Construction

Recent Articles

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  19/06/2025

  United Kingdom

  The Supreme Court rules on Building Safety Act issues

  The Supreme Court has last week issued its eagerly awaited decision on various issues arising under the Building Safety Act and the Defective Premises Act. The decision will be of direct relevance to many other building safety claims currently before the courts and those yet to be commenced. Whilst generally consistent with the Court of Appeal’s decision, the Supreme Court has left one important issue for further consideration in future cases.URS Corporation Ltd v BDW Trading Ltd: a recapBDW engaged URS to provide engineering services in relation to two separate developments comprising more...

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  12/06/2025

  Austria

  EU Buildings Directive in Austria: De­car­bon­iz­a­tion of the real estate sector in Austria remains on the agenda despite global uncertainties

  DE

  Amid ongoing global challenges – from the war in Ukraine and the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic to economic uncertainties and volatile (energy) markets – many long-term political issues have temporarily faded into the background. Nevertheless, decisive action on climate protection remains a high piority for the European Union and therefor aldo the national legislator in Austria, particularly with regard to the decarbonization of the building sector. The revised EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) is a direct response to the urgent need to reduce energy consumption...

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  26/05/2025

  Poland

  Poland proposes bill to simplify environmental impact proceedings

  Poland’s Ministry of Climate and Environment has started work on draft legislation amending the Act of 3 October 2008 on access to environmental information, public participation in environmental protection, and environmental impact assessments, and certain other acts. This Draft Amendment is designed to improve the efficiency, clarity, and effectiveness of environmental permitting procedures, address practical challenges identified in the current legal framework, and ensure alignment with EU legislation.The government plans to adopt the new law in the third quarter of 2025. The text of the...

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  16/05/2025

  United Kingdom

  Claims notification provisions in construction contracts: Court of Appeal guidance on “if … then” clauses

  A recent Court of Appeal decision has considered the effect of a claims notification provision using “if … then” language. The Court found that notification itself was a condition precedent, but stopped short of finding that a late notification would bar entitlement. There is very little previous case law on the use of “if … then” notification provisions and the Court’s judgment provides significant guidance on the topic. The judgment also demonstrates the need for care in the drafting of such clauses, as the natural meaning of the words used may be sufficient...

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  09/05/2025

  United Kingdom

  PFAS in soils: con­sid­er­a­tions for landowners and developers

  PFAS are hardly out of the news at the moment and awareness of PFAS risks is growing. In the UK, the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) has launched an inquiry into whether enough is being done to address the risks of PFAS, which will include consideration of whether the current regulatory regime is fit for purpose.  A report for the Environment Agency has identified up to 10,000 “high risk” PFAS contaminated sites in England. In this article, we look at PFAS impacts in soils and the associated legal risks to landowners, developers and lenders and consider the practical steps...

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  07/05/2025

  Serbia

  Reserved, but not protected: Are parking spaces for the disabled serving their purpose in Serbia?

  In new residential and commercial developments in Serbia, developers are required to provide parking spaces reserved for people with disabilities. But what happens to these spaces once construction is complete? Can they be sold? Who can buy them, and will they be used by those in actual need? – questions that underscore the deeper issue of Serbia’s commitment to making space for those who need it most.What the law says and doesn’t say According to Serbian technical regulations, at least 5% of parking spaces in new buildings must be designated for use by people with disabilities....

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