HS2 Ltd has renegotiated its main civils contracts with the Align and EKFB joint ventures as part of a wider programme reset aimed at improving cost control and delivery performance. The revised arrangements change the payment structure, but financial details and the formal start date have not been disclosed, and talks with the remaining civils JVs are still ongoing.
The article discusses a High Court decision refusing to enforce a £1.65m adjudication award because the adjudicator relied on a reasoning path that neither party had advanced, breaching natural justice. The case arose from a delay claim on an NEC4 project and reinforces that while adjudication remains a fast interim dispute process, it must still be conducted fairly.
Torsion Construction has entered administration after efforts to secure a rescue solution failed, with the company citing prolonged difficult trading conditions and project-specific commercial pressures. The firm said direct payment arrangements on some projects helped protect clients and supply chain partners, but also reduced working capital, leaving administration as the only viable option.
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.
