Commentators and forecasters across the world are grasping at whatever straws they think they can see for signs of a rebound from the Covid-19 lockdown’s impact on economies.
Blog and Comment
Delay and disruption battles loom
What a difference a month makes. Four short weeks ago lockdown was in full swing and although some construction sites remained open many were effectively closed; those in Scotland were ordered to close by the Scottish Government.
The paper trail to survival
Confusion still reigned as we went to press over how construction companies should respond to the conflicting messages being issued by governments over whether sites can, or should, or might be able to safely operate.
Coronavirus confusion reigns
It is alarming that so much confusion reigned as we went to press over whether or not construction sites should close down, with the Scottish Government initially saying work should stop on all but ‘essential’ projects while the Westminster government was allowing sites to open.
Grenfell reform may extend to procurement
Construction seems to be constantly under pressure to reform, with pressure heightening in the wake of disasters like the 2017 Grenfell Tower tragedy. These calls seem to fall mostly on deaf ears so the next thing heard is usually calls for the industry to have reform imposed upon it by legislation.
High speed vanity?
A ‘renaissance’ in UK infrastructure investment expected to be announced alongside the Budget in March has attracted a lot of comment, but few in the perennial political football that is the construction industry will yet have much confidence that anything transformational is likely to be a widespread agreement that private funding in some form will be needed in a post austerity world, with the current Chancellor of the Exchequer Sajid Javid promising an ‘infrastructure revolution’ as an extra £13 billion or so is pumped into public services. But the signs for private finance in any form are not good.
If not private finance, then what?
The government’s replacement for private finance is the subject of consultation, held up like so much else at the Brexit roadblock, and now by a general election. The conclusion of the consultation is keenly awaited by an industry worried about what infrastructure will actually be built – as opposed to the programmes promised by politicians caught up in election hysteria – and crucially, how it will be paid for.
Procurement needs more competition and transparency
Public sector procurement has always been a focus of interest to Construction Law and in recent years recognition of the need for reform has been growing.
No easy rides for late payment reform
The UK government will take account of a supplier’s approach to payment when it comes to allowing it to tender for public sector projects, according to new payment practice rules.
Crossrail fiasco can expect further scrutiny
Another scathing report from a parliamentary select committee has further shredded the remnants of the UK’s reputation for infrastructure procurement. We reported two issues ago (CL Vol 30 No 5) on the evidence session of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) which brought out some astonishing revelations in the wake of the discovery that the Crossrail project was late and over budget.