The Week That Was - 19 September 2025

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

A new era for surveyors: RICS launches global standard on responsible use of AI

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has taken a decisive step into the future, publishing its first global professional standard for the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) in surveying. Released on 10 September 2025 and due to take effect from 9 March 2026, this landmark guidance aims to steer surveyors through the rapidly evolving landscape of AI technologies, seeking to balance innovation with accountability.

For more information, please click here. 

Government responds to Commons committee on building safety issues

Following questions posed to the government in May 2025 by the House of Commons Housing, Communities and Local Government committee regarding its response to the Grenfell Tower fire, building control and remediation of unsafe buildings, the government has now responded.

The government's response provides a useful summary of government policy in relation to building safety matters including:

1. Confirmation that the Building Safety Independent Panel will report on the building control sector before the end of 2025 and the government will respond to that report in early 2026.
2. In late 2025, the government will publish a "prospectus" on regulation of the built environment. This will include information of its plans for a single construction industry regulator and will cover the scope, functions and accountability of the proposed new regulator.   

For further information, please see the following link.

Rydon's judicial review challenge rejected by High Court

Rydon Group Holdings Ltd, the parent company of Rydon Maintenance Ltd (the main contractor for the refurbishment of Grenfell Tower prior to the tragedy in 2017), has had its judicial review challenge dismissed by the High Court.

Rydon sought to challenge decisions made by the then Secretary of State under the Self-Remediation Terms regarding a series of buildings developed by Rydon in East London. The decisions found Rydon unfit to undertake remediation works at the buildings in question and instead required Rydon to reimburse the Building Safety Fund for the cost of the remediation.

Mr Justice Choudhury found that the decisions were taken under a commercial contract rather than statutory powers, and therefore judicial review is limited to a claim on the grounds of fraud, corruption or bad faith, and that none of those grounds applied in the circumstances.

For more information, please click here.

Kingspan insulation back in profit

Kingspan Insulation, one of the companies that supplied cladding products to the Grenfell Tower, profits appear to be increasing despite the criticism levied against Kingspan Insulation as part of the Grenfell Inquiry.

However, Kingspan may face challenges ahead if contractors seek to recover from Kingspan any losses incurred remediating buildings following the Grenfell Tower fire. Recently, developer Watkin Jones has issued proceedings against a number of Kingspan entities on this very basis.  

Find out more here and here [may require subscription].

JCT promotes culture shift in construction risk-sharing

In an effort to combat insolvencies, inflationary pressures, and supply chain fragility the new Target Cost Contract (TCC) 2024 from the Joint Contracts Tribunal provides a 'risk sharing' contractual mechanism that allows contractors to spread risk more evenly. The proposal encourages contractors' collaboration by the sharing of any savings made, and any additional costs.

Find out more here [may require subscription].

RICS launches consultation on global construction standards

The Royal Institution for Chartered Surveyors is seeking input from construction professionals globally on new global construction standards for quantity surveying practice. RICS issued 32 guidance notes between 2009 - 2021 and is now looking to prepare a combined professional standard incorporating global principles of quantity surveying and project management practice.

The consultation will be live from 16 September to 24 October 2025. RICS is aiming to launch the final version of the new standard in Q1 2026.

For more information please click here.

London housing projects failing to start due to regulatory delays

The Local Authority Building Control, speaking before the House of Lords' industry and regulations committee on 2 September, noted that out of 20,000 housing projects expected to start in London last year, only 900 happened. The LABC highlighted that delays with the Building Safety Regulator approving high-risk buildings had impacted the construction supply chain "enormously". Staffing issues in local authority building control were also identified as one contributor to the issue, as private sector salaries in building control were double local government salaries.

To read more, click here.

Westminster City Council seeking contractor to deliver £80m Harrow Road housing scheme

Westminster City Council has begun procurement for its £80m Harrow Road housing scheme, to build 144 homes across three buildings. The council is targeting a 70% sitewide carbon reduction through a fabric-first approach using passive design principles. The 70% figure is double the 35% carbon reduction required by the Greater London Authority. The contract will run for just over four years, from March 2026 to July 2030.

To read more, click here.

With thanks to Annabel Gallocher, Saskia Mautner and Kasia Ginders

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.