In Waite and others v Kedai Ltd [2023], the First-Tier Tribunal (“FTT”) granted the applicant leaseholders the first Remediation Order to be made under section 123 of the Building Safety Act 2022 (“BSA”).

There are three key points raised in this article:

1. There is ongoing potential for significant structural deficiencies in reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) which saw widespread use in the construction of buildings between the 1950s and 1990s, many of which were municipal buildings including schools and hospitals.
2. The effect of the Limitation Act 1980 is likely to preclude historic liability for the specification, design and construction of buildings using RAAC, although it is feasible the Building Safety Act 2022 may apply to extend this limitation period in the context of residential buildings.
3. More contemporary liability may arise regarding building owners and occupiers as well as the professionals engaged to undertake surveys of buildings where the existence of RAAC or defects of the RAAC are not identified or fail to be managed or rectified in time, or at all.

Lidl Great Britain Limited v Closed Circuit Cooling Limited t/a 3CL [2023] EWHC 2243 (TCC)

In Lidl Great Britain Limited v Closed Circuit Cooling Limited t/a 3CL [2023], the TCC enforced an adjudicator’s decision in favour of a contractor and rejected a series of Part 8 declarations sought by the employer.

In Home Group Ltd v MPS Housing Ltd [2023], the TCC rejected a defendant’s submission that there had been a breach of natural justice by reason of it allegedly being unable to digest and respond to extensive material served in an adjudication.

In Henry Construction Projects Ltd v Alu-Fix (UK) Ltd [2023], the TCC declined to enforce a true value adjudication decision where that adjudication had been commenced before the contractor had discharged its immediate payment obligation to its subcontractor arising from an earlier dispute.

This was notwithstanding the earlier award had, in the meantime, been paid.

In Drax Energy Solutions Limited v Wipro Limited [2023], the TCC upheld a contractual clause said to impose a single liability cap for all claims arising out of a master services agreement.

In Sudlows Ltd v Global Switch Estates 1 Ltd [2023] EWCA Civ 813, the Court of Appeal has provided useful guidance as to the approach to be adopted when considering potential overlap between adjudication decisions.

URS Corporation Ltd v BDW Trading Ltd [2023] EWCA Civ 772

In its recent decision in URS Corporation Ltd v BDW Trading Ltd, the Court of Appeal has provided important guidance in respect of construction law questions old and new.

FK Construction Ltd v ISG Retail Ltd [2023]

In FK Construction Ltd v ISG Retail Ltd [2023], the Court declined to exercise its discretion to permit set-offs arising from other adjudication decisions between the same parties.

Kajima Construction Europe (UK) Ltd v Children’s Ark Partnership Ltd [2023]

In Kajima Construction Europe (UK) Ltd v Children’s Ark Partnership Ltd [2023], the Court of Appeal found the first instance Judge had been correct to conclude that a dispute resolution procedure (DRP) in a construction contract had been unenforceable by reason of uncertainty.

Elements (Europe) Ltd v FK Building Ltd [2023]

In Elements (Europe) Ltd -v- FK Building Ltd [2023] EWHC 726 (TCC), the TCC has provided helpful guidance concerning the proper construction of an important element of a JCT standard form.

In Batish and others v Inspired Sutton Ltd [2023], the First Tier Tribunal (“FTT”) granted the applicant leaseholders what is believed to be the first Remediation Contribution Order made under the Building Safety Act 2022.

In Batish and others v Inspired Sutton Ltd [2023], the First Tier Tribunal (“FTT”) granted the applicant leaseholders what is believed to be the first Remediation Contribution Order made under the Building Safety Act 2022.

In URS Corporation Ltd v BDW Trading Ltd [2023] EWCA Civ 189 the Court of Appeal decided that two appeals concerning issues arising under the Building Safety Act 2022 (“BSA”) should be heard together.

In WRB (NI) Ltd v Henry Construction Projects Ltd [2023] EWHC 278, the TCC refused to grant a main contractor a stay of execution to establish its alleged cross-claims against a dormant company.

In LJR Interiors Ltd v Cooper Construction Ltd the TCC held that the Adjudicator was wrong to reject the responding party’s limitation defence such that his decision was void and unenforceable.

In LDC (Portfolio One) Ltd v (1) George Downing Construction Ltd and (2) European Sheeting Limited (in Liquidation) the TCC was required to consider a contractual obligation to exercise reasonable skill and care alongside the requirement for compliance with the applicable Building Regulations. The outcome was that the Court held the defendant external wall sub-contractor liable for fire safety defects.

In an unusual turn of events, the TCC in Sudlows Ltd v Global Switch Estates 1 Limited [2022] found that an adjudicator’s alternative decision was enforceable despite his primary decision being unenforceable because of a breach of natural justice.