The Week That Was - 12 September 2025

Welcome to The Week That Was, a round-up of key events in the construction sector over the last seven days.

Botched insulation under government scheme

More than 30,000 UK homes have been affected by poorly fitted insulation under government schemes, ministers have revealed.  This marks the first official documentation of widespread issues linked to ECO4 and the Great British Insulation Scheme since 2022.  Energy Consumer Minister Miatta Fahnbulleh described the situation as a “systemic failure” in parliament.  While some households have received remedial work, the government advises anyone concerned to contact Ofgem for support.  

To read more, click here.

Robertson’s £30m Newcastle Cancer Centre Project Advances

Construction work is progressing on the £30 million cancer centre in Newcastle, led by contractor Robertson.  The development, situated at the Newcastle Freeman Hospital, is designed to enhance cancer care facilities in the region.  The new centre will provide state-of-the-art treatment spaces and support services for patients, aiming to improve both capacity and quality of care.  Robertson has reported that the project is moving forward on schedule, with key structural milestones recently achieved.  

The scheme is part of a broader investment in healthcare infrastructure across the North East, reflecting ongoing efforts to modernise hospital environments and expand specialist medical services.  Local stakeholders and NHS representatives have welcomed the development, emphasising its potential positive impact on patient outcomes and regional healthcare provision.  The cancer centre is expected to be completed in 2026, offering advanced resources for both staff and patients. 

To read more, click here. 

Construction administration

This week, Creditsafe released its data showing that 21 UK construction firms entered administration in August 2025 — just one more than July and 4% higher than August 2024.  This marks a reduction from August 2023, when 44 firms collapsed.  Year-to-date, 191 firms have failed, compared to 184 at this point last year.  

Expert commentary suggests that, despite headline economic growth, underlying distress remains due to weak pipelines, tight margins, and regulatory delays. “Things aren’t great, but crucially they’re not getting noticeably worse,” said Gareth Belsham of Bloom Building Consultancy.
Persistent challenges affecting the construction industry include rising costs, supply chain disruption and ongoing economic uncertainty.

You can read the full article here. 

£72m tender floated for Portadown Flood Scheme

The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) Rivers Directorate in Northern Ireland has floated a tender for The Portadown Flood Alleviation Scheme (the Scheme) for £72m (including VAT). The Scheme will provide 8km of flood defences in County Armagh. Proposals include embankments and flood gates, amongst other flood preventative measures.  The Scheme also encompasses temporary works, drainage, and service diversions with construction plans divided into three phases over six years from November 2026.  

Bidders for the Scheme will be shortlisted through a dedicated NEC Participation Stage, after which selected companies will be invited to tender for Phase 1. Tender submissions will be assessed using a 60:40 price-to-quality ratio, and all shortlisted organisations will be awarded a place on a framework to bid for future phases. The award decision is expected in July 2026.

Read more here.

With thanks to: Arub Riaz, Amraj Biring and Aleksander Polaszek.

If you have any queries please do get in contact with a member of the team below, or your usual RPC contact.

Disclaimer: The information in this publication is for guidance purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.  We attempt to ensure that the content is current as at the date of publication, but we do not guarantee that it remains up to date.  You should seek legal or other professional advice before acting or relying on any of the content.