Opinion

Bill Barton is a director at Barton Legal There has been no shortage of excitement about the potential applications of artificial intelligence (AI) across the legal sector. Some have even foreseen a future where AI sits as a judge, at least in the more straightforward cases. Already, a number of…

Amos Simbo is founder and chief executive of BPIC Network BPIC Network is a built environment network and consultancy working with the industry to bring inclusion and social impact to life. Over the years, our journey as a network has shown the power of collaboration across the built environment, showcasing…

Reece Lake is head of business operations at property finance firm Atelier The UK’s housing shortfall urgently requires creative solutions. Offsite construction has long been held up as a way to address it, given its potential to construct schemes efficiently and at speed. However, if it is to play a…

Jon Bootland is chief executive of the Passivhaus Trust, which promotes the adoption of the international Passivhaus eco-design standard in the UK Passivhaus is on the rise in the UK, with the Scottish Government developing a Passivhaus-equivalent policy for the energy efficiency of new-build housing, and local authorities and social…

Richard Stockley is the managing director of health and safety consultancy RRC International The Factories Act of 1833 kickstarted a culture of health and safety in the UK, and this year marks the 50th anniversary of the Health and Safety at Work Act. But construction workers aren’t just risking their…

Adrian Buttress is the managing director of PermaGroup Keeping contractors safe while working on site is not just about avoiding imminent risks and injury. Long-term health problems impact all areas of construction; by being aware of the dangers, and implementing the correct safety protocols, the sector can ensure its workers…

Matt Clarke is a director at Boyer The ambitious plans initially labelled Cambridge 2040 (albeit that deadline has now advanced to 2050) will undoubtedly create opportunities for the construction sector. Plans to create ‘Europe’s Silicon Valley’, with a significant number of new businesses and a further 150,000 new homes, are…

Tim Atwood is a senior associate at law firm CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang  The recent Technology and Construction Court (TCC) decision in Providence Building Services Ltd v Hexagon Housing Association Ltd considered the JCT termination provisions and concluded that a repeated breach by a client only entitles a contractor…

Eric Johnstone is a legal director at law firm Brodies LLP  On 1 October 2023, the Building Safety Act 2022 (BSA) brought in a new building-control regime for higher-risk buildings (HRBs). Under the new regime, the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) is responsible for building-control approval for works to new and…

Adam Nicholson is group preconstruction director at McLaren Construction As building safety regulation has crystalised, it has become clear that digitised upskilling is as important to the modernisation of the construction industry as digitised delivery. It was clear two years ago that the emerging building safety legislation could boost skills…