A view along the tracks of a small metal railway bridge

RICS comments on Prime Minister’s closing speech at Conservative Party Conference

04 October 2023

The RICS manifesto called for investment in regional rail infrastructure, and we look forward to more detail on Network North. Investors will be looking for certainty and sustainability, and plans should be developed with regional communities. Key to this will also be any further plans to address the housing shortage.

As facts on climate change have not changed and neither has the need to support the next generation, we are hopeful that the new network will embrace sustainable practices. RICS and our members are equipped to support this, and we highlight our recent launch of our world-leading standard for consistent and accurate carbon measurement (Whole Life Carbon Assessment standard*).

RICS has long called for infrastructure that supports communities and growth led by employment. Our latest construction survey has however continued to show skills shortages in construction, and the skills agenda will be critical to delivery of these projects. Industry must take a multifaceted approach to address the skills crisis and ensure greater diversity, equity and inclusion.

Click here to watch RICS Chair Martin Samworth FRICS participate in a panel discussion on 'Will the housing crisis determine the next election?', along with peers from joint institutes Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) and the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), as well as Angus Parsad-Wyatt, chief executive of Conservative Home and Rachel Maclean MP, Minister for Housing.

* supported by DfT and Zero Waste Scotland Whole life carbon assessment (WLCA) for the built environment (rics.org)

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