The Build Back Better: COVID-19 Economy Recovery Plan has been put together by experienced regional economist Dr Steve McCabe and construction expert Mike Leonard, both at Birmingham City University.

The report includes a blueprint for a safe return to construction, a set of recommendations to help stimulate demand for new homes and home improvement, and details on how to build essential infrastructure and train a new generation of skilled workers – acting as a catalyst for growth and delivering income for HMRC.

It calls on the UK government to invest £11.27 billion in a wide-reaching programme designed to create mass employment and produce a £33 billion return, particularly by engaging with SMEs to build infrastructure and new homes, as well as improving the existing housing stock.

Mr Leonard, who is also CEO of Building Alliance, said: “History tells us that the construction industry is the tried and tested solution to drive economic recovery, not least due to the fact we manufacture the vast majority of building materials in the UK which provides resilience, skilled jobs and fast returns on investment.

“The upstream and downstream jobs in manufacturing, architecture, planning, engineering, distribution and construction, creates an unrivalled multiplier that can achieve inclusive growth, building back better and helping to rebalance our economy.

“Saving lives must remain our priority but we now have the signal to begin to safely unlock and begin the long path to economic recovery. Construction and the building materials manufacturers are now returning to work with the proper safeguards in place.”

Dr McCabe added: “As and when it is safe to do so, a return in construction activity as well as the building materials manufacturing supporting it will underpin a fast and effective way to begin to begin the process of recovery from what is the greatest shock to the UK’s economy in living memory.”