Financial & Legal
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JCT has added contract administration training to its autumn programme. The November course uses Design and Build Contract 2024 to examine notices, delays, loss and expense, design submissions, record keeping, and contractual risk.
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Government has revised fibre installation rules for existing non-HRB buildings. The replacement direction removes one prior approval condition while retaining firestopping, weatherproofing, soundproofing, competence, technical-standard, and building-regulation duties.
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Barratt Redrow agrees £201,500 after Yate construction water pollution incident. BDW Trading also spent more than £180,000 on remediation, training, and improved surface-water controls after silt entered two nearby watercourses.
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Crest Nicholson has cut completions guidance and forecasts £10m loss. Weaker summer sales and competitive pricing have reduced the housebuilder’s FY26 expectations, although its forecast year-end net debt position has improved.
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CField returned to profit after clearing difficult legacy construction contracts. Turnover fell to £83 million in 2025, but pre-tax profit reached £3.3 million and year-end cash more than doubled to £13.5 million.
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HOCHTIEF has agreed to acquire German power transmission specialist Autmatec. The transaction adds around 80 specialists and overhead-line construction capability while Germany continues planning substantial extra-high-voltage network expansion.
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NatureScot has opened consultation on Scotland’s new planning biodiversity metric. The working tool will support quantitative assessment under NPF4, with feedback informing a refined Version 1 expected in spring 2027.
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Planning departments across England and Wales remain severely understaffed nationally. HBF and Paragon estimate councils need 2,660 additional planners, while only around one-fifth of major applications meet the statutory 13-week determination period.
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North Lanarkshire has outlined almost 2,400 affordable homes through 2032. The five-year pipeline combines 1,973 approved homes with 399 new proposals, although funding and individual project viability remain conditions of delivery.
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Scotland has pledged £14m towards Glasgow’s People’s Palace restoration project. The £50.86m programme is now targeting December 2029 reopening, with further council and National Lottery Heritage Fund decisions still required.