Goldsmith Street

/ Case Studies

When completed later this year, the new terraces of flats and houses at Goldsmith Street, Norwich will be the UK’s largest Passivhaus development. If that wasn’t ambitious enough, it is also commissioned by Norwich Council as a 100% social housing scheme. A JCT Standard Building Contract provided the contract solution. Goldsmith Street is the pinnacle of a recent series of developments which is seeing Norfolk become a hub in the UK for Passivhaus projects. Designed by Mikhail Riches Architects and built by RG Carter, it…

JCT On Demand: New JCT Digital Contracts Now Available

/ JCT Product Updates

JCT has launched its improved and updated On Demand digital service, taking on board user feedback to deliver a new service with a range of enhanced features. The On Demand digital service is re-launched with three of JCT’s most popular contracts, JCT Minor Works Building Contract (MW), JCT Minor Works Building Contract with contractors’ design (MWD) and JCT Design and Build Contract (DB). The Design and Build Contract Guide (DB/G) is also available. The new On Demand digital service seamlessly integrates with the JCT online…

What Can One Learn from Carillion?

/ Contractual Issues, General

Blog Author: Peter Hibberd The collapse of Carillion was a shock and affects many within the industry, not least sub-contractors and suppliers. It was a shock because, despite the warnings of some commentators, large companies supposedly should not go into compulsory liquidation. It is in that belief that a sub-contractor is generally happier to work for large companies. Carillion’s collapse shows that belief, if not entirely misplaced, to be one that cannot be taken for granted. Just because a company is large it is not…

Using Weather and Climate Data to Manage Risk

/ General

Introduction JCT has teamed up with the Met Office to offer two new locationbased products: Monthly Planning Averages and Monthly Downtime Summaries. The reports are designed specifically for project planning and management, helping you to minimise the impact of weather on your project and complement the weather clauses found in JCT contracts. Ric Robins, Business Group Head of Meteorology and Science at the Met Office states “we have collaborated with the construction industry and JCT to develop two new weather summary reports, location-based monthly planning…

JCT Contracts Discovery

/ JCT Product Updates

Education Module Revised and Remodelled for 2018 JCT Contracts Discovery, the learning and education module first published in 2012, has been substantially updated and revised for 2018, providing an improved and more in-depth tool for those in construction education. JCT Contracts Discovery is designed for education and training providers, in-house training teams and independent tutors. It is also useful for students studying contractual matters as part of their construction-related course as a reference guide. Delivered in hard-copy format, the module provides the materials that students…

JCT Interviews…Steven Thompson

/ Interviews

In this series we shed some light on some of the key people who are involved with or give their time to support JCT, to ensure that all areas of the construction industry are represented and can contribute to the development of our contracts. We will look at how our interviewees contribute to JCT specifically, and gain their views on JCT’s wider role within the industry. Member of the JCT Drafting Sub-Committee Steven is a fellow of the RICS, qualifying in 1984 as a chartered…

Is Offsite Construction the Answer?

/ General

Blog Author: Richard Saxon CBE, JCT Chairman The construction industry is heading for the buffers. Capacity is draining out as skilled tradesmen retire and few enter as apprentices. The go-to supply of EU migrant tradesmen is likely to be restricted soon and is already less interested as the pound falls. Construction quality is declining in the housebuilding world. Mark Farmer’s message: Modernise or Die, is clear that a major move to offsite construction is needed to keep the industry from decline. The core problem is…

Incompatible Provisions

/ Contractual Issues

Blog author: Peter Hibberd Contract interpretation and litigation, it is said, are not exact sciences: this is no better illustrated than by the recent case of MT Hojgaard vs E.ON Climate & Renewables UK Robin Rigg East Ltd, which went all the way to the Supreme Court. At the heart of that case was the tension between different provisions within the various documents that constituted a design and build contract for the design, fabrication and installation of foundations for 60 wind turbines. In essence the…

JCT Interviews…Nigel Davies

/ Interviews

In this series we shed some light on some of the key people who are involved with or give their time to support JCT, to ensure that all areas of the construction industry are represented and can contribute to the development of our contracts. We will look at how our interviewees contribute to JCT specifically, and gain their views on JCT’s wider role within the industry. Member of the JCT Council Facilities Management Contracts Working Group Construction Dispute Resolution Group Nigel Davies BSc (Hons) (Q.Surv),…

Hastings Pier

/ Case Studies

A devastating fire in 2010 destroyed 90% of the super-structure of Hastings Pier, leaving only the western pavilion building salvageable. With funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the local community, the opportunity was taken to redefine the role of a pier for the 21st Century. The fabulous result – which won the RIBA Stirling Prize in 2017 – was built on a JCT Minor Works Building Contract. Hastings Pier’s history goes back to 1872 as a classic, Victorian style, pier designed by Eugenius Birch…