Opinion

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…

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…

Heather Holbrook is a partner at consultancy Thomas & Adamson, part of Egis Group Construction has never enjoyed the best reputation as a career path. Last year, research found that 69 per cent of UK adults wouldn’t consider a career in the sector, rising to 77 per cent among respondents…

Lesley Rowland is national sales director at Keyline Civils Specialist When we talk about women in construction, it can quickly become a conversation – not without good reason – about barriers. I want to give a little positivity to women considering a move into construction: I’ve spent 27 years in…

Mark Christie is a partner at Clarke Willmott A recent case this year in the Technology and Construction Court has shed some very welcome light on a fairly obscure part of the Construction Act relating to the correct timing for issuing pay-less notices. “The judge accepted that the argument was…

Jacqueline Mars is health, safety and wellbeing advisor at BW: Workplace Experts I haven’t always worked in construction – I moved to the sector following time as a civil servant, safeguarding children. For several years I supported the education of teachers and parents about social media safety and collaborating with…

Poppy Whittle is a technical trainee at Keepmoat When I first stepped into the construction industry at just 16, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. It’s no secret that construction has long been a male-dominated field, and I wasn’t sure if I’d be working with many other women. I…

Dr Bernard Rimmer, construction commentator Angela Rayner announced last week that there will be further investigations into the roles of seven participants in the Grenfell tragedy, possibly leading to debarring them from work in the public sector. But she did not announce a clear plan to deal with the industry’s…