Improvements to the ‘Construction Act’

The government has announced that it will be introducing primary legislation to make improvements to the ‘Construction Act’ (Part II of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996).

The announcement was made as part of the Prime Minister’s Draft Legislative Programme, Preparing Britain for the Future – the Draft Legislative Programme 2008-09. This publication gives a list of what is expected to be in the Queen’s Speech at the State Opening of Parliament in November.

The improvements will be made as part of a community empowerment, housing and economic regeneration bill and both the payment and the adjudication elements of the Construction Act will be amended.

The Bill will be published in draft for pre-legislative scrutiny during the 2008/2009 parliamentary session.

“BCSA and its SEC Group colleagues have worked hard to achieve this over the four years or so since the review of the Construction Act was announced. The review itself was achieved largely because of BCSA lobbying. We shall continue to work to ensure that the bill reflects the requirements of members,” explained Marion Rich, BCSA Director of Legal and Contractual Affairs.