ABSTRACT
Traditionally procurement in the construction sector was undertaken without further consideration as to the costs, which would be incurred from acquisition to disposal. A shift has occurred towards considering alternative procurement methods that provide scope to embrace the use of sustainability. Lowest cost procurement is recognized as constraining housing quality and sustainability. The need for adequate housing has reached a critical stage in the majority of countries in the EU, with investment in Social Housing becoming a priority for Member States. Life-cycle costing (LCC) has been recognized as one of the essential techniques for sustainable development. The objectives of this research are to inform the development of a LCC framework for contracting authorities when procuring Social Housing in the EU. The research considers the background of previous work related to this topic to frame the problems identified with LCC and its implementation in context: qualitative modes of enquiry are employed to map and comprehensively analyse the development of LCC in the construction sector and the evolution in the methodologies and standard measurements. How LCC is currently utilised in the Construction Procurement regime is investigated with Ireland, the United Kingdom, Scotland and Austria being used as examples of government guidance for the use of LCC in construction procurement. An overview of social housing in the EU is given establishing the links to procurement and LCC, with a focus on the direction that Ireland has taken. Finally, the benefits, barriers and drivers of LLC in the construction sector are examined, showing the gaps between theory and practice. It is suggested that a standard European methodology on the use of LCC in the construction sector maintenance costs must be developed and training offered in its use together with the need for future research into a framework that addresses social, economic and environmental aspects of sustainability.
