A look at the year ahead

So apart from New Year’s resolutions that most people will break by the middle of January (not you though, dear reader, I’m sure), what has 2015 got in store for the construction sector?

• Prompt payment is high on the government’s agenda for 2015 with consultations on changes to the Prompt Payment Code and on forcing large business to report on their payment performance running until 9 January and 2 February 2015 respectively. The latter is intended to lead to the implementation of “concrete proposals” in Spring 2015.
• The changes to the CDM Regulations come into force on 1 April 2015 although the detail/interpretation is not yet entirely clear (even to experts).
• The HSE plans to focus its construction efforts on occupational ill health (particularly respiratory risks, hard-arm vibration and occupational cancers), although it will also increase the attention it pays to one-off residential developments. In line with the CDM changes, they will also be looking “beyond the site gate” at the role of designers and clients in influencing health and safety standards.
• Onwards and upwards? Construction-related economic activity increased fairly steadily through 2014 although the rate of growth did slow. We understand (from www.theconstructionindex.co.uk) that over 52% of construction businesses surveyed expect a rise in activity over 2015 although the optimism is cautious given that we are now in a General Election year. We look forward to supporting our clients and referrers through the positive times that you have all earned by slogging out the bad times of recent years.
• The holiday pay ruling made by the Employment Appeals Tribunal in autumn 2014 will begin to have a real impact on construction companies in 2015.

These notes have been prepared for the purpose of an article only. They should not be regarded as a substitute for taking legal advice. 

To download the full newsletter as a PDF, click here.