Briefing: A brief commentary on facades: a new form of infrastructure

Abstract

The UK's residential housing stock is undergoing a transformation. In 2017, 20% of the national housing stock comprised flats. Over the next 25 years, it is estimated that flats in medium- or high-rise blocks will account for over 50% of new residential construction. As the rate of high-rise residential development accelerates, new forms of external cladding are being developed that are lightweight and quicker to construct. In addition, residential facades are responding to challenges to improve energy efficiency and safety. Following the tragic events of Grenfell Tower in London in 2017 and the subsequent Hackitt report, there has been an expectation that the construction industry can learn from other sectors. Effective systems of design control and quality assurance already exist within infrastructure, for example nuclear and rail. A cultural shift is imminent where practices from these sectors will transfer into residential. This article considers the current practice of facade procurement within the residential sector, reviews how this will be affected by the Building Safety Act 2022 and draws parallels with other types of infrastructure. It is proposed that sectors that may seem far removed from the residential sector have valuable knowledge and experience to share. The article concludes by considering how greater design control, information capture and assurance will have benefits for addressing the zero-carbon agenda.