David Barnes Head of policy and public affairs Chartered Institute of Building LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Print ©Chartered Institute of Building Useful LinksPrestige Contributors Construction Stakeholders David's Latest Articles Cost pressures mounting for construction SMEs Is the government turning the tide on the construction skills gap? Actis welcomes £1 billion Budget boost, but says more must be invested in workforce training Finding the picture on the box: The missing mental model in smart buildings Resilience starts with seeing infrastructure as one connected system How can sustainability in construction be consistently measured? 30% of construction professionals identify progress capture, reporting and data quality as their primary challenge UPDATE: What the 2026 Autumn Budget means for construction COP31: Turning climate ambition into action for the built environment Reducing diesel reliance on construction sites: Where should smaller contractors start? Construction software costs more than the subscription for an SME Will green shoots curb construction insolvencies in 2027? How AI can give engineers more time to engineer Scrapping the gas standing charge: Bill relief, not yet heat decarbonisation policy More leaseholders will be protected from paying for historic building safety defects Xperience returns to Digital Construction North 2026 How small contractors can win work without investing in AI Rewiring council housebuilding: A programme for the 21st century Open intelligence: The future of construction cannot be closed Vectorworks 2027’s AI Visualizer with Google’s Nano Banana Are we asking enough of flooring? Scotland faces apprenticeship crisis as plumbing and heating businesses reduce hires Social licence will be crucial to meeting the UK’s clean energy goals 4D and 5D BIM need a credible programme behind the model PAS 9980: A clear and consistent approach to fire safety risks House building faces mounting pressure ahead of Autumn Budget as new home registrations slide 13% Leadership interview part 2: Why compliance doesn’t need to be complicated Construction most unprepared for Employment Rights Act changes
