The Week That Was - 14 November 2025

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

Court of Appeal endorses TCC's robust approach to striking out unparticularised and speculative heads of loss (Wilson v HB (SWA))

In a judgment dated 29 October 2025, the Court of Appeal dismissed an appeal concerning fire safety defects claims. This endorsed the Technology and Construction Court (TCC)’s approach in striking out unparticularised and speculative heads of loss.  The TCC struck out 7 of the 9 claimants' Schedule of Losses as being either too remote, or purely hypothetical.  The Court of Appeal's judgment shows how proper pleading standards must be maintained in construction defect claims.  It was further found that there was no material difference between damages recoverable under the Defective Premises Act 1972 (DPA 1972) and contractual damages, while the court detailed how damages claims should be clearly particularised in pleadings. Purely speculative, hypothetical or vague claims should be avoided, while the focus should be on established categories of loss, such as cost of works, diminution in value and residual diminution.

The full analysis can be found here [may require subscription]

Assent Building Compliance enters insolvency

Assent Building Compliance, one of the UK's largest private building control firms has ceased trading and has entered insolvency, creating uncertainty across thousands of construction projects. The Wakefield-based company, which employed 222 staff and reported a £24.3m turnover but £2.2m loss in 2023 may have been working on up to 20,000 projects, with local authorities already receiving widespread cancellations. Developers warn of delays to completions, certification gaps, and knock-on impacts for buyers and small businesses. The Building Safety Regulator has confirmed that 10 high-rise building projects are directly affected under the pre-transition model but said it does not expect a knock-on impact on its wider gateway 2 programme. The HSE has issued emergency guidance to firms to avoid work stoppages and compliance breaches. Assent’s failure follows similar collapses of AIS Surveyors and PWC Building Control Services, highlighting fragility in the private building control market.

The full article can be found here

TFL starts market engagement for the planned £1.7bn DLR extension to Thamesmead

TFL has started market engagement for the £1.7bn DLR extension to Thamesmead. The 3km line will branch off from Gallions Reach to a new station in Thamesmead town centre. Two new stations are planned as part of the scheme. One will sit at the Becton Riverside Development and the other at Thamesmead. The scheme is expected to support 30,000 new homes and deliver a £15.6bn boost to London's economy. TFL is inviting contractors, designers and suppliers to help shape the delivery model of the project before the formal tendering process begins next year. Construction is expected to take place from 2028 to 2033. Funding remains under discussion and the project is still subject to full Treasury approval.

The full article can be found here

Land Registry Unveils 'Strategy 2025+' to Transform UK Property Transactions

HM Land Registry (HMLR) has unveiled its ‘Strategy 2025+’, outlining a vision to deliver faster, simpler, and more accessible property services by 2035. The strategy sets out four strategic outcomes to guide this transformation. First, HMLR aims to make its services and property information easy to access, understand, and use, ensuring fair pricing and clear communication at every stage. Second, the Registry will support the property market by adopting consistent data standards, digitising records, and sharing information securely and responsibly. Third, HMLR is committed to modernising digital systems to better protect property rights, harnessing automation, artificial intelligence, and secure digital verification for quicker, safer transactions. Fourth, the strategy focuses on developing a skilled, knowledgeable workforce that embraces digital transformation and fosters a high-performance, customer-focused culture. Together, these priorities promise more efficient, reliable, and transparent property services for users and the wider market.

Read the full article here

UK Construction Activity Plummets to Five-Year Low

UK construction has hit a five-year low, with October’s SP Global PMI plunging to 44.1—its weakest since May 2020 and signalling contraction for the tenth consecutive month. Civil engineering bore the brunt, collapsing to 35.4, while residential work slumped to 43.6, the sharpest fall in eight months. Even commercial building, typically resilient, remained in decline at 46.3.

Industry experts blame high political uncertainty and risk-averse clients for delayed decisions and postponed projects. Tim Moore of SP Global notes, “Reduced workloads were again widely attributed to risk aversion and delayed decision making among clients.” Shrinking order books and rising payroll costs triggered the fastest job cuts in over five years, with demand for construction materials also dropping sharply.

As Chancellor Rachel Reeves considers tax hikes in the autumn Budget, economists warn that ongoing uncertainty and possible higher taxes could further stall private sector investment, threatening future growth and employment across the sector.

Read the full article here [requires subscription] and here.

With thanks to Amraj Biring, Richad Tosh and Kelly Smith.

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.