Established in 2006, NHBC Foundation provides high quality research and practical guidance to support the home-building industry
To date, over 95 reports have been published by NHBC Foundation covering a wide variety of subjects including the sustainability agenda, risk management and complex topics such as hazardous ground gas.
The latest report, Managing construction in a changing climate, looks at the effects of a less predictable climate on the UK construction sector.
Based on a survey of construction managers across Europe, construction projects are already being impacted by changing weather, with over 70% of UK construction managers experiencing major weather-induced delays in 2024, according to Aggreko.
Understanding how the UK climate is changing
Assessment by the Met Office in 2025 shows how baselines are shifting and that temperature and rainfall extremes are becoming the new normal. This means the UK climate is changing rapidly with clear consequences for construction.
The trend shows warmer temperatures in addition to more variable rain patterns, particularly in winter with a 10% increase in annual rainfall compared to the period of 1961-1990. Winters are generally becoming milder, wetter and sunnier, with air and ground frosts reducing by around a quarter since the 1980s.
Summers show more variable trends, but heatwaves are becoming more frequent and when they do occur are more intense. The hottest summer days have warmed around twice as much as average summer days in some UK areas when comparing the latest decade to 1961-1990.
And, in addition to earlier seasonal cycles, the frequency of extreme rainfall events is increasing too, with heavy rainfall days and high monthly totals becoming more common.
In terms of what may be categorised as significant weather events, there is again evidence of them becoming more frequent.
For example, 2024 saw several major weather events, with over 150% of average rainfall in the six-month period from October 2023 to March 2024 across much of England. This resulted in widespread flooding.
What could be the impact of a changing climate?
The impacts of climate and weather hazards on the built environment and construction projects depend on the intersection of weather, location, timing and sensitivity.
Certain locations and areas are more exposed to specific climate-related hazards. For instance, coastal communities are particularly exposed to high wind, flooding or high tides and erosion. Buildings in urban areas are more likely to overheat because of the urban heat island effect and the inability to open windows. While buildings on the edge-of-town or in rural locations and near vegetation will be more at risk from wildfires
in future warming scenarios.
Exposure and areas of susceptibility are projected to increase or expand under future climate and warming scenarios. In addition to general location, sites-specific circumstances influence susceptibility to climate-related hazards including but not limited to:
- Geology (soil type).
- Mature trees.
- Hydrogeology.
- Flood risk (from rivers and sea, surface water, reservoirs and groundwater).
- Links to transport networks (supply of materials).
It is also worth noting that the impact of extreme weather events could be intensified by weather combinations, such as wind-driven rain; previous weather, for example torrential rain falling on dried, less absorbent soil; and the accuracy, or lack of, in forecasting.
What is the potential impact on worker welfare?
Those who work outside, like construction workers, are inevitably at higher risk of harm from extreme weather events.
According to the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) when working outdoors, the weather can have a serious impact on workers’ health if the risks have not been properly managed. Changing and less predictable weather increases the frequency of exposure to extreme conditions, leading to a higher likelihood of accidents and long-term
ill health.
Extreme weather events also increase the risk of largescale construction accidents. They can also trigger collapse, fires, explosions or the release of hazardous substances. The impact on individual workers may be immediate, following an accident, or occur over a longer time, leading to conditions like skin cancer. As the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) highlights, specific workers or groups of workers can be
more adversely impacted by weather-related risks meaning a person-centred approach is required.
Being prepared
Construction projects have always been susceptible to weather fluctuations but, historically, the industry has been able to rely on predictable seasonal weather cycles for scheduling and planning. In a changing climate this model is no longer dependable, with the unpredictability of weather events proving to be a growing operational challenge.
This means that traditional project management frameworks cannot be relied upon as heavily, forcing a shift in focus from managing known risks to managing uncertainty. In addition to preparing for seasonal changes, site/construction managers now also need to be ready for unseasonal weather and the increased risk of overlapping weather events.
In future, site/construction managers need to be prepared for extreme weather events at the outset of construction projects and ahead of the next season. Construction teams should also monitor specific weather forecasts for the site location and conditions on site day-to-day to make informed decisions, anticipate potential disruptions
and mitigate risks where possible.
When unanticipated extreme or significant weather events do occur, action can be taken, including set plans for specific weather conditions. The Managing construction in a changing climate report also contains helpful checklists for a variety of weather events. including heatwaves, storms, flooding, high winds and many more.
Managing construction in a changing climate is available to download for FREE this summer from nhbc.co.uk/foundation
The post NHBC Foundation: Managing construction in a changing climate appeared first on Planning, Building & Construction Today.
