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Building assessment tools are used as a means to assess and encourage the adoption of sustainability-led thinking and practice in the delivery of buildings. However, the established tools focus primarily on the aspects of green or sustainable building (i.e. building as an end-product), rarely exploring the contributions towards sustainable product delivery (i.e. the building process). However, some principles of sustainable development are best implemented within the process rather than by being embedded in the product. By addressing the issues of equity via participation through stakeholder-oriented sustainability assessment, building assessment tools could be used to enhance significantly the overall sustainability of project delivery in the construction sector. A theoretical justification is advocated for implementing a participatory approach that is underpinning the development of a specification for a building sustainability assessment model currently under development. The barriers to participation in the construction process are considered as well as the need to develop innovative mechanisms to broaden membership of the construction project team. The philosophical approaches and resultant practices drawn from Environmental Assessment and the Process Protocol are presented as examples of potential solutions for incorporating stakeholder participation in a modified building assessment process.Keywords: building assessment, building performance, Environmental Assessment, Process Protocol, service delivery, social equity, social responsibility, stakeholder participation, sustainable development On utilise des outils d'évaluation des bâ timents pour favoriser d'une part une réflexion orientée sur la durabilité en matière de construction de bâ timents et d'autre part l'adoption de pratiques durables en matière de livraison de bâ timents. Ces outils sont toutefois axés, pour l'essentiel, sur les aspects des bâ timents dits verts ou durables (c'est-à -dire des bâ timents en tant que produit final) mais explorent rarement les contributions à la livraison de produits durables (c'est-à -dire le processus de construction). Toutefois, certains principes de développement durable sont mieux mis en oeuvre au niveau de ce processus qu'à celui de leur intégration dans le produit. En traitant des questions d'équité via la participation au travers de l'évaluation de la durabilité axée sur les intervenants, ces outils d'évaluation des bâ timents pourraient servir à améliorer de façon significative la durabilité globale de la livraison de projets dans le secteur de la construction. L'auteur plaide la cause d'une justification théorique de la mise en oeuvre d'une approche participative qui sous-tend l'élaboration de spécifications relatives à un modèle d'évaluation de la durabilité des constructions, actuellement en cours de développement. Les obstacles à la participation au processus de construction sont également examinés dans cet article ainsi que la nécessité de développer des mécanismes novateurs pour élargir la compositio...

Econometric forecasts indicate that the UK construction industry faces a severe skills deficit in the foreseeable future. This paper details the results of a major labour market research projects, which canvassed the opinions of over 50 industry stakeholders within the East Midlands region of the UK. Focus groups were used to elicit the collective opinions of key clients, consultants, contractors, industry bodies and employers of all sizes. The key themes and requirements discussed by the participants are used to develop a conjoined strategy for bridging the industry's skills gap at a regional level. It is argued that this package of mutually supportive measures could provide a transferable strategy for addressing skills deficiencies in other regions, particularly given the espoused government aspiration to devolve labour market planning activities to provincial forums and regional development agencies.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe an approach to managing the supply chain from the perspective of design which the paper refers to as integrated collaborative design (ICD).Design/methodology/approachBuilding on a substantial program of research using a range of methodologies previously reported, the concept of a design chain is described the argument is made that the industry needs to center the development of integrated teams (as proposed in accelerating change) around collaborative working of all parties involved in the design process.FindingsThe research recognizes that the construction sector is too often focused on the short‐term objectives of projects, rather than long‐term business strategy and organizational relationships. The ICD approach involves three steps: identifying tasks (process management); allocating roles (as part of supply chain management); and focusing design solutions to deliver value.Originality/valueThe paper outlines the principles and approach to ICD and provides a strategic overview within which various techniques and practices can be utilized to integrate organizations and more effectively manage the design process.