The U.K.’s Construction Debate: Is Inaction More Dangerous Than AI?

The real danger to U.K. construction isn’t that AI will replace people—it’s that poor design and lost expertise are costing billions before a single brick is laid. Mark Snell, Technical Director at Dalkia UK and a driving force at the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA), explains why AI, regulatory change, and workforce shifts aren’t threats—they’re the tools to fix a system already under strain. From turning “lessons identified” into actual lessons learned to capturing the knowledge walking out the door, Snell makes the case that the future of the industry depends on confronting its design flaws now—before they become irreversible.