Early estimates only part of the procurement problem

The UK’s poor procurement practices are highlighted yet again by the news that the £19bn Crossrail project can’t be completed with the money available to the project. Crossrail should have opened in December 2018 but is currently hoped to be completed by the first half of 2022.

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Flammable insulation sold using wrong test report, Inquiry hears

Kingspan sold its Kooltherm K15 insulation to the construction sector for over 14 years using a fire test report for an older version of the product, despite this being “common knowledge” within the firm, the Grenfell Tower Inquiry has heard.

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Spending boost demands more collaboration

Next stages of government’s promised ‘infrastructure revolution’ were revealed this week when Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak set out plans for £100Bn of capital investment over the next year at the Spending Review.

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More detail urged in draft Building Safety Bill

Key aspects of the new building safety regime proposed in the wake of the Grenfell Tower Fire are lacking in detail and must be expanded upon within the draft Building Safety Bill, pre-legislative scrutiny has found.

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Infrastructure strategy targets private investment but rejects PFI

Construction lawyers and leading industry figures have broadly welcomed the long awaited publication of government’s National Infrastructure Strategy, which came alongside the Chancellor’s Spending Review announcement this week.

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Major projects suffer from message failure

Government and other promoters of major infrastructure have failed to communicate the importance of these programmes to the public who do not understand the benefits they would deliver, according to a survey of Members of Parliament.

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Early cost estimates hit project performance

Over reliance on early cost and schedule estimates to set target budgets and completion dates is driving detrimental behaviours on major public construction projects, according to a report exploring the root causes of common problems affecting schemes. The National Audit Office report raises a number of interesting learning points that have relevance to all infrastructure projects, one lawyer comments.

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Grenfell insulation supplier ‘dishonest’ and ‘unethical’, Inquiry hears

Celotex – the manufacturer of a flammable insulation product used on Grenfell Tower – acted “dishonestly” and in ways that were “completely unethical” in marketing its product to the construction industry, a former employee has claimed.

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Brexit related risk fears follow government warning

Top actions that construction firms should be taking to prepare for the end of the Brexit transition period have been set out by the government, with just over a month now remaining until new rules on importing, exporting and recruitment come into force. A key issue for projects will be how Brexit related risks have been allocated contractually between the parties, one lawyer emphasises.

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