Real Deadlines: Is the Sector Ready for Sustainable Construction?
Article by Hamish McLay, conveyancing collaborator
Every four weeks, Construction Matters checks in on what’s really going on in the UK construction sector - what’s promised, what’s possible, and what’s being quietly missed. Chaired by Gareth Wax and featuring Michelle Carr - experienced Quantity Surveyor and creator of Taking the Con out of Construction - this week’s episode looks at whether we’re actually ready to deliver sustainable construction at scale.
The government says it wants 1.5 million new homes built within the lifetime of this Parliament. It's a powerful pledge, yet underneath that headline are some sharp truths. Are we on track? Not quite. Not yet.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has taken on more responsibility than ever - including all national fire functions as of April 2025. On paper, it’s a consolidation of priorities. In reality, it’s added complexity to a system already facing a regulatory backlog. The Building Safety Regulator [BSR] is meant to turn around planning applications within 12 weeks. Many developers are now waiting three, four, even five times that long.
And let’s be clear - the problem isn’t just capacity. It’s quality. Across local authorities, applications are coming in with missing documents, outdated site plans, or fire safety information that simply isn’t up to scratch. In North London, over 20% of planning submissions were rejected last quarter because of basic errors. That kind of inefficiency puts the brakes on everything else.
Material costs are still a major issue. Yes, some prices have settled slightly since the worst of the lock-down disruption, although costs are still around 37% higher than they were in 2020. Brick deliveries are recovering, albeit slowly - and nowhere near pre-2020 volumes.
Even where more sustainable materials are available - like low-carbon alternatives to traditional clay bricks - uptake is slow. That’s partly about pricing, partly about awareness, and often about contractors defaulting to the familiar. We’ve got better options, although we haven’t yet built the habits or the supply chains to use them consistently.
Then there’s the recent solar panel announcement. From 2027, most new-build homes in England will be legally required to have solar panels. At first glance, it sounds like progress. But look closer, and some practical concerns creep in.
Most of the panels fitted in the UK are manufactured abroad, often in China. That raises obvious questions about supply reliability and embedded carbon. The panels themselves may last 20–25 years, yet the inverters - which actually convert the power - typically need replacing after 10–15 years. That cost will often fall to the homeowner.
Recycling is another loose end. Right now, the UK doesn’t have the national infrastructure to deal with large-scale solar panel disposal. And what about performance? In a country where grey skies can stretch ten days or more, solar generation can quickly under-deliver.
Germany, long held up as a renewables leader, has already learned the hard way about depending too heavily on weather-dependent systems. Their economy is still adjusting. We should be careful not to walk down the same road, especially while trying to scale up housing.
Sustainable construction isn’t a marketing strapline. It’s about process, consistency, and resilience. Right now, our sector is struggling on all three fronts.
We’re dealing with delays, patchy submissions, high costs, and confused compliance. Add in labour shortages and inconsistent access to newer building methods, and the risk is obvious: that we promise sustainability, but deliver something far more fragile.
This is not to say it can’t be done. It can. Yet it’s going to take more than slogans, mandates or well-meaning ideas. It’ll take focus, support, and systems that are built to last - just like the homes we’re trying to build.
And a reminder. Construction Matters airs every four weeks on Tuesdays. Chaired by Gareth Wax (also our producer and director), with regular insight from Michelle Carr, experienced Quantity Surveyor and creator of Taking the Con out of Construction.
PS.
For content enquiries: hm@searchandconveysolutions.co.uk
For podcast/media info: gareth@mphats.com
Never miss an episode of Spilling The Proper-Tea again, subscribe to our YouTube channel to catch up or watch live - https://www.youtube.com/@SpillingTheProper-Tea
Every four weeks, Construction Matters checks in on what’s really going on in the UK construction sector - what’s promised, what’s possible, and what’s being quietly missed. Chaired by Gareth Wax and featuring Michelle Carr - experienced Quantity Surveyor and creator of Taking the Con out of Construction - this week’s episode looks at whether we’re actually ready to deliver sustainable construction at scale.
The government says it wants 1.5 million new homes built within the lifetime of this Parliament. It's a powerful pledge, yet underneath that headline are some sharp truths. Are we on track? Not quite. Not yet.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has taken on more responsibility than ever - including all national fire functions as of April 2025. On paper, it’s a consolidation of priorities. In reality, it’s added complexity to a system already facing a regulatory backlog. The Building Safety Regulator [BSR] is meant to turn around planning applications within 12 weeks. Many developers are now waiting three, four, even five times that long.
And let’s be clear - the problem isn’t just capacity. It’s quality. Across local authorities, applications are coming in with missing documents, outdated site plans, or fire safety information that simply isn’t up to scratch. In North London, over 20% of planning submissions were rejected last quarter because of basic errors. That kind of inefficiency puts the brakes on everything else.
Material costs are still a major issue. Yes, some prices have settled slightly since the worst of the lock-down disruption, although costs are still around 37% higher than they were in 2020. Brick deliveries are recovering, albeit slowly - and nowhere near pre-2020 volumes.
Even where more sustainable materials are available - like low-carbon alternatives to traditional clay bricks - uptake is slow. That’s partly about pricing, partly about awareness, and often about contractors defaulting to the familiar. We’ve got better options, although we haven’t yet built the habits or the supply chains to use them consistently.
Then there’s the recent solar panel announcement. From 2027, most new-build homes in England will be legally required to have solar panels. At first glance, it sounds like progress. But look closer, and some practical concerns creep in.
Most of the panels fitted in the UK are manufactured abroad, often in China. That raises obvious questions about supply reliability and embedded carbon. The panels themselves may last 20–25 years, yet the inverters - which actually convert the power - typically need replacing after 10–15 years. That cost will often fall to the homeowner.
Recycling is another loose end. Right now, the UK doesn’t have the national infrastructure to deal with large-scale solar panel disposal. And what about performance? In a country where grey skies can stretch ten days or more, solar generation can quickly under-deliver.
Germany, long held up as a renewables leader, has already learned the hard way about depending too heavily on weather-dependent systems. Their economy is still adjusting. We should be careful not to walk down the same road, especially while trying to scale up housing.
Sustainable construction isn’t a marketing strapline. It’s about process, consistency, and resilience. Right now, our sector is struggling on all three fronts.
We’re dealing with delays, patchy submissions, high costs, and confused compliance. Add in labour shortages and inconsistent access to newer building methods, and the risk is obvious: that we promise sustainability, but deliver something far more fragile.
This is not to say it can’t be done. It can. Yet it’s going to take more than slogans, mandates or well-meaning ideas. It’ll take focus, support, and systems that are built to last - just like the homes we’re trying to build.
And a reminder. Construction Matters airs every four weeks on Tuesdays. Chaired by Gareth Wax (also our producer and director), with regular insight from Michelle Carr, experienced Quantity Surveyor and creator of Taking the Con out of Construction.
PS.
For content enquiries: hm@searchandconveysolutions.co.uk
For podcast/media info: gareth@mphats.com
Never miss an episode of Spilling The Proper-Tea again, subscribe to our YouTube channel to catch up or watch live - https://www.youtube.com/@SpillingTheProper-Tea
Members In This Video
No users are tagged in this video
