Air pollution is a killer and construction is part of the problem. About five thousand die annually from nitrogen dioxide pollution in the UK and construction is responsible for up to seven per cent of the problem in places like London.

Worryingly, the polluting equipment does not get replaced quickly. With very high replacement costs, builders will often hang on to heavily polluting machinery for up to 20 years. The limited regulations reflect this by taking a phased approach. Change risks being slow.