Government

Peers have accused the government of acting too slowly on cash retentions, as a minister shut down suggestions that there should be a statutory ban on the practice. Export minister Lord Offord of Garvel argued against suggestions from peers to increase government intervention in eliminating cash retentions. Retention payments – typically…

The government is to start work on creating a risk register of data on mass-timber buildings, as part of a package to allay insurer fears over the material’s use in construction. In its Timber in Construction roadmap, launched yesterday (11 December), the government set out proposals to mitigate the safety…

More than 100 schools are set to be completely rebuilt due to the reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) crisis, the education secretary has said. On Wednesday (6 December) the government updated its list of schools and colleges in England that it has identified contain RAAC. The number now stands at…

A Bouygues Travaux Publics-Murphy joint venture (JV) has landed the £1.34bn tunnelling contract for the Lower Thames Crossing. The JV beat competition from a venture comprised of Bam Nuttall, Ferrovial Construction and Vinci Construction Grands Projets, and a bid from a Dragados and Hochtief Infrastructure JV to land the work.…

Former government construction adviser Paul Morrell has hit out at ministers' muted response to a building-safety report published in April. Testing for a Safer Future, written by Morrell and legal expert Anneliese Day, questioned whether regulators would be able to enforce higher standards and said certification bodies had failed to…

Government departments are failing to regularly use project bank accounts (PBAs) on large construction projects, contrary to their own procurement rules, according to exclusive data obtained by Construction News. Cabinet Office procurement rules say PBAs should be used unless there are “compelling reasons” not to do so. However, since 1…

The Scottish Government has said its new legislative plans to improve energy efficiency in the nation’s housing stock will incentivise construction businesses to invest in upskilling. Zero carbon buildings minister Patrick Harvie said proposals under consultation as part of the long-awaited Heat in Buildings Bill would provide the certainty needed…

The government has released details of the likely information that large contractors will have to publish about their retentions. Business secretary Kemi Badenoch announced in October that major construction companies will be forced to report key details about the retentions they hold as part of a crackdown on poor payment…

A presumption of planning approval within certain areas could be formally advocated by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which is currently investigating the housebuilding sector. A zonal system was set to be introduced in England by the government in 2020 but was subsequently shelved by levelling up secretary Michael…

Firms looking to win significant government contracts will have to show they pay invoices within 30 days, it has been announced. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said this week that in order to help small businesses, Whitehall procurement rules will be strengthened to speed up large companies’ payments to their supply chains.…