Dame Judith Hackitt stated that 'Improving the procurement process will play a large part in setting the tone for any construction project...where the drive for quality and the required safety outcomes, rather than lowest costs must start'. This guidance explains crucial improvements that will deliver safer buildings, using proven principles of collaborative procurement that should be adopted by all public sector and private sector clients and by the teams with whom they work. These improvements establish new norms that can be applied through a range of procurement models and contracts.

The changes proposed in this guidance use better project planning, fairer treatment of risk and more accurate information to create improvements in the safety and quality of higher risk projects within the scope of the Building Safety Bill. The case studies show how these changes also deliver other improvements in economic, social and environmental value.

This guidance makes clear the direct links between collaborative practices and the means by which dutyholders should address relevant questions arising at each of the 'gateways' identified in the Building Safety Bill. It proposes specific actions that will assist the marketplace in making submissions to the new Building Safety Regulator, and its recommendations should not be viewed only as 'nice to have'.

We recommend and support the adoption of this guidance and the specific actions that it advocates.

Paul Nash, Chartered Institute of Building

Duncan Brock and Carl Thomas, CIPS

Alison Nicholl, Constructing Excellence

John P Welch, Crown Commercial Service

Trevor Hursthouse, Lingwood Management Services (also representing Actuate UK)

Martin Cawthorn, L&Q

Kevin Murray, Metre Sq

Professor John Cole, RIBA

Alan Muse and Steven Thompson, RICS

Barry Beavis, Sharpfibre representing the Association of Passive Fire Protection (ASFP)

Rebecca Rees, Trowers & Hamlins

Tim Cummins, World Commerce and Contracting