The draft Government and Industry Sustainable Construction Strategy, which has been launched for consultation, includes targets for reducing on-site waste, using sustainable materials and increasing skills in the workforce.

Stephen Timms, Minister for construction at the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) said:

"People in the construction industry have helped us to build this consultation document, so the message is clear: these changes in working practice are wanted by the Government and industry alike.

"However this strategy is not about introducing new legislation, it is about making existing regulation work better."

The construction industry currently accounts for 1.5% of the UK's greenhouse gas emissions.