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Construction consultants have offered to fund the role of chief construction adviser, after the government suddenly announced its decision to axe the post.

Construction leaders reacted with dismay at .

The chief construction adviser role will not be renewed when the current incumbent Peter Hansford鈥檚 (pictured) tenure ends in November, while the Construction Leadership Council has been slashed down from 30 to 12 members.

Only six of the CLC鈥檚 12 posts have so far been confirmed, but half of these are taken up by contractor executives. The industry鈥檚 consultants and suppliers are so far not represented.

The Construction Industry Council, which represents 46 professional bodies including the RICS and the RIBA, offered to help stump up the funds to enable the chief construction adviser role to continue.

Sean Tompkins, chief executive of the RICS, said: 鈥淭he united industry worked hard to establish a single point of contact through the chief construction adviser and has ensured that two good people have filled the post effectively over the past six years.  

鈥淭he role is still required and 鈥� if this is an issue of cost 鈥� the leading members of CIC would be willing to make the necessary contribution to keep this important post which combines both expert adviser to ministers and the highest representative of industry鈥�.  

The chief construction adviser role was first introduced in 2009 in response to a recommendation by the then House of Commons business and enterprise committee and was first held by former Davis Langdon senior partner Paul Morrell.

Stephen Hodder, RIBA president, said the loss of the chief construction adviser role was a 鈥渓oss鈥� at a 鈥渃rucial time鈥� for the industry as it faces chronic skills shortages.

Hodder also criticised the lack of representations for construction鈥檚 professions, including architecture: 鈥淚t鈥檚 vital that the work of the new Construction Leadership Council is informed by the whole of the industry and the professional services sector has strong representation.鈥�

Tony Burton, a former member of the CLC and Construction Industry Council chairman and senior partner at consultant Gardiner & Theobald, said he was 鈥渄isappointed鈥� government did not consult more widely before announcing the changes.

Burton said: 鈥淚t is a pity that this announcement comes without meaningful consultation with industry about the proposals.

鈥淭his is especially so given the industry鈥檚 unanimous support for the continuation of the chief construction adviser鈥檚 role and it is a pity that this united voice has been ignored.鈥�

The Construction Products Association also said it was 鈥渄isappointed鈥� with the government鈥檚 actions: 鈥淭he new Council will no longer represent the whole construction supply chain as it does not have an industry leader from construction product manufacturing or distribution.

鈥淭he decision means one-third of the construction supply chain by value will be absent from the council鈥檚 membership.鈥�

Graham Watts, chief executive of the Construction Industry Council, said: 鈥淭he industry once had a dedicated minister of state; but, over time, ministerial interaction with construction has greatly diminished. 

鈥淪ome eight years ago, the appointment of a chief construction officer was recommended by the Trade and Industry select committee and, in due course, that recommendation was accepted by government.  I don鈥檛 see any circumstances that have changed to negate the need for the role鈥�.

The Institution of Civil Engineers director general Nick Baveystock was more sanguine. He said: 鈥淲hile the remit of the new [CLC] appears less defined, we are pleased it will continue and hope the new structure provides the same level of leadership and ownership.

鈥淚t is also important that the progress made by the previous members is captured and built on to ensure continuity.鈥�