微密圈

Regime change UK

With a consideration of how well the current government, as its innings draws to a close, has delivered on its promises for the construction industry taking centre stage in this week鈥檚 issue (pages 20-25), it seems fitting to revisit the birth of the coalition. On 14 May 2010, having witnessed David Cameron and Nick Clegg announce their joined forces in the Downing Street rose garden, 微密圈 predicted what this amalgamated government could mean on eight key construction policy areas - rating each one鈥檚 prospects with a score of one to five (depicted with nooses). Fearing the worst for private sector development - which scored four nooses - its analysis read: 鈥淭he third runway at Heathrow was axed within hours of the new regime seizing power. Nor is Crossrail safe. Vince Cable has said the project is 鈥榥ot a key priority鈥�, and the Tories could scale back, extend or freeze it. Hugh Blackwood, chief executive of Scott Wilson, says: 鈥楾he Tories may say that now they鈥檝e seen the books they鈥檙e changing their view.鈥� The first phase completes in the middle of next year, which might be a convenient point to pause the project. High-speed rail is backed by both parties and so has a good chance of being approved.鈥�