The article examines the NHS New Hospital Programme’s first wave of Hospital 2.0 schemes, which will use standardised designs and an alliance delivery model to accelerate construction and reduce costs. Industry leaders highlighted significant constraints in supply chain capacity, specialist skills and the need to navigate building safety gateway approvals for higher-risk hospital projects.
Ardmore’s moratorium has been extended into next month, with the firm saying the additional time will allow it to prepare an appeal against a BLO judgement. The article indicates an ongoing legal and procedural development rather than a completed resolution.
The article argues that reforms to late payment in construction should distinguish between unlawful late payment and legitimate retentions. It warns that a blanket ban on retentions could undermine building quality, complicate payment structures, and create delays in higher-risk residential projects, including gateway three approvals under the building safety regime.
The article reports on a Technology and Construction Court decision in Mallas v Persimmon Homes Ltd [2025], which reiterates how the courts approach proportionality in high-value remedial claims. It highlights that housebuilders may still face substantial liability, while the court’s reasoning provides guidance on when demolition or other remedial works may be considered.
New research commissioned by Flood Re and carried out by Ardent Consulting Engineers recommends introducing Flood Performance Certificates for all new-build homes in England. The proposal would create a post-construction verification process to record whether flood mitigation and property flood resilience measures approved through planning have actually been delivered.
Leeds-based Torsion Construction has filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators after experiencing liquidity pressures and project-related commercial difficulties. The notice provides temporary protection from creditor action while directors assess funding and restructuring options.
A build-to-rent developer group is suing Laing O’Rourke over alleged defects in work on a high-rise residential development, claiming the towers were left not fit for human habitation. The article indicates the dispute concerns multiple alleged defects, but provides limited detail on the specific issues or legal basis beyond the headline claim.
The Ministry of Defence has set out three major 10-year infrastructure programmes worth £60bn to renew naval, army and RAF estates across the UK. The plan also includes wider defence estate spending over the next four years, but it does not yet explain how the work will be packaged or procured.
The University of Strathclyde abandoned plans for living walls on two Glasgow campus buildings after RAAC was discovered in both structures. Funding originally allocated for the sustainability project was repurposed, highlighting how RAAC can disrupt planned capital works and wider estate improvements.
The article indicates that Helical expects Gateway 2 approval for a student residential block above Southwark tube station by the end of the year. It also notes the developer’s view that a shortage of top-class office space in London is likely to persist for several years.
The article argues that Ardmore Group’s construction arm collapse highlights the growing impact of the post-Grenfell liability regime on contractors with historic defects exposure. It also links this to wider housing delivery concerns, noting that confidence and slogans are no substitute for a workable plan to meet housing targets.
NHBC Building Control Services, the largest registered building control approver, has been issued with an improvement notice after failing to properly record evidence in its site inspection reports. The notice highlights concerns about the adequacy of record-keeping within building control processes.
