News in brief: August 2013

Fatal injuries in construction have fallen according to Health and Safety Executive figures that show 39 fatal injuries in the year to March 2013, compared to 48 the year before.

To read more of this and every other news story on this site, please log in with your Construction Law membership account details. If you don't have an account, you can get free access to the news on this site and receive a free newsletter on Fridays by creating a Newsletter account. See the panel to the right.

Subscribers to the printed magazine get access to the entire Construction law website.

Code to cut costs

Avoluntary code of conduct for public sector bodies and private sector partners in private finance schemes has been launched by the government, which is intended to bring down the cost of existing private finance deals on projects such as schools and hospitals.

To read more of this and every other news story on this site, please log in with your Construction Law membership account details. If you don't have an account, you can get free access to the news on this site and receive a free newsletter on Fridays by creating a Newsletter account. See the panel to the right.

Subscribers to the printed magazine get access to the entire Construction law website.

Efficiency drive pays off

Increased scrutiny of the performance of suppliers is promised by the Treasury and the results could be shared with other clients, according to the government’s second annual report on its three year Infrastructure Cost Review programme.

To read more of this and every other news story on this site, please log in with your Construction Law membership account details. If you don't have an account, you can get free access to the news on this site and receive a free newsletter on Fridays by creating a Newsletter account. See the panel to the right.

Subscribers to the printed magazine get access to the entire Construction law website.

Joint strategy launched

Construction and life cycle costs are to fall by 33 per cent and project completions are to be achieved in half the time by 2025, according to the government’s new strategy for the sector.

To read more of this and every other news story on this site, please log in with your Construction Law membership account details. If you don't have an account, you can get free access to the news on this site and receive a free newsletter on Fridays by creating a Newsletter account. See the panel to the right.

Subscribers to the printed magazine get access to the entire Construction law website.

End feast and famine first

Construction in 2025 will certainly be a hugely different industry from the one it is now if even a fraction of the ambition revealed in the government’s new report Construction 2025 is realised. Construction costs to be down by 33 per cent, projects to be completed in half the time that they are now, planning reformed, late delivery and cost overruns a thing of the past, no more accidents … the list goes on (see news).

Read more

International arbitration – an industry perspective

In the latest article in our alternative dispute resolution series Rachel Chaplin of Clyde & Co reviews the findings of a survey into the international use of arbitration. Fears of ‘judicialisation’ have not put people off its use.

This story is only available to subscribers to the printed edition of Construction Law. If you have a subscription please log in to read the rest of the story.

Conditions and warranties in insurance policies

Breaches of warranties can void insurance policies, even if they had no impact on the events leading to claims under a policy, warns insurance expert John D Wright of JD Risk Associates in this review of common conditions and warranties.

This story is only available to subscribers to the printed edition of Construction Law. If you have a subscription please log in to read the rest of the story.

Keeping the faith

Good faith clauses seem to be growing in use, but not all parties seem to be fully aware of their significance, says Vijay Bange of Trowers & Hamlins. Recent cases show the dangers of being over reliant on them.

This story is only available to subscribers to the printed edition of Construction Law. If you have a subscription please log in to read the rest of the story.

Dark clouds lifting

Nick Kramer and Dean Ryburn of Dentons say construction is resurgent in the United Arab Emirates, a traditional stamping ground of UK consultants and contractors. Lessons need to be learned from the last boom as many cases from those days are still in the courts.

This story is only available to subscribers to the printed edition of Construction Law. If you have a subscription please log in to read the rest of the story.

Beware men of straw

Little guidance has been available as to whether net contribution clauses would be upheld by courts in England and Wales. Dileep Pisharody of Hill Dickinson reviews a recent case that gives guidance for the first time – and provides a salutary lesson on the need to be fair and clear when drafting them.

This story is only available to subscribers to the printed edition of Construction Law. If you have a subscription please log in to read the rest of the story.

+ More