Government departments responsibility for construction
This article sets out the responsibilities of central government departments for different aspects of the construction industry.
[edit] HM Treasury
Cabinet office:
- Efficiency and Reform Group (ERG).
- Major Projects Authority (MPA).
- Government Construction Strategy.
- Government Construction Board.
- Government Property Agency (GPA).
- Office of Government Property.
Infrastructure and Projects Authority (formerly Infrastructure UK):
[edit] Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
- Health and Safety Executive (HSE), a non-departmental public body (NDPB).
- Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (CDM).
[edit] Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
- Building regulations.
- Building safety.
- Planning permission.
- Planning policy.
- Homes England.
- Fire and Rescue Service.
- Architecture (transferred from DCMS in April 2015)
For more information see: Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
[edit] Home Office
For more information see: Home Office.
[edit] Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
- Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI), an independent regulator for England and Wales.
- Environment Agency (EA), a non-departmental public body (NDPB).
- Natural England, a non-departmental public body (NDPB).
[edit] Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)
- Historic England, a non-departmental public body (NDPB).
[edit] Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS)
Formerly the Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) and the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS)
- Energy saving and climate change policy.
- BIM Task Group.
- Construction Sector Unit.
- Green Construction Board.
- Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS).
- Technology Strategy Board (TSB), a non-departmental public body (NDPB).
- Construction 2025 (jointly with industry).
In 2023, BEIS was split into three new departments, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, and the Department for Business and Trade. For more information see: UK department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy split into three new departments
[edit] Local Authorities
[edit] Devolution
- Following devolution in the UK, responsibility for many aspects of construction industry policy, oversight and regulation have been passed to the authorities in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. See UK for more information. This includes building regulations and planning policy.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Arm's length body ALB.
- Composition of UK construction industry 2013.
- Construction 2025.
- Construction knowledge.
- Construction industry institutes and associations.
- Construction industry reports.
- Crown estate.
- Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
- Devolution.
- Fragmentation of the UK construction industry.
- Government Construction Strategy.
- Home office.
- Local authority.
- Office of Government Property.
- Other construction industry organisations.
- Planning policy.
- Public authority.
- Public body.
- Public contracting authority.
- STBA report to provide blueprint for post-COVID recovery.
- UK.
- UK construction industry.
Featured articles and news
We're expanding our collaborative mission by launching DB Intelligence, an exclusive market research advisory panel. Built environment professionals can now get paid to share their expertise on industry trends, products and services.
Panel members receive direct financial incentives for participating in research projects like short surveys, 1-2-1 interviews and focus groups. Register today to shape the future of the construction sector.
Overheating guidance and tools for building designers
Guidance for dealing with element of building fabric control that have increasing importance.
Shading for housing, a design guide
From the Good Homes Alliance and British Blind and Shutter Association.
UK Standard Skills Classification (SSC)
A shared framework for describing skills needs.
Social media ban consultation comes to close
CIOB urges UK Government to consider social media’s role in careers guidance in ban debate.
The latest of eight Skills England apprenticeship units
The addition of battery manufacturing welcomed by ECA with a warning about the risks of fast-tracked apprenticeship units.
Building Control Independent Panel final report
A precis of a key report led by Dame Hackitt with full recommendations and link to the government response.
Guide to ISO 19650 for Architecture Firms (2026)
A user gives their low down.
A UK training and membership provider for mould remediation professionals.
Building Safety recap April, 2026
A short and longer run-through of the month, with links to further information and sources.
CIAT May 2026 briefing.
Independent NSI and BAFE study exploring how organisations are changing the way they buy fire safety services.
From medieval scribes to modern word art.
ECA welcomes crackdown on late payment and push for clean energy, whilst CIOB seek fixed cladding removal timeframes.
Cyber Security in the Built Environment
Protecting projects, data, and digital assets: A CIOB Academy TIS.
Managing competence in the built environment
ITFG publishes new industry guide on how to meet the ICC principles.
The UK's campaign to reduce noise pollution: Mythbusting, articles and topic guides.























Comments