LABC Warranty joins Building Magazine at the Building the Future Conference

LABC Warranty joined Building Magazine at their recent 2023 Building the Future Conference. The Conference featured a variety of professionals and experts from the building industry, all focused on what the future holds for construction.

Here we delve into what the keynote speakers from the event told us, starting with Sir John Armitt, chairman of the National Infrastructure Commission.

Building the Future Conference 2023 - The keynotes

Sir John Armitt considers the parallels with infrastructure

Bringing the perspective of an infrastructure expert, Sir John Armitt noted that while the organization he chairs doesn’t directly cover social housing, or healthcare, there are common challenges for infrastructure and these critical fields.

Chiefly, the need for direction from central government. In the case of nationwide infrastructure, this is clear, when projects like HS2 are cancelled.

For housing, according to John Armitt, the key is the planning system itself. He cited the 2007 decision to introduce zero-carbon homes. “The industry reacted,” he said. “Then in  2010 the government pulled the plug.

“While the government are there to listen to the public, and make tough choices, we need a stable policy and regulatory environment.”

This allows the country to unlock growth in the national economy – which also needs a delicate mix of commercial and residential space.

“Beyond safety and regulations,” he said. “Planning is where the state interacts with the housing and planning sector.

“It is fair for the sector to make the case for less policy churn, more clarity, and a steady pipeline of public works – both sides playing their part achieves the legacy of value.”



Katy Dowding looks to the future

President and CEO of Skansa, Katy Dowding, asked the crowd a question: “Why, indeed, worry about the future?”

While the industry wrestles with the challenges of net zero, the planning system, and creating the housing that the country needs, Dowding points to safety.

In particular, the huge changes and strides that have happened in safety during Dowding’s time in the industry. Reflecting on how the change would not have come without innovation, she said, “…if we don’t find new ways or working, or navigating our planning system, how will we create the housing that we need?”

Stressing the need to innovate and embrace new ideas, she said, “If we could have guaranteed the outcomes of the health and safety drive, it wouldn’t have taken thirty years to get to where we are now.”

In addition, Dowding invited the crowd to consider the technologies emerging today and their potential impacts on the future of construction, saying, “If we start to think about the changes we need to make today, we can survive and thrive in the future.

“Technology and innovation can eliminate accidents, and technologies like AI and blockchain can revolutionise planning and design. If we start to think about the changes that we need to make today, we can survive – and thrive – in the future.”

The Building the Future Conference

Building The Future Conference was held in Church House, London, and organised by Building Magazine, alongside whom LABC Warranty produced our whitepaper into the potential impacts of 15-year warranties on the UK’s housing sector.

Read more about the results of that research in our full report here.

Subscribe to our blog for the latest news

Get the latest news from LABC Warranty and the construction structural warranty sector by subscribing to our blog.
Subscribe to receive the latest news

Please Note: Every care was taken to ensure the information in this article was correct at the time of publication. Any written guidance provided does not replace the reader’s professional judgement and any construction project should comply with the relevant Building Regulations or applicable technical standards. However, for the most up to date LABC Warranty technical guidance please refer to your Risk Management Surveyor and the latest version of the LABC Warranty Technical Manual.

Related Articles

Your questions about MMC answered by our experts

Following our Social Housing Annual Conference appearance, we put your questions about MMC to our in-house experts to answer.
Read More

Quality warranty providers offer security beyond insurance

Why quality is paramount in the structural warranty business, and how to pick the best from the rest.
Read More

LABC Warranty joins Bugler on Beech Tree Place

LABC Warranty will support Bugler Developments on their Beech Tree Place project in the London Borough of Sutton.
Read More

Have your say

Tell us what you think about this article and its contents by completing the form.