Building Blocks | Developments for the UK construction industry: June 2025
Published on 26th June 2025
Welcome to Building Blocks – a round-up of Insights relevant to construction industry clients
Construction and infrastructure
Boost for housing and infrastructure in UK government spending review
The UK government's priorities for the next three years have been set out in the June 2025 Comprehensive Spending Review. What has been allocated for the housing and infrastructure sectors and what this might mean for it?
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WhatsApp construction contract held to be binding in English law
This recent case acts as a reminder of the importance of formalising contracts and actively managing them.
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UK Supreme Court decides landmark Building Safety Act case
The judgment has wide-ranging ramifications for developers, builders, architects, designers and consultants. Osborne Clarke acted for BDW, who were successful in the case.
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Recent case highlights need for further guidance on what constitutes a high-rise building in England
In Monier Road Limited v Nicholas Alexander Blomfield and other Leaseholders (2025), the Upper Tribunal found that the First Tier Tribunal exceeded its jurisdiction in deciding that a roof-top garden was a "storey", but did not express a view as to whether it should be considered a storey under the Building Safety Act or the Higher-Risk Building Regulations.
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Boost for housing and infrastructure in UK government spending review
The government's priorities for the next three years were set out in the June 2025 Comprehensive Spending Review, with the housing and infrastructure sectors benefiting from significant cash injections.
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What does the second half of 2025 offer the commercial real estate sector in England?
Significant legal reforms are expected to affect the commercial real estate market, together with a swathe of consultations paving the way for longer term changes. Key areas include residential long leasehold and commonhold, renters' rights, planning system support and overhaul, and security of tenure reform.
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More topics you may be interested in
Regulatory
UK Regulatory Outlook (including Building Safety delays; Grenfell response; and recent fire safety and health and safety cases)
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Planning, environment and energy
Government publishes working paper to facilitate deployment of low-carbon infrastructure with possible mandatory approach to community benefits and shared ownership
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Corporate governance and white collar crime
Serious Fraud Office launches first 'failure to prevent' bribery prosecution
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Employment
UK Regulatory Outlook (including immigration, skills thresholds, workforce strategies and employer incentives)
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Employment Law Coffee Break
Consultation following Supreme Court decision on definition of sex in the Equality Act; High Court decision on vicarious liability and TUPE; and employment law update
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Upcoming Events
Understanding MEES, EPCs, and Business Rates - Implications for Rent Reviews, Service Charges, and Tenant Improvements Webinar, 10 July 2025, 09:30 - 10:15
Join Alex Foxon and Andrew Cammish as they delve into the complexities of MEES (Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards) and EPCs (Energy Performance Certificates) and look at their impact on rent reviews, service charges, and tenant improvements.
Recent Events
Seven decades on: The Landlord and Tenant Act 1954, recent case law, and the path to reform Webinar, Catch up on-demand
Mike Smart and Jazmin Perry talk on the proposed reform of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 and examination of recent case law, particularly on the topic of lease termination.
