Our team share the latest news and updates from the construction industry.
Withdrawal of the JCT 2016 edition
The withdrawal date for the JCT 2016 edition of Contracts was 31 March 2026.
The JCT has since published an update stating that, as a number of construction projects based on the JCT 2016 suite have already begun, and others will shortly commence, it has introduced a transitional period during which the JCT 2016 contracts will continue to be made available, in hardcopy (whilst stocks last) and digitally, until 31 December 2026. The JCT recommends users to adopt JCT 2024 contracts as soon as possible.
The JCT note can be found at: Information on the Withdrawal of the JCT 2016 Edition of Contracts – The Joint Contracts Tribunal
The Building Safety Levy: the countdown begins
A reminder that the Building Safety Levy (England) Regulations 2025 come into force on 1 October 2026 and apply to all new residential developments (including mixed-use buildings) in England that require building control approval, regardless of height. An important point to note is that, for the exemption to apply, the building control application not only needs to be submitted before 1 October 2026 but also needs to be validated and approved.
The introduction of the levy is an important development. For more information, read our articles:
- Building Safety Levy – A summary
- The Building Safety Levy explained
- Navigating the Building Safety Levy – What housing developers need to know
Recent and current Building Safety Consultations
Single Construction Regulator (SCR)
This major government initiative opened on 17 December 2025 and ran until 20 March 2026. It sought industry feedback on proposals (set out in a 55 page document called the Single Construction Regulator Prospectus) to establish a single, integrated regulatory body for the built environment that would bring together functions that are currently handled by various bodies that include the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) and the National Regulator for Construction Products.
The proposals are driven by recommendations in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry's final report and the aim is to establish an autonomous regulator to oversees buildings, construction products and professional competence.
The government intends to publish its formal response to the consultation in summer 2026.
Reform of the regulation of construction products in the UK
Following the Grenfell Tower Inquiry's final report, the UK government launched a comprehensive overhaul of the construction products sector. On 25 February 2026, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) published the Construction Products Reform White Paper which outlines a comprehensive overhaul of how construction products are regulated, tested and certified to ensure public safety and accountability.
The consultation closed on 20 May 2026. In the White Paper, MHCLG states:
"Responsibility for achieving reform will require a sustained effort across the industry and government, including manufacturers, distributors (including merchants), specifiers, contractors, investors, regulators, and those assessing, selecting and using construction products. Each has a role in ensuring products are safe and used appropriately, that economic operators act responsibly, and that the sector can grow and innovate. This will enable reforms to contribute to long term growth, as well as supporting delivery of safe homes and buildings for residents and communities alongside critical infrastructure."
For more information, read XXX
Improving proportionality and building safety outcomes in building control: categorisation of higher-risk building work
Amidst the multiple building safety proposals that have been issued in recent months, on 26 March 2026, MHCLG opened a consultation on its proposals to improve the proportionality of the higher-risk building control regime. The consultation is called "Proportionality in building control: categorisation of higher-risk building work". It closes on 28 May 2026 and focuses on improving the Gateway 2 approval process for Category A and B works, with the aim of enabling the BSR to focus on the most complex HRB cases. The consultation sets out changes to the definitions of Category A and Category B building work to introduce a proportionate approach that takes account of the scale and complexity of the intended works.
Fire risk assessors profession
MHCLG opened another consultation on 26 March 2026 (which closes on 18 June 2026) on The fire risk assessors (FRA) profession that covers competency requirements for the FRA profession, developing the FRA profession and the powers needed to regulate it.
The consultation states:
"FRAs perform a critical fire safety role, keeping people safe – not only in blocks of flats, but in almost every non-domestic building from workplaces to care homes to nightclubs. Their assessments help identify hazards, ensuring effective fire safety precautions are in place to protect those who live in, work in, or visit buildings across England. Despite this, the FRA role is not currently a regulated profession. There is no single professional body overseeing the industry, no consistent definition of the role, no clear consistent career pathway for those who wish to enter the profession and no mandatory training, qualifications or certification. This lack of consistency means that those occupying or responsible for fire safety in premises lack assurance that FRAs are always competently undertaking these vital fire risk assessments."
Call for evidence: Strategy for the built environment professions, trades and occupations
On 20 May 2026, MHCLG issued a Call for evidence: Strategy for the built environment professions, trades and occupations which is intended to inform future policy on those working in the building professions, trades and occupations. The call for evidence closes on 12 August 2026. It is an important route through which the government will gather the information it needs to develop its proposals. The call actively encourages responses from those involved across the whole building lifecycle including those directly employed in the full range of built environment professions, trades and occupations, clients (commercial, public sector and domestic), manufacturers, education providers and those working in adjacent sectors such as insurance, legal and financial services, professional bodies, trade bodies, statutory regulators and consumer or representative organisations.
The Commercial Payments Bill
In October 2025, we commented on The Government's late payments consultation, Tackling poor payment practices. On 24 March 2026, the Department for Business & Trade (DBT) published the consultation outcome, Time to pay up!
On 13 May 2026, The King's Speech 2026 made specific reference to the Small Business Protections (Late Payments) Bill, a bill to tackle late payments (as well as the Remediation Bill which will be designed to speed up remediation for people living in homes with unsafe cladding). Just one week later, on 19 May 2026, the Commercial Payments Bill was introduced to the House of Lords, with the second reading set for Tuesday 9 June: it is clear that the DBT is keen to push ahead with the draft legislation as quickly as possible.
The key areas the bill focuses on are:
- Audit and board requirements for large companies.
- Restrictions on payment terms.
- Deadline for disputing invoices.
- Mandatory statutory interest.
- Additional reporting on statutory interest.
- Financial penalties for persistent late payers.
- Additional powers for the Small Business Commissioner.
- Banning retention clauses in construction contracts (one of the most significant proposed interventions in construction payment practices in years).
The Commercial Payments Bill fact sheet states:
The bill will tackle late payments between businesses and improve the flow of cash through supply chains. It will improve payment practices by:
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imposing maximum payment terms of 60 days, with strictly limited exemptions;
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mandating interest on late payments at 8% above the Bank of England base rate;
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giving suppliers the right to a fixed sum where a purchaser raises a dispute late or without sufficient information; and
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prohibiting the deduction and withholding of retention payments under the terms of a construction contract. We will consult further on the timing for implementation.
Look out for our regular updates on the bill, as it continues its journey through Parliament, and the implications for the construction industry.
For more information, read our Insight.
