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| Considerate Constructors Scheme | |
|---|---|
| Name | Considerate Constructors Scheme |
| Formation | 1997 |
| Purpose | Construction site best practice and community liaison |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
| Region served | United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland |
Considerate Constructors Scheme The Considerate Constructors Scheme promotes higher standards on construction, demolition, civil engineering and development sites across the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. Founded in the late 1990s, the Scheme seeks to improve relations between contractors and local communities, enhance workforce welfare, and reduce environmental impacts through a combination of Codes, inspections and public reporting. It operates alongside regulatory and industry bodies to encourage industry-wide adoption of considerate practices.
The Scheme operates as an independent organisation working with contractors, developers, clients, and local authorities including London Borough of Camden, Manchester City Council, Birmingham City Council, Glasgow City Council, and Belfast City Council. It is often engaged by firms such as Balfour Beatty, Laing O'Rourke, Kier Group, Skanska, and Morgan Sindall to demonstrate commitment to community engagement and site neatness. The Scheme’s activity intersects with standards and organisations including British Standards Institution, Construction Industry Training Board, Health and Safety Executive, Royal Institute of British Architects, and Royal Town Planning Institute. Other stakeholders include charities and institutions like Age UK, The Prince's Trust, National Trust, Historic England, and Shelter (charity).
Established in 1997, the Scheme emerged amid pressures from local authorities such as Tower Hamlets and civic campaigns influenced by events like the 1990s UK housing boom and urban regeneration projects in London Docklands and Salford Quays. Its development was influenced by industry incidents reviewed by bodies including HSE, inquiries such as the Lakanal House fire report, and policy shifts following the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 1994 and later the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007. Early patronage came from trade associations like the Federation of Master Builders and Build UK, and advocacy from unions including the GMB (trade union) and Unite the Union. Over time the Scheme broadened its remit to encompass sustainability themes found in frameworks like UK Net Zero Strategy and planning initiatives in Greater London Authority.
Membership is open to contractors, developers, suppliers and subcontractors working on projects overseen by entities such as English Heritage, Transport for London, Network Rail, Highways England, NHS England, and private developers like British Land and Landsec. Accredited sites are publicly listed and often promoted by councils and institutions such as University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, BBC, and Barclays when involved in development projects. Membership categories mirror those used by industry groups including Construction Plant-hire Association and certification partners like Constructionline. Clients often reference procurement frameworks such as Crown Commercial Service and standards from ISO bodies when specifying membership.
The Scheme enforces a Code addressing workforce welfare, site appearance, community engagement, and environmental protection, aligning with documents from British Standards Institution and guidance from Health and Safety Executive. Its Code complements legislation such as the Environmental Protection Act 1990, planning policy produced by Department for Communities and Local Government, and sustainability frameworks like UK Green Building Council recommendations. It addresses matters relevant to heritage contexts managed by Historic England, public realm works commissioned by city bodies like Cardiff Council and Bristol City Council, and transport projects led by Transport for London or Network Rail.
Assessment is carried out by trained monitors and inspectors using criteria analogous to audit processes by ISO 9001 and safety regimes enforced by Health and Safety Executive. Local authority planning officers, resident associations such as Residents' Associations of Kensington and Chelsea, and major clients including National Grid and Scottish Power frequently consult audit outcomes. Non-compliance can lead to remedial actions and the Scheme’s publicity mechanisms, similar in role to enforcement by bodies like Planning Inspectorate or reporting to public bodies such as Office for National Statistics for sectoral data aggregation.
The Scheme has been cited in community impact studies undertaken by universities such as University College London, University of Manchester, Newcastle University, and think tanks like Policy Exchange and Institute for Public Policy Research. It has been praised by civic groups including Civic Voice and consumer organisations like Which? for improving site tidiness and neighbour liaison, while some critics from trade unions and campaign groups such as Global Justice Now and Campaign for Better Transport have argued that voluntary schemes need stronger statutory backing. The Scheme’s influence is noted in major infrastructure projects overseen by agencies like High Speed 2 (HS2) Limited and Transport for London.
Sites registered with the Scheme have included high-profile developments such as the The Shard, Battersea Power Station redevelopment, Olympic Park (London) regeneration, HS2 enabling works, Crossrail construction sites, university developments at University of Oxford colleges, and mixed-use schemes by developers like Chelsfield and Ballymore Group. Case studies have involved collaborations with arts organisations like Tate Modern and conservation bodies including National Trust and English Heritage on projects in places such as Stonehenge environs and waterfront works at Liverpool Waterfront.
Category:Construction in the United Kingdom Category:Organizations established in 1997