Blog: Who pays the price of long short-termism?

by Susan Murray, DHI Director

Today, Storm Ciarán is turning people’s lives upside down.  For some people, the impact has been devastating and will last long after the news cameras move on.  

Photo credit: Eileen Groome

The increasing frequency of storms has got me thinking about building standards and transferring of risk.

Again and again advisors have recommended stronger building standards to cope with the effects of climate change – higher wind speeds, heavier rainfall and intense heat to name just three.

But we have seen little change in those standards. A strong industry lobby against any changes has argued that changes would drive up costs.  

But who really pays?

Our weather is changing and we need to prepare our buildings for the changes. A series of papers from 2013/4 from the National Building Standards are fascinating.  They deal with everything from excess heat, drought, wind, flooding and subsidence - if you get that sinking feeling, it could be a sinkhole as we will be seeing more of them.

So why are our buildings not more resilient and providing safe refuge in a storm?

Reading the NBS papers, comments jump out like “Consideration should be given to specifying single car-width garage doors in preference to double car-width – the increased size can enhance wind deflection… and the roof can be subjected to additional uplift action, thereby increasing the risk of the roof being damaged.”  

Do you think all the people buying shiny new homes with double garages know that they have a higher risk of their roof blowing off?

Long after the developers have moved on to new sites, some home-owners find they are carrying the risk of the lower standards and any resulting repair costs. Even with the current standards, increasingly there is evidence of “weak compliance” and “indifference around build quality” according to the Hackitt Review of Building regulations. 

A new industry is emerging of professional snagging companies, one of which is now a hit on social media after capturing their horrifying findings on youtube and TikTok.  However, not everyone can afford a professional snagging company.

Standards matter. 

But if the current regulations are not being enforced and politicians continually bow to pressure against raising standards, this will cost us all more in the long run.

I was introduced to a new acronym this week NIMTO – not in my term of office.  Building standards might not be seen as a vote winner but they matter. We need to end this long short-termism and face up to the challenges ahead or ultimately the state will be picking up the pieces of shattered lives.

Further reading:

UK Housing - Fit for the Future, Climate Change Committee

The Hackett Review: Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety, Uk Government