Author Archives: Contributor

Digital twins are reshaping the global construction industry by enabling better decision-making, reducing risks and increasing efficiency throughout a project’s lifecycle. Unlike traditional methods that rely on static data, digital twins provide a dynamic, real-time representation of physical assets, enhancing project planning, execution and facility management. The rise of digital…

Michael Weissman is legal director in the non-contentious construction team at law firm Howard Kennedy The UK's build-to-rent (BTR) sector has evolved strongly over the past decade and last year achieved the milestone of 100,000 built homes. According to Knight Frank, investment in UK BTR exceeded £5bn for the first…

Shy Jackson is a partner at law firm BCLP It was back in 1994 that Sir Michael Latham stated that a modern form of contract should include a specific duty for all parties to deal fairly with each other, and with their subcontractors, specialists and suppliers, in an atmosphere of…

Alison Fagan is infrastructure lead at law firm DLA Piper In 2025, the UK’s infrastructure sector stands at a critical juncture. The nation’s builders will no doubt welcome the recent announcement that the government intends to give judges the power to block appeals on nationally significant projects, plus its renewed…

Rebecca Roffe is a partner and Chris Devitt an associate at law firm CMS The revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) emphasises the government’s commitment to economic growth through building. Key to this growth are proposals for a modern tech-focused economy, and nowhere is this more relevant than in the…

Chris Acton is chief executive of engineering firm Clancy Consulting The new Labour government has hit the ground running with numerous pledges that aim to “rebuild Britain”, as chancellor Rachel Reeves recently said. “The 32 new Homebuilding Skills Hubs will see an investment in local training that is tailored to…

Tom Pashby An updated business case for the revised programme of works for High Speed 2 (HS2) will not be published until 2026 – more than a year later than originally planned. The delay came to light in a letter dated 27 February from Department for Transport (DfT) permanent secretary…

Mark Topping is director of design at consultancy Lanpro The requirement for a minimum 10 per cent biodiversity net gain (BNG) came into force for small sites in February last year. The requirement was introduced under Schedule 7A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as inserted by Schedule…

Bill Barton is director of law firm Barton Legal Disputes continue to occur with troubling frequency across the construction industry – and remain extremely expensive. Unsurprisingly, the sector is searching for ways to limit their frequency and cost. “In the lifecycle of a construction project, it’s highly likely that some…

Executives from across the life sciences sector will converge on London in June for the Life Sciences & Research Clusters Conference & Awards, hosted by Construction News and its sister title Property Week. This year’s event will explore current and future trends in science and research real estate, covering topics…