The Queen’s speech has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to infrastructure, with promises to invest in the country’s public services and construction industry
Following the Queen’s speech, the government will prioritise investment in infrastructure and science research and skills, in order to unleash productivity and improve daily life for communities across the country.
It will give communities more control over how investment is spent so that they can decide what is best for them.
Government will now aim to keep debt under control; maintaining the sustainability of the public finances through a responsible fiscal strategy.
The Queen has said that the will continue to take steps to meet the world-leading target of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
It will continue to lead the way in tackling global climate change, hosting the COP26 Summit in 2020.
To protect and improve the environment for future generations, a bill will enshrine in law environmental principles and legally binding targets, including for air quality.
It will also ban the export of polluting plastic waste to countries outside the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and establish a new, world-leading independent regulator in the statute.
Industry reaction to the queen’s speech
Asif Din, sustainability director at the London studio of Perkins and Will, said: “It’s great to see the Queen’s Speech outline Britain’s plans to host the United Nations Climate Change Conference in 2020, but the promise to meet net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 will require urgent and significant systemic change.
“The built environment currently contributes to 40% of the UK’s carbon footprint. If we, as a nation, are to actively pursue an ambitious net-zero target, the property industry must have a robust response to climate change.
“This requires the development of all new cities, towns and buildings that are energy-efficient, net-zero operational and climate-resilient with immediate effect.
“With the race to net-zero by 2050 firmly on, the onus is on architects, developers, and investors to develop new business models required to step-up to the challenges posed by the climate crisis, reflecting an industry with a long-term approach.”
Ian Fletcher, director of Real Estate Policy at the British Property Federation, said: “We look forward to engaging with the government on this issue in due course.
“The government remains committed to delivering 300,000 homes-a-year by the mid-2020s, which we support, and it will only do that if all sectors are firing on all cylinders, with homes for sales, social rent and build-to-rent making their full contribution.”
