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Visitor Centre, Ightham Mote, Kent

Set within a fold of the Kent Downs, the recent improvements at Ightham Mote have required an unusually careful balancing act. The project included a new visitor centre and shop, a series of landscaping and sustainable drainage solutions, and new parking, and was built on a JCT Design and Build Contract. The medieval manor house – a Grade I listed building and scheduled monument of international importance – is one of the most complete survivals of its type in England. Any contemporary intervention, therefore, had…

Spring 2026 Series of JCT Training Courses Announced

JCT has announced its course dates for the spring 2026 series of JCT Training. The series includes a range of full-day in-person courses and 3-hour online webinar courses. Scheduled to take place from February to May, the courses will focus on contract families from the JCT 2024 Edition of Contracts, as well as continuing a course that was introduced in the autumn 2025 series, ‘Working with JCT Contracts 2024 (The Legal Aspects)’, an interactive course introducing the legal framework that underpins JCT contracts. The sessions…

‘Augmenting’ Human Intelligence With AI Will Transform Our Buildings

AI is already here and, as part of a human-centred process, will maximise the opportunities to transform the building industry – including optimising buildings at an early stage, enhancing creativity in design, developing new building materials, and delivering more sustainable buildings – explained Diego Padilla-Philipps, director, Decarbonisation and Innovation in Building Structures, WSP, in his JCT Povey Lecture, on Thursday, 13 November 2025. Diego’s presentation, titled “Human-Centred, Evidence-Based, Augmented Intelligence in Building Design”, introduced the concept of ‘Co-Design’, a multidisciplinary approach to optimising building design….

JCT Povey Lecture 2025: “Human-Centred, Evidence-Based, Augmented Intelligence in Building Design”

JCT Povey Lecture 2025 “Human-Centred, Evidence-Based, Augmented Intelligence in Building Design” Presentation by Diego Padilla-Philipps, director, Decarbonisation and Innovation for Building Structures, WSP  Q&A/Discussion hosted by Sean Smylie, JCT vice-chair Extra information: Find out more about Diego Padilla-Philipps: www.linkedin.com/in/padilladiego/ About the Povey Lecture The JCT Povey Lecture is an annual event at which an eminent person is invited to give their thoughts on significant matters that are relevant to the construction and property industry. The purpose of the lecture is to stimulate thought and encourage…

The JCT Design and Build Contract (2024 Edition) – A Year On

Blog Author: Seán Mac Labhraí Introduction We are now over a year since the JCT published the first of the 2024 suite of contracts: the Design and Build Contract, or DB24. Working for a main contractor specialising in design and build, we are now beginning to see a more widespread adoption of DB24 by employers / clients and their consultants, perhaps expedited by the JCT’s upcoming withdrawal of the 2016 editions. (I have been meaning to check with a solicitor who was still firmly wedded…

JCT Target Cost Contract 2024: An Overview

Blog Authors: Tom Booth, Associate and Helen Johnson, Partner – CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang LLP In June the Joint Contracts Tribunal (JCT) published its new Target Cost Contract 2024 (along with a sub-contract form and guidance notes). This Law-Now provides a brief introduction to the new JCT form. What is Target Cost? Briefly, for readers new to target cost contracting, the features of a target cost contract include: No overall fixed price at the outset of the project Price calculated on an actual cost…

JCT Training: Places Available On Our Autumn 2025 Courses

The Autumn 2025 series of JCT Training is underway but there are still some places available on our range of online courses. The sessions to take place and the dates are as follows: Online courses Wednesday, 22 October 2025 JCT Design and Build Contract 2024 Wednesday, 19 November 2025 JCT Minor Works Building Contract 2024   Don’t forget our latest JCT Training Video Modules covering contracts from the JCT 2024 Edition – our series, ‘Which JCT Contract is best for your project?’ has been updated to…

Heart of the City, Sheffield

The Heart of the City project represents the centrepiece of Sheffield’s urban regeneration, weaving together heritage, sustainability, and contemporary design to breathe new life into a key area of the city centre. The development was built on a JCT Design and Build Contract. The Heart of the City project comprises three interconnected elements: Cambridge Street Collective – a social destination, Elshaw House – a flagship office building, and Leah’s Yard – studios created within historic metalworkers’ workshops. These three distinct elements, while serving different purposes,…

JCT YPG – Past YPG Leader Member Interview: Charlie Saunders

Charlie Saunders Director, Emerson Bond Charlie, tell us about your experience, contributions, and reasons for leaving, along with your perspective on the JCT YPG and future goals. Experience and Contributions: Question: Can you describe your role and responsibilities during your time as a member? My responsibilities included identifying trending topics and leveraging industry contacts to arrange relevant CPD and networking events for young professionals. I also contributed to shaping the group’s strategy during monthly meetings with JCT and other group leaders. My involvement extended to…

Diego Padilla-Philipps to give the JCT Povey Lecture 2025

Diego Padilla-Philipps, director, Decarbonisation and Innovation for Building Structures, WSP, has been announced as the speaker for the JCT Povey Lecture 2025, taking place on Thursday, 13 November. The title of Diego’s presentation is “Human-Centred, Evidence-Based, Augmented Intelligence in Building Design”. At the forefront of modern construction, from both a design and engineering perspective, Diego will discuss the transformative power of automation and AI in the design of better buildings, and its potential to help us navigate the complexities of modern projects, ambitious sustainability targets,…