1. Accelerating the Development of Best Practice Eric Arnold, Consultant 16 September 2010

2. IGT Report (Mar 2010): Proposition 11 “That the professional bodies should propose the necessary regimes and funding that would enable a much more rapid cycle time for best practice, codes and standards. A target of 48 months for the introduction of new standards would have major long term benefits, increasing flexibility and adaptability in the industry and stimulating innovation.” On 26 May, CIC was asked to take this forward, working with its Member Organisations.

4. Accelerating the Development of Best Practice – Some High-Level Options 1.Improve the Forecasting of Demand for New Knowledge. 2.Manage the Information Base Better. 3.Promote Inter-Organisational Cooperation. 4.Improve the Best Practice Development Process. 5.Develop New and Improved Funding Arrangements.

5. Improve the Forecasting of Demand for New Knowledge Proposition: Industry should develop a common agenda for research requirements and identify gaps (CIRIA, BSRIA).

6. Manage the Information Base Better The Information Base is large & fragmented. Proposition (a): develop a communications protocol to facilitate searching the information base across a range of organisations (I Struct E). Proposition (b): develop a standard approach to describing and categorising Best Practice etc (CIRIA).

8. Improve the Best Practice Development Process Many organisations have found that a hybrid approach to preparation (paid author, volunteer review panel) works well. One reason is that, to prepare the contract (between sponsoring organisation and author), you need greater up-front clarity about the nature of the deliverable. Proposition: Other ways to improve the development process need to be explored.

9. Develop New and Improved Funding Arrangements There is particular interest in the concept of a ‘Green Development Bank’, a source of funds (either loans or grants) which professional bodies (or others) could access in order to fund work on Best Practice, Codes and Standards relating to low carbon construction/sustainability. Proposition: that industry should explore with Government the feasibility of establishing new sources of funding for Best Practice etc, such as a Green Development Bank (I Struct E, others).