STATEMENT: Keith Waller responds to the Autumn Budget and Spending Review 2021

Commenting on today’s Budget statement, Construction Innovation Hub Programme Director Keith Waller said:

The Hub has a vital role to play in delivering the ambitions of the Budget. From the use of its Value Toolkit, to our Platform-based approach to our focus on innovation and transforming practice throughout construction and the built environment our work is focused on building back better.

Now we know what the government’s priorities are, it is now important we focus on how these are delivered. The Hub will continue to support government in these aims to deliver true value and tackle the challenges of tomorrow, today.

Improved OBR forecasts for growth and levels of unemployment have given the Chancellor more headroom to invest and innovate. As such, it is disappointing to see the date the government will meet its own target for R&D spending slip by 2 years.

However, with the announcements for increased departmental spending, we look forward to the detailed plans emerging demonstrating how this investment will continue to drive the sector’s transformation to a more sustainable, innovative and productive future in line with the ambition of Build Back Better.”