Blog authors: Emily Dickson and Emily Pittaway – BLP Law Securing planning consent is a fundamental first step for any development project. Where a building contract does not expressly oblige either party to apply for or obtain planning consent, or other project specific approvals such as conservation area or listed building consent, who bears this responsibility? This is an important issue, particularly in circumstances where such consents are not obtained in time for the works to start. If responsibility falls on the employer, then the contractor…

Blog author: Peter Hibberd After Brexit, the UK is to go its own way regarding procurement and contracts but it will still have to work within parameters set by others if it is to trade internationally – something which JCT will continue to pursue regardless of the UK’s membership of the EU. During the past year, few subjects have created as much angst and foreboding as Brexit even though its definition is unclear– perhaps that is the problem. This article does not repeat the well-trodden arguments…

Blog authors: Marc Hanson and Helena Savva – BLP Law JCT forms include comprehensive guidance on execution, in addition to standard provisions allowing the parties to execute the contract under hand or as a deed. However, what they do not include are terms providing that the contract will not be binding unless both parties execute it. So, what if the parties amend their JCT form to include such a term and then one party doesn’t sign? Surely, the answer must be that the contract won’t…