
Are you ready for the new VAT reverse charge?
Following initial delays in its implementation, the new VAT reverse charge regime is finally coming into force from 1 March 2021 and will impact employers, developers, contractors, consultants and subcontractors All construction supplies made after 1 March 2021 will likely be subject to the new VAT reverse charge even if it relates to an existing project under an agreement dated prior to that date. The new rules are broad in scope and quite complex, so it’s important to check

UK BIM Framework updates ISO 19650 guidance
The Centre for Digital Built Britain (supported by the Construction Innovation Hub), BSI and the UK BIM Alliance, have released an updated suite of guidance documents to support the BS EN ISO 19650 series. New content includes an insight into the revised National Annex in Guidance Part 2, from the updated Standard BS EN ISO 19650-2:2018 & Revised NA. Guidance part 3 includes more detailed insight from a working group of people with expertise across the asset operation phase.

HSE appoints first chief inspector of buildings
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has appointed Peter Baker as chief inspector of buildings to lead the new Building Safety Regulator The current director of building safety and construction, Peter Baker will take up the post with immediate effect. In his role as the chief inspector of buildings, Peter Baker will head up the Building Safety Regulator to deliver the new regime for high-risk buildings, oversee work to increase competence of all professionals working on buil

Man dies at Basingstoke building site
A worker has died after an accident at a construction site in Basingstoke on Monday. Brymor Construction is understood to be main contractor on the Clarion Housing Group job. The 30-year-old male victim was rushed to hospital but later pronounced dead. A spokesperson for Hampshire Constabulary told the Basingstoke Gazette: “We were called at 9.46am today (February 15) after a 30-year-old man was found injured on a construction site in Wiltshire Crescent, Basingstoke. “He was

Redrow warns self-isolating subbies impacting building
House builder Redrow bounced back from the first lockdown period last year to deliver record first-half revenue and legal completions that were both up 20%. But the house builder warned that it is now seeing homes production increasingly being impacted by growing numbers of self isolating workers in 2021. The strong bounce back last year saw Redrow deliver pre-tax profits up 11% to £174m from revenue up to top £1bn in the period from June to December. As the house builder acc

Two companies fined after worker falls from height
A construction company and plastering firm have been fined £166,700 after a worker sustained serious injuries by falling from height The worker sustained serious injuries by falling approximately three metres through a hole cut into a floor during the refurbishment of property at in Aldeburgh, Suffolk. Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court heard how on 27 July 2017, an employee was working as a dry liner for R&B Plastering Limited, who was contracted on the site to principal contract

Chancellor warned construction VAT plan risks recovery
Chancellor Rishi Sunak is being urged to abandon VAT changes which could cause a cash-flow crisis across construction. The Construction Leadership Council is hoping for a last-minute reprieve ahead of the Spring Budget, warning it could snuff out the construction-led recovery. More than 150,000 construction companies are facing a 20% drop in cash flow when planned VAT changes come into force at the start of March. The Chancellor of the Exchequer will deliver his Budget statem

Company fined £15,000 after scaffolding collapses
A scaffolding company has been fined £15,000 after scaffolding collapsed across the entrance to the car park of Coventry Skydome Coventry Magistrates’ Court heard how, on 3 March 2019, scaffolding, which was approximately 13m in length and 4m high and had been erected to protect the public from falling debris, had blown down in high winds. HSE investigation A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that the scaffolding was not adequately fixed into the structure