At a meeting recently I was chastised for being rather too glum, so I have been casting around of late for more colourful topics in these black times for construction.

Positives are rather hard to find, but I had an interesting conversation this morning with an industry contact who has been working closely with Whitehall policy makers on potential construction initiatives.

Relating the bare bones of the initiative he said a tight-knit rainbow coalition of construction and other related experts have been brought together to do some blue sky thinking on possible ways of building ourselves out of recession.

I am told the task force has been given the codename “Puce” – public urban construction enterprise. Its remit seemingly is to find ways to guarantee a fast bounce back for construction that will avoid the public finances falling further into the red.

Legislation is being considered on the back of the work of Puce and I am told that the group is coming close to finalising a draft green paper. The emphasis is on clearing the way for a rapid rebound in construction activity when the money starts to flow more freely. But the plans appear not to be one for shrinking violets.

First among the many proposals under consideration is the extension of compulsory purchase legislation to create more easily developed brownfield sites.

On the agenda is the establishment of areas that will be prioritised in zones on a “traffic light” basis red, amber or green according to urgency levels.

One of the more draconian proposals in the blueprint for a faster construction recovery, I am told, is the introduction of a new so-called “Indigo” test for unoccupied buildings. It will mean that owners will have to demonstrate “green” credentials if the building is not be demolished.

Local authorities are also to be given other new powers to clear the way for site preparation ahead of construction in what is described internally as a “brown revolution”, which certainly in the short term will be music to the ears of demolition and groundwork contractors and manufacturers of yellow kit.

So while the adverts may insist the future is orange, it would seem that for construction it is brown.