Ahead of the next phase of the building safety regime coming into effect from 1 October, Build UK has updated its guide and timeline to reflect the regulations and supporting guidance that have recently been published. Changes in the July 2023 version of the guide, which is supported by the CLC, include:

• Clarifying the definition of a Higher‐Risk Building
• A link to the guidance on Key Building Information (KBI), which must be submitted as part of the registration process for High‐Rise Residential Buildings
• Updated information on the new building control framework
• New guidance on Planning Gateway One and confirmation that hospitals and care homes are excluded from the requirements
• An updated link to guidance on the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order.

To ensure businesses across the supply chain are aware of their responsibilities under the new regime, Build UK is sharing its guide through Building Magazine. In an article published earlier this week, Build UK Chief Executive Suzannah Nichol explained: “We believe that helping the whole supply chain to see the bigger picture will make it easier for everyone to understand where they fit in and what their responsibilities are…No one company or organisation can do this alone. We talk a lot about collaboration and this really does need a combined effort from Team Construction.”

All the latest information can be found in Build UK's Building Safety update,

BAM Construction has become the latest Build UK member to specify the Common Assessment Standard for its pre‐qualification requirements, with Head of Procurement Dan Billinge confirming: “At BAM, we are always exploring ways to create efficiencies for our valued supply chain partners…By introducing the Common Assessment Standard as our pre‐qualification process, we are now accepting all Recognised Assessment Bodies, resulting in reduced cost and time for our partners.”

BAM Construction joins a growing list of organisations using the Common Assessment Standard, and members of the supply chain can now obtain just one certification from any of the Recognised Assessment Bodies in order to tender for work with them. The Common Assessment Standard, which is endorsed by the CLC, has two levels of certification ‐ desktop and site‐based ‐ and companies should apply for the appropriate level depending on their trade, size and the requirements of their clients.

Following the issue of PPN 03/23 earlier this year, which allows public sector bodies to use the Common Assessment Standard in place of PAS 91, Build UK has published an updated version of the Common Assessment Standard. Version 3.2 includes minor updates to the question set and associated guidance to reflect further legislative changes post‐Brexit and to provide additional clarity for companies being certified. Suppliers will now be required to answer the updated question set when they go through the certification process for the Common Assessment Standard.

We have also collated a series of communication tools to help promote the Common Assessment Standard across the supply chain. These include new Frequently Asked Questions for public sector bodies looking to use the Common Assessment Standard for their pre‐qualification requirements.

The JCT suite of contracts identifies a number of events known as ‘Specified Perils’ that might cause damage, for example fire, lightning, explosions and floods, which are outside the coverage of indemnities provided by the supply chain. In the event a Specified Peril occurs, the standard position under JCT is that the supply chain has no liability for delay but cannot recover their costs from the client, and the client has no liability to the supply chain but cannot recover delay damages. However, it has become increasingly common to include provisions that remove the supply chain’s immunity from liability for delays where the Specified Peril was caused by them, shifting the balance of risk unevenly in favour of clients. Build UK recommends that the standard JCT position is followed and parties do not include provisions which state that Specified Perils will not give rise to an extension of time where caused by the contractor/sub‐contractor.

Specified Perils is one of six terms covered in Build UK’s recommendation on contract terms designed to encourage a fairer allocation of risk between clients and the supply chain. We have published guidance explaining why each term should be avoided and setting out ways to manage the underlying issues more effectively. The recommendation is non‐binding and Build UK members are free to negotiate their own contractual terms.

The Government has confirmed that it remains committed to building 40 new hospitals by 2030 and will invest over £20 billion into the New Hospital Programme (NHP). The list now includes five existing hospitals that will be rebuilt as they contain a significant amount of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) which has a limited lifespan and is at risk of failure, plus three new mental health facilities that are not part of the NHP. As a result, eight projects that were included in the original list of 40 have been pushed back until after 2030.

Build UK recently facilitated the first collaborative roundtable with the NHP, one of our Client members, which brought together Contractor members to look at how the industry could work with the NHP to deliver one of the largest programmes in the UK.

The Government has announced new measures to support Ukraine under its free trade agreement.

To read more about the new measures outlined by the Government, please log into the CFA members area. 

In light of recent Parliamentary discussions on the use of retentions in construction, Build UK and other members of the CLC have met with Construction Minister Lee Rowley to discuss how Government and industry can work together on this issue, building on the work previously undertaken by Build UK through their Roadmap to Zero Retentions. 

To read more about the new update from Build UK, please log into the CFA members area. 

The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), a Build UK Alliance member, has published its Low Carbon Concrete Route Map.

To read more about the Low Carbon Concrete Route Map, please log into the CFA members area. 

The Employment Allowance has recently risen.

To read more about the new Employment Allowance, please log into the CFA members area. 

The New Hospital Programme (NHP), which is developing 48 hospitals by 2030, has published the NHP Supplier Guide.

To read the NHP Supplier Guide, please log into the CFA members area.