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The Built Environment

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Real estate

Building Blocks: Developments for the UK construction industry | August 2026

Welcome to Building Blocks – Osborne Clarke's regular round-up of Insights relevant to construction industry clients

03/08/2026

Read time 2m

Real estate

Government confirms sweeping new transparency rules for residential landlords in England

Landlords face new service charge rules, mandatory form annual reports and a reformed litigation costs regime from 2027

31/07/2026

Read time 3m

Construction disputes

Updated Technology and Construction Court Guide delivers dedicated Building Safety Act and AI guidelines for proceedings in England and Wales

Latest edition addresses procedural issues that may arise during BSA claims and provides additional guidance on the use of AI

27/07/2026

Read time 3m

Less red tape, more investment? Catalonia prepares an ambitious reform of the planning and environmental licensing system

The draft simplification bill places the investor, rather than bureaucracy, at the centre of the planning and environmental licensing system...

24/07/2026

Read time 6m

The Built Environment

UK government consults on the VAT treatment of land intended for social housing

Proposals seek to bring forward point at which zero-rating is available

23/07/2026

Read time 4m

The Building Safety Act

Wales legislates for broader building safety remediation powers

England's remediation and contribution orders model is adopted with potentially greater scope and ministerial discretion

14/07/2026

Read time 5m

Real estate

English High Court refuses stay and appeal in landmark building liability order ruling

Latest judgment in Crest v Ardmore makes clear that defendants face an uphill battle to unwind a BLO once made

02/07/2026

Read time 4m

Construction disputes

Final dates for payment in UK construction contracts: court confirms strict application of statutory requirements

A recent judgment highlights the dangers of pegging final dates for payment to variable events

02/07/2026

Read time 5m

Real estate

English High Court confirms the broad reach of building liability orders

The BLO by default judgment holds a German parent liable for its UK subsidiary's defective cladding

01/07/2026

Read time 2m

Real estate

Landlord of UK commercial lease held to have fire safety obligations

High Court rules commercial landlord must remove dangerous cladding under lease covenant despite no disrepair

25/06/2026

Read time 3m

The Built Environment

Government announces long-anticipated energy efficiency reforms for commercial properties in England and Wales

Non-domestic buildings required to have at least EPC B from 2031 as the government raises Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards

23/06/2026

Read time 2m

The Built Environment

Commercial Payments Bill would ban retention and late payments in UK construction

A 30-day public and 60-day private sector payment cap would also apply, with longer contractual terms automatically void

18/06/2026

Read time 4m

The Built Environment

What does the second half of 2026 have in store for the commercial real estate sector in England?

Many key legal developments are unfolding that occupiers, investors, developers and lenders should monitor

18/06/2026

Read time 11m

Data Centres

Planning, AI and cyber rule changes bring new risks for UK and EU data centre development

Operators, investors and advisers are contending with legal and regulatory uncertainty as data centre demand rises

16/06/2026

Read time 9m

The Built Environment

What commercial developers, housebuilders and investors in England and Wales should know about the contractual controls register

Regulations introducing the register have now been made, meaning key details of qualifying land agreements must be registered and will...

15/06/2026

Read time 4m

View all insights

Real estate

Building Blocks: Developments for the UK construction industry | August 2026

Welcome to Building Blocks – Osborne Clarke's regular round-up of Insights relevant to construction industry clients

03/08/2026

Read time 2m

Real estate

Government confirms sweeping new transparency rules for residential landlords in England

Landlords face new service charge rules, mandatory form annual reports and a reformed litigation costs regime from 2027

31/07/2026

Read time 3m

Construction disputes

Updated Technology and Construction Court Guide delivers dedicated Building Safety Act and AI guidelines for proceedings in England and Wales

Latest edition addresses procedural issues that may arise during BSA claims and provides additional guidance on the use of AI

27/07/2026

Read time 3m

Less red tape, more investment? Catalonia prepares an ambitious reform of the planning and environmental licensing system

The draft simplification bill places the investor, rather than bureaucracy, at the centre of the planning and environmental licensing system...

24/07/2026

Read time 6m

The Built Environment

UK government consults on the VAT treatment of land intended for social housing

Proposals seek to bring forward point at which zero-rating is available

23/07/2026

Read time 4m

The Building Safety Act

Wales legislates for broader building safety remediation powers

England's remediation and contribution orders model is adopted with potentially greater scope and ministerial discretion

14/07/2026

Read time 5m

Real estate

English High Court refuses stay and appeal in landmark building liability order ruling

Latest judgment in Crest v Ardmore makes clear that defendants face an uphill battle to unwind a BLO once made

02/07/2026

Read time 4m

Construction disputes

Final dates for payment in UK construction contracts: court confirms strict application of statutory requirements

A recent judgment highlights the dangers of pegging final dates for payment to variable events

02/07/2026

Read time 5m

Real estate

English High Court confirms the broad reach of building liability orders

The BLO by default judgment holds a German parent liable for its UK subsidiary's defective cladding

01/07/2026

Read time 2m

Real estate

Landlord of UK commercial lease held to have fire safety obligations

High Court rules commercial landlord must remove dangerous cladding under lease covenant despite no disrepair

25/06/2026

Read time 3m

The Built Environment

Government announces long-anticipated energy efficiency reforms for commercial properties in England and Wales

Non-domestic buildings required to have at least EPC B from 2031 as the government raises Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards

23/06/2026

Read time 2m

The Built Environment

Commercial Payments Bill would ban retention and late payments in UK construction

A 30-day public and 60-day private sector payment cap would also apply, with longer contractual terms automatically void

18/06/2026

Read time 4m

The Built Environment

What does the second half of 2026 have in store for the commercial real estate sector in England?

Many key legal developments are unfolding that occupiers, investors, developers and lenders should monitor

18/06/2026

Read time 11m

Data Centres

Planning, AI and cyber rule changes bring new risks for UK and EU data centre development

Operators, investors and advisers are contending with legal and regulatory uncertainty as data centre demand rises

16/06/2026

Read time 9m

The Built Environment

What commercial developers, housebuilders and investors in England and Wales should know about the contractual controls register

Regulations introducing the register have now been made, meaning key details of qualifying land agreements must be registered and will...

15/06/2026

Read time 4m

View all insights

Ian Wilkinson

Partner

+44 117 917 3210 Email Ian Full bio UK

Thomas Schnabel

Partner

+49 221 5108 4028 Email Thomas Full bio Germany

Stéphane Catays

Partner, Head of Real Estate

+33 1 84 82 45 40 Email Stéphane Full bio France

Julián Matos

Partner

+34 93 419 18 18 Email Julián Full bio Spain

Simone Monesi

Partner, Head of Urban Dynamics

+39 02 5413 1758 Email Simone Full bio Italy

Agata Demuth

Partner, Head of Real Estate

+48 660 440 312 Email Agata Full bio Poland

Linn Solholm

Partner, Head of the Built Environment Sector in the Nordics

+46 73 034 91 71 Email Linn Full bio Sweden

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