Building and fire safety law and policy

Building and fire safety are complex and rapidly changing areas of law and policy in the UK, with significant implications for those drafting construction contracts, advising on projects, and acting in disputes.

Developments following the Grenfell Tower fire

Following the Grenfell Tower fire in June 2017, the UK government, and the Scottish and Welsh governments, have implemented several courses of action intended to address acute concerns regarding building safety, with a focus on better-protecting residents of high-rise residential buildings.

In the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower Fire, the UK government carried out an independent review of the Building Regulations and fire safety laws. The final report was published on 17 May 2018 (the Hackitt report). It set out over 50 recommendations, including a new regulator to oversee the construction and management of buildings. See News Analysis: The Hackitt fire safety report—does it go far enough?

In addition, effective from December 2018, the Building (Amendment) Regulations 2018, SI 2018/1230 amended the Building Regulations so as to ban the use of combustible materials in the construction of external walls of high-rise residential buildings (and certain

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Latest Construction News

Scottish Government publishes September 2025 management information for Cladding Remediation Programme

The Scottish Government's Cladding Remediation Directorate has published its September 2025 management information for the Cladding Remediation Programme. As of 30 September 2025, 16 Single Building Assessments (SBAs) had been completed under the specification published in June 2024, all of which identified the need for remedial works. At this stage, the programme is not aware of any SBAs currently underway but not yet completed. By the same date, the programme had received 1,062 expressions of interest (EoIs) through the Single Open Call, launched on 25 March 2025. Of these, 368 were deemed ineligible for SBA funding, while 478 had received initial grant or funding offers. With up to £50,000 offered per EoI to cover the cost of an SBA, the programme had offered almost £24m in total SBA funding. EoIs were submitted by a range of applicants, including factors or property managers (535), local authorities (313) and registered social landlords (205). Cumulative expenditure for the programme from financial year 2021/22 to 30 September 2025 stood at £14.2m.

CIOB publishes report on capacity constraints in the construction industry

The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has published an economic report, ‘Capacity Constraints in Construction: Rethinking the Business Environment’, examining the construction industry’s capacity to meet the UK government’s housing and infrastructure targets. The report highlights key challenges facing the sector, including recruitment, training, retention and sector volatility, which contribute to the collapse of hundreds of construction businesses annually. Compiled with economist, Brian Green, the report aims to guide policymakers towards longer-term solutions to strengthen sector resilience and productivity. It identifies five priority areas for policy improvement: (1) reducing volatility; (2) ensuring more transparent and coordinated knowledge; (3) improved policy effectiveness; (4) better coordination of policy with clearer signals; and (5) improved diffusion and adoption of innovation. The report argues that instead of forcing changes on the industry, policymakers should focus on changing the business environment in which construction firms operate.

DESNZ publishes policy statement on hydrogen infrastructure strategic planning

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has published a policy statement outlining the government’s approach to how the National Energy System Operator (NESO) is envisaged to carry out strategic planning for hydrogen infrastructure. The statement clarifies government policy aims for NESO as it develops its hydrogen strategic planning capabilities, including NESO’s activities in delivering hydrogen strategic planning, how the government will consider NESO’s outputs and NESO’s development of other relevant hydrogen-related products. It follows the December 2023 Hydrogen Transport and Storage Networks Pathway, which confirmed that NESO would lead strategic network planning for hydrogen transport and storage infrastructure, with the government acting as interim strategic planner. The statement also explains how DESNZ will consider NESO’s hydrogen strategic planning when developing policy in relation to its hydrogen business models. While NESO will produce the first tangible outputs of its hydrogen strategic planning role in 2026, DESNZ will continue to have an ongoing role in the process as the decision maker for awarding business model support to hydrogen infrastructure projects.

Hexagon secures stay in relation to termination account adjudication decision pending Supreme Court judgment (Providence v Hexagon)

Construction analysis: The Mayor’s & City of London Court granted summary enforcement of an adjudication decision relating to a termination account in favour of Providence, but stayed that judgment pending the Supreme Court’s upcoming decision on the validity of that termination in Providence Building Services Limited (Respondent) v Hexagon Housing Association Ltd (Appellant) UKSC/2024/0130. The court applied the Wimbledon v Vago principles in reaching its decision and held that, because of the interplay of the adjudication regime and the financial difficulties of the Providence, it would be inexpedient to allow the judgment to be enforced prior to the outcome of the hearing before the Supreme Court. The court took into consideration that, given that permission to appeal had been granted, Hexagon had at least an arguable case before the Supreme Court that Providence had not lawfully terminated the contract, the outcome in favour of Providence in the termination account adjudication is predicated on the validity of its contractual termination (the issue before the Supreme Court), and if Hexagon succeeds in the Supreme Court then Providence would not be in a financial position to repay the judgment.