The Week That Was - 18 July 2025

Welcome to the week that was, a round-up of key events in the construction sector over the last seven days.

Approval granted for two new office towers in London

Plans for two new office towers in the City of London have received official approval. The City of London Corporation has granted planning consent for the 55 Bishopsgate and 85 Gracechurch Street projects; together they will deliver over 120,000 square metres of office space.

55 Bishopsgate, designed by Arney Fender Katsalidis, will rise to 63 storeys. Meanwhile, 85 Gracechurch Street, designed by Woods Bagot, will reach 32 storeys and feature flexible workspace, retail, and public amenities. Both schemes incorporate sustainability measures, including green spaces and energy-efficient technologies.

Construction is expected to commence in 2026, with completion anticipated by the end of the decade.

Click here to read more

Summary judgment enforcing an adjudicator decision

In London Eco Homes Ltd v Raise Now Ealing Ltd [2025] EWHC 1505 (TCC), District Judge Baldwinin the TCC granted summary judgment enforcing an adjudicator’s decision requiring Raise Now Ealing Ltd (RNE)to make payment to London Eco Homes Ltd (LEH) of an outstanding sum due under a settlement agreement.

The parties entered into a JCT Intermediate Building Contract with contractor's design (JCT) for a construction project.

The key issue for RNE was whether the adjudicator had jurisdiction. More specifically, RNE argued that the settlement agreement was a replacement of the original contract between the parties. LEH argued that the settlement agreement was a variation of the JCT, meaning the adjudication provisions from the JCT still applied.

The court held that the settlement agreement was a variation to the original JCT. As such, the adjudicator had jurisdiction.

Click here for the judgment

Parliament's plan for 1.5m homes

An informal group of MPs has started an inquiry to investigate how to increase housing delivery without sacrificing design quality or construction standards.  The APPGEBE (All-Party Parliamentary Group for Excellence in the Built Environment), chaired by Mike Reader MP (former Mace executive), is now gathering written and oral evidence for this investigation.  The group is taking input from industry professionals, stakeholders, and the public to develop strategies that maintain high standards of construction and design, while meeting ambitious housing targets. 

A report titled "How can we build 1.5 million quality homes in this parliament?" is expected to be released in Autumn.  Mike Reader has recently been appointed business champion for construction by the Department for Business and Trade. He says that the large amount of funding the government is putting into building homes needs to be "spent in a way that can help provide a lasting legacy for communities with homes of the highest quality."

Click here to read more.

UK's £400m rail testing facility delayed to 2030

The UK’s flagship £400m rail testing facility in South Wales has suffered a five-year delay, pushing its expected completion to 2030. The Global Centre of Rail Excellence (GCRE), intended as a world-class site for testing trains and infrastructure, was originally due to open in 2025.

The delay is attributed to a combination of funding challenges, complex land acquisition negotiations, and difficulties securing private investment. Rising construction costs and the need to meet evolving technical requirements have further complicated progress.

The setback has significant implications for the UK rail sector, as the facility was expected to accelerate innovation, support decarbonisation, and attract international business.  Despite the challenges, project leaders remain committed to delivering the facility, citing its long-term strategic importance.

Click here to read more.

Inquiry launched into faulty energy efficiency installations

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will use the work of the National Audit Office (NAO) as a starting point to conduct an inquiry into faulty energy efficiency installations.  Trustmark, a not-for-profit quality assurance company, has raised issues into the work of companies installing energy efficient products into homes.  The inquiry will cover subjects such as efforts the government has taken to remediate problems, how much this might cost, and the impact on achieving carbon net zero by 2050. 

To the end of November last year, external and internal wall insulation had been fitted in around 65,000 households under the ECO4 Scheme and the GBIS.  The government raised issues including insufficient ventilation and missing or exposed insulation, in January of this year.  Miatta Fahnulleh, the minister for energy consumers, said that the current ECO4 scheme and the GBIS needed reform.

Click here to read more.

With thanks to Maddie Ward and Georgina Haynes.

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.