centre for Rethinking Construction.”

Rethinking Construction Board Chairman, Alan Crane said the network of centres would provide a single management structure for delivering Rethinking Construction in the regions.

He added: “The RCCNI is the first component in what we hope will become a national network. It will share its learning with others across the UK and will address the need for local solutions for local situations. It will be sensitive to local economic and employment conditions and have the flexibility to experiment with novel procurement solutions.

“The industry has been criticised in the past for being fragmented but the Rethinking Construction centres will bring together all sectors of the industry in each region to improve working practices. It is not about imposing a template on the regions but providing a model they can use to address their own specific issues.”

RCCNI based at the School of the Built Environment, University of Ulster, will provide a focal point for engagement in Rethinking Construction by tapping into existing local networks. It will bring together government, universities, professional bodies, clients and contractors to stimulate research and innovation, performance measurement and sharing of information and best practice.

The Rethinking Construction Centre Northern Ireland Board will be publishing the first construction industry report on Northern Ireland at the end of the summer. (MB)