Legal

The government has rebooted its plans to reform public-sector procurement, with the first reading of a new Procurement Bill in the Lords last week. Many of the planned reforms are expected to have a direct impact on construction. The bill is set to regulate the way frameworks operate, formalise the…

An 18-year-old worker died on a construction site after those in charge of his welfare “abandoned” mandatory safety procedures, a court has heard. Josh Disdel, from Holbeach, was not given an induction for the tasks that he was performing on the day he died in 2018. Contractors on site also…

Government plans to crack down on “guerrilla protests” could lead to harsher sentences for those who disrupt construction of major transport and infrastructure projects. Anyone found guilty of obstructing work could face an unlimited fine, six months’ imprisonment, or both. The Queen’s Speech, delivered by Prince Charles yesterday, confirmed that…

Collapsed Kent-based construction and property firm JVIP Group has been accused of using investors’ cash to hide losses at associated companies. Administrators have suggested that investor money put up to fund specific projects appears to have instead been used by the group’s directors to balance the books of struggling associated…

FM Conway and engineering consultant Clark Smith Partnership (CSP) are liable for defective work at Twickenham Stadium, a judge has ruled. The ruling allows the Rugby Football Union (RFU) to seek £4.4m in damages from FM Conway and CSP after faulty ductwork caused Twickenham Stadium’s roof to leak. The court…

At least 33 companies ‘unwittingly’ paid an organised criminal gang that placed hundreds of Romanian victims onto construction sites. A report by the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner revealed that a criminal gang placed up to 500 victims on building sites in London and the South East between 2009 and 2018. The…

Running to a full 262 pages and packing in safeguards for leaseholders that were unthinkable a little over a year ago, the government’s new Building Safety Bill is finally being passed into law today. This major piece of legislation will update and amend a number of other laws, such as…

Construction contractors are among those who must improve their approach to tackling modern slavery, to safeguard their investor portfolio and improve their conduct. Firms across all sectors still provide “limited and often superficial commentary” on the risk of modern slavery within their supply chain, according to a report by the…

A roofer who gambled away a COVID support loan he secured using false information has been hit by strict limits on his future business activity. The Insolvency Service agreed a bankruptcy restrictions undertaking with David Godderidge after he obtained a “far greater” Bounce Back Loan than he was entitled to.…

Construction workers at a troubled construction site in London have been fined thousands of pounds for holding a party while the country was in lockdown. The six rule-breaking workers were found surrounded by empty beer bottles and celebrating St Patrick's Day on site on 17 March last year, according to…