The Week That Was - 26 June 2026

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

TCC guidance on supplier liability

On 22 June 2026, the TCC handed down Judgment in Mulalley & Co. Ltd v Sto Ltd & Sto SE & Co. KGaA [2026] EWHC 1552 (TCC), one of the first major contribution claims under the Building Safety Act 2022 to reach this stage.  Justice Pepperall ordered Sto Limited (in Administration) and its German parent company (jointly, Sto) to be 87.5% responsible for the cost of remedial work.

Sto did not defend the proceedings.  The Claimant obtained judgment in default such that the only question for Justice Pepperall was Sto's just and equitable contribution (if any).  Justice Pepperall found that "the principal cause of the remedial works was plainly the fact that Sto marketed and supplied an inherently defective product" such that "[t]aking matters in the round, I conclude that the just and equitable contribution payable by Sto, and therefore Sto Germany pursuant to the building liability order in this case, is 87.5%".

Read the full decision here. 

JCT clarification re Procurement Act 2023

The Joint Contracts Tribunal (JCT) has provided helpful guidance which confirms that uploaded signed JCT contracts will comply with the Procurement Act 2023.

The JCT also confirmed that when contracts are uploaded in this way amending schedules should only be uploaded with blank sections of the contract to be omitted (whether in digital or print format). 

Read the full guidance here.

RICS welcomed Government's announcement of home buying and selling process reforms

RICS has welcomed the UK Government’s proposed reforms to the home buying and selling process, aimed at speeding up transactions, improving upfront information and reducing the number of deals that fall through.

The introduction of “sales packs” requires sellers and estate agents to provide prerequisite information before a property can be listed, including an upfront property condition assessment.  The Government also plans to improve the quality of “material information” in listings and expand digitisation and automation across the process, including digital identity checks and electronic conveyancing tools, alongside moves towards more binding agreements.

RICS stressed that any property condition assessment within a sales pack must be carried out by a properly qualified and regulated surveying professional.  It also backed plans to professionalise property agents through a new Code of Practice and potential mandatory qualifications.

You can read RICS' response here.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government's announcement of landlord fines

Councils in England can now impose financial penalties of up to £7,000 on landlords who fail to address serious health and safety hazards in privately rented homes, following new powers coming into force under the Renters’ Rights Act 2026.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) said the new fine sits alongside existing local authority enforcement options, including requiring repairs, carrying out emergency works and recovering costs from landlords who do not comply. 

The Housing Secretary, Steve Reed, has written to mayors across England urging councils to use the full range of powers available to tackle unsafe housing. The updated framework comes into force on 23 June 2026 and is intended to simplify hazard assessment and speed up enforcement.

Click here to access the press release. 

High Court refuses to enforce £1.65m adjudication award

The Technology and Construction Court has refused to enforce a £1.65 million adjudication award obtained by Premier Modular in a dispute with Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust. 

The case concerned delays to a hospital theatre project and whether the Trust's failure to provide a permanent water supply constituted a compensation event under the NEC4 contract.

The Court found that the adjudicator had based his decision on an argument that neither party had advanced during the adjudication; in particular, he treated a later contractor-issued programme as an "Accepted Programme", despite both parties agreeing that it had never been formally accepted under the contract.

Deputy High Court Judge Adrian Williamson KC held that this amounted to a material breach of natural justice, describing the adjudicator as having gone off on a "frolic of his own". 

You can read more here (may require subscription).

Sunderland council and Muse sign agreement for 1,000-home regeneration plan

Sunderland City Council and developer, Muse have signed a pre-development agreement to explore the regeneration of the Sunniside area in central Sunderland.

Working alongside the Northeast Mayoral Strategic Authority, the partners will develop a masterplan for the site, with early indications suggesting the potential delivery of more than 1,000 new homes. 

With a key focus on integrating existing heritage assets and independent businesses, and building on the area's established strengths, the regeneration proposals will complement ongoing developments in the city, including the Nile & Villiers housing scheme and the National Esports Performance Campus.

Feasibility work is expected to continue throughout 2026, after which the parties will consider progressing to a full development agreement and detailed delivery proposals.

You can read more here (may require subscription).

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.

With thanks to Ryan Loney, Keira-Anne Dowsell, Oliver Clarke and Nishtha Guha

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