Experts assembled for a Construction News roundtable to assess whether the spread of digital payment technology might finally accelerate construction’s notoriously slow cashflow. Adam Branson reports
After a pandemic-induced break last year, the NCE Graduate and Apprentice Awards returned to highlight the talent of young engineers across the country.
By Jordan Marshall2021-02-09T13:14:00+00:00
Cabinet Office appoints lawyer to establish gold standard for public sector work as part of Construction Playbook reforms
The Cabinet Office has launched an independent review of construction frameworks as part of the implementation of its Construction Playbook reforms.
Cabinet Office minister Lord Agnew has confirmed David Mosey, professor of construction law at King’s College London, will lead the review to establish a gold standard against which proposed frameworks can be measured. The review will also consider standard contract terms and training packages.
David Mosey
The aim is for this to enable contracting authorities to identify which frameworks meet the practices and policies set out in the playbook in December in order to make the delivery of public sector work more efficient and sustainable.
By Jordan Marshall2020-12-16T13:45:00+00:00
But environmental groups vow to block £14bn project in planning
The construction industry has welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision to allow a third runway to be built at Heathrow Airport.
This morning the UK’s highest court overturned a decision by the Court of Appeal that the government’s approval of the scheme, which was outlined in the Airports National Policy Statement, had beeen unlawful because it ignored the country’s commitment to the Paris climate agreement.
Today’s ruling means the £14bn project can now proceed.
Source: Fasttailwind/Shutterstock.com
The panel of five justices overruled the decision made by the Court of Appeal in February. They decided that former transport secretary Chris Grayling had acted within the law when he approved the scheme by relying on domestic legislation rather than taking into account the Paris commitment to limit global warming to below 2°C.
By Tom Lowe2020-12-14T13:13:00+00:00
Discussions with EDF come at same time as publication of energy white paper
The government has started talks with French energy giant EDF about the construction of the £20bn Sizewell C nuclear power plant in Suffolk.
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said negotiations over the scheme, which has come under fire from campaigners for its hefty price tag, would be subject to agreeing a value-for-money deal before a final decision to proceed can be taken.
It added that the conclusion of the talks would be put under “thorough scrutiny” in order to satisfy the government’s “robust legal, regulatory and national security requirements”.