SharpeEdge Archive
July 03, 2025
IPA guidance 2025: Managing PFI distress and preparing for expiry
Aanya Gujral and David Owens dive into the recent guidance published on managing the risks associated with Private Finance Initiative (“PFI”) projects.
June 24, 2025
Modifying subsidies: What is permitted and what is not?
Beatrice Wood and Oliver Slater explore recent developments and discuss the process of awarding subsidies.
June 24, 2025
Getting new PPP right: Smarter tools for smarter infrastructure
Nicola Sumner, Steve Gummer and Roseanne Serrelli discuss the 'dos and don'ts' of Public-private Partnerships in their new form.
June 19, 2025
Zones/RABs and heat networks: The path to an investible infrastructure asset class?
The UK’s new heat network zoning framework (the outlines for which were drawn by the Energy Act 2023) is set to redefine how low‑carbon heating is delivered by creating geographic zones, where district heat networks are the mandated, optimal solution.
June 17, 2025
Partial debt guarantees- Reviving Investment in UK Water Infrastructure
Is it Time for a Public Sector Major Infrastructure Debt Guarantor?
June 10, 2025
Court gives clarity on consultations : R (The National Council for Civil Liberties) and others v The Secretary of State for the Home Department
Chloe Woodward and Joe Walker discuss a recent judgment on when engagement with third parties constitute a formal consultation and must therefore adhere to case law on being 'run fairly'.
May 27, 2025
URS Corporation Limited v BDW Trading Limited [2025] UKSC 21 – Supreme Court hands down significant judgment for the construction industry
Helen Arthur explores a recent Supreme Court judgment on building safety in high-rise buildings, explaining what the decision means for defects claims.
May 21, 2025
Catch me if you can: Local government blazes a trail in increased SME spending
Juli Lau and Natasha Barlow take readers through the report published by the BCC on procurement spending.
May 21, 2025
Changing Course: Navigating Variations Under JCT and NEC Contracts
Tiah Weekes explains the process of changes to contracts in the field of construction.
May 21, 2025
Lessons in public consultation: High Court finds failures in local authority’s consideration of consultation responses
George McLellan and Samuel Hart explore the High Court decision ruling that Lambeth Council broke the law in the process of establishing an LTN in the borough.
May 12, 2025
Allocating risk in amended JCT contracts: Lessons from John Sisk & Son Limited v Capital & Centric (Rose) Limited
David Owens and Elizabeth Withers explore recent developments in construction contract case law.
May 01, 2025
Election challenges
Emyr Thomas dives into the details of how election results can be challenged and what those who wish to challenge a result can expect.
April 29, 2025
Raising integrity voluntarily: The UK’s carbon and nature markets consultation
Steve Gummer explores the most recent consultation from the UK Government on making positive changes to carbon and nature credits.
April 29, 2025
Ofgem Approval of TM04+ Reforms – Fixing the Connection Queue
Steve Gummer and Tom Knox look into the Ofgem decision on a round of reform to the UK's energy grid.
April 17, 2025
LDES cap and floor scheme: Ofgem launches first application window for long duration electricity storage
Jemima Allison and Steve Gummer provide insight into the opening of the first application window under Ofgem's new cap and floor regulatory scheme.
April 17, 2025
The Construction Products Reform Green Paper 2025: paving the way for wide scale change to the construction products regime
Rachel Murray-Smith, Melanie Blake and Laura Campbell explain the proposed reforms to the construction products regime.
April 17, 2025
Planning and Infrastructure Bill: Nature Recovery
Alastair Lewis and James Goldthorpe analyse major reform proposals to the way in which environmental obligations are discharged within the planning regime.
April 17, 2025
New statutory obligations for public venues
James Mallery-Nelson discusses the legal requirements of Martyn’s Law.
April 10, 2025
LDES cap and floor scheme: Ofgem launches first application window for long duration electricity storage
In a landmark step for the UK’s energy strategy, Ofgem has officially opened the first application window under its new cap and floor regulatory scheme for Long Duration Electricity Storage (“LDES”) projects, writes Sharpe Pritchard.
April 02, 2025
Manchester United’s new stadium proposals: a subsidy banana skin?
Oliver Slater and Beatrice Wood discuss the application of the subsidy control regime to Manchester United's plans for a new stadium and regeneration of the surrounding area.
Please mind the “registration gap”!
Apr 02, 2025
Niki Constantinou looks at the risks presented by the gap that appears between the completion of a transfer and the date when the transfer…
Planning and Infrastructure Bill – Spatial Development Strategies
Apr 02, 2025
Emily Knowles analyses the provisions on spatial development strategies in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.
“Oh what a woollen web we weave…”
Mar 20, 2025
James Mallery-Nelson analyses the recent case of Patarkatsishvili v Woodward Fisher [2025] and looks at how to avoid misrepresentation in…
Planning and Infrastructure Bill – Planning Decisions
Mar 20, 2025
Rebecca Stewart analyses the provisions in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill that relate to planning decisions.
Breaking new ground – The tribunal’s approach to ‘just and equitable’ in Remediation Contribution Orders
Mar 20, 2025
A recent Tribunal judgment stresses the importance of proactive enforcement of building safety standards, write Elizabeth Withers and David…
Planning and Infrastructure Bill - What you need to know
Mar 13, 2025
James Goldthorpe, Emily Knowles and Emyr Thomas provide insight into the recently introduced Planning and Infrastructure Bill.
Court of Appeal upholds state subsidy in Bulb takeover case
Mar 12, 2025
Jonathan Blunden, Oliver Slater and Christopher Watkins discuss the recent judgment in a case regarding the takeover of Bulb Energy by…
Court allowed council to offset legal costs from tenant’s rent arrears
Mar 06, 2025
Sharpe Pritchard recently acted for a local Authority landlord in a case where they successfully ‘set off’ the tenant’s outstanding rent…
Amending JCT Design & Build Contract – lessons learnt from recent case law.
Mar 03, 2025
Ewan Anthony and David Owens provide a round up of the recent case law in the world of construction contracts.
Burning Question: Does your Heat Network qualify for UK Heat Network Business Rates Relief?
Feb 25, 2025
Freddie Farrell and Steve Gummer update readers on what does and does not qualify for the Heat Network relief rates.
Should harassment in the workplace be deemed a breach of health and safety obligations?
Feb 24, 2025
David Leach and Madina Sakhi provide insight into the recent proposal to classify workplace harassment as a breach of health and safety…
UK Government launches consultation on AI and copyright
Feb 20, 2025
Elizabeth Withers and Ryan Copeland consider the Government's consultation on copyright law and artificial intelligence (AI).
ASA ruling on Wahed Invest Ltd: a critical analysis
Feb 20, 2025
George McLellan and Fred Groves provide insight into the recent ASA ruling on poster advertisements on Transport for London locations for…
Clarification of Section 73 powers: Implications for local planning authorities
Feb 20, 2025
Rebecca Stewart covers the recent Court of Appeal guidance on the scope of planning condition variations permissible under section 73 of…
Defective Premises Act 1972 and Building Liability Orders
Feb 04, 2025
Helen Arthur and Rachel Murray-Smith analyse a recent Technology and Construction Court decision finding that a freeholder, a Special…
Court of Appeal confirms Natural England’s right to seek injunction as an incidental power
Feb 04, 2025
Joe Walker and Samuel Hart analyse a recent Court of Appeal ruling on the powers of Natural England that has relevance to other public…
Building Safety and The Remediation Acceleration Plan – What to expect in 2025
Jan 29, 2025
Melanie Blake and Rachel Murray-Smith summarise the actions flowing from the Remediation Acceleration Plan as it comes into action.
Travis Perkins fined £2m for fatal accident
Jan 29, 2025
The Sharpe Pritchard team provide an update on a recent case in which Travis Perkins, a building materials supplier, was fined £2 million…
Navigating changes to TUPE, and the Employment Rights Bill in procurement
Jan 28, 2025
David Leach and Natasha Barlow explore recent proposals to amend TUPE provisions in connection with public procurements.
Recognising the challenge of IT procurements
Jan 23, 2025
Charlotte Smith explores a recent report from a spending watchdog on the issues faced when procuring technology suppliers and how the…
The importance of Jervis v Harris [1996] – a contractual self-help tool for landlords
Jan 14, 2025
James Mallery-Nelson analyses a 1996 High Court decision that established a key precedent, providing commercial landlords with a common law…
Abandoning a Procurement – Is it time to jump ship?
Jan 14, 2025
Sally Stock, Beth Edwards and Shyann Sheehy discuss the process of abandoning a procurement process, as well as highlighting restrictions…
Phasing-out of petrol and diesel cars for 2030: Comments and observations
Jan 09, 2025
Fred Groves and George Mclellan provide their views on the recent DfT consultation into phasing out petrol & diesel vehicles by 2030.
Employment Appeals Tribunal rules that a charity trustee was not precluded from bringing a whistleblowing claim
Jan 08, 2025
David Leach and Brianna Hall provide an update on a recent case from the Employment Appeals Tribunal, in which a charity trustee was not…
A shift in policy – More focused and cautious approach to legal reform nearly 4 years after Brexit?
Jan 02, 2025
Elizabeth Withers and Sally Stock provide insight into the decision not to enact Section 6 of the Retained EU Law Act.
Summary of the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan: A new era of clean electricity
Jan 02, 2025
Steve Gummer and Freddie Farrell summarise the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, covering the steps it takes to increase 'homegrown' energy…
Summary of the English Devolution White Paper
Jan 02, 2025
Rachel Murray-Smith, Beth Edwards and Freddie Farrell provide an overview of the white paper on devolution intended to increase powers of…
The Subsidy Advice Unit: Making a Referral
Dec 16, 2024
Beatrice Wood talks through the process of making a referral to the Subsidy Advice Unit.
DfE’s Condition Improvement Fund – CMA Launches Investigation into Possible Bid-Rigging
Dec 16, 2024
Oliver Slater, Beth Edwards, Beatrice Wood and Shyann Sheehy share details of a recent CMA investigation into suspected bid-rigging in…
Planning Reform – Government Publishes Policy Paper on Modernising Planning Committees
Dec 16, 2024
Emily Knowles and James Goldthorpe provide an update on the recent policy developments in planning law.
Webinar: NEC101 – Compensation Events, an introduction
Dec 16, 2024
Join Laura Campbell (Sharpe Pritchard) and Robert Gerrard (NEC Consultant) for this webinar as we go over NEC Compensation Events – what…
Termination
Dec 11, 2024
David Owens and Harnaek Rahania provide a brief reminder on how Employers can terminate under JCT contracts to follow up on recent case law.
Defects under NEC4 Contracts – summary of key terminology and mechanisms
Dec 11, 2024
Allen Owen takes readers through the key areas of interest in NEC4 contracts.
Bus franchising reform – on the road to change?
Dec 05, 2024
Beth Edwards and Shyann Sheehy explore the possible introduction of bus franchising.
It’s time for CATOs
Dec 05, 2024
Steve Gummer and Shyann Sheehy explore Competitively Appointed Transmission Owners (CATOs) and consider their benefits and drawbacks.
Roof Gardens and Higher-Risk Buildings – A tale of one too many storeys.
Nov 14, 2024
David Owens and Helen Arthur explore a recent First Tier Tribunal decision regarding the meaning of “higher-risk building’ under the…
Pensions and IDRP for Pension Complaints to the Pensions Ombudsman
Nov 14, 2024
David Leach discusses pension disputes, the IDRP process and the pensions ombudsman in this pre-recorded webinar.
Budget 2024: Highlights for local government
Nov 08, 2024
Rachel Murray-Smith, Peter Collins and Bernadette Hillman consider the impacts of the new measures laid out by in the Autumn Budget 2024…
Budget 2024: What was in it for construction?
Nov 08, 2024
Michael Comba and David Owens discuss the impact of the new government's first budget on the construction industry.
Companies House outlines transition plan for upcoming company law reforms
Nov 08, 2024
In the latest in the series of blog posts covering the introduction of reforms to the UK corporate governance regime, Peter Collins…
Performance bonds and parent company guarantees in construction contracts
Oct 31, 2024
Sydney Rich and Rachel Murray-Smith explain performance bonds, PCGs and how building contracts are affected.
What are the NEC payment mechanisms?
Oct 24, 2024
Sophie Drysdale and Allan Owen discuss the most suitable payment options for different forms of construction contracts.
‘How now, brown…field?’ – Legal considerations for councils in light of new brownfield funding
Oct 24, 2024
James Mallery-Nelson discusses the recent developments in planning relating to 'brownfield' land and how the government is helping councils…
Value for money – general good practice for local authorities
Oct 04, 2024
Juli Lau, Beth Edwards and Shyann Sheehy discuss the struggles of local authorities to use resources effectively, and explore key areas of…
Local authorities as trustees of charities
Sep 27, 2024
Ryan Copeland and Hannah Peto provide an update on the Charity Commission guidance “Local authorities (or councils) and as trustees of…
Class action tsunami: water companies face £1.5bn claim for allegedly misleading customers and regulators
Sep 27, 2024
Steve Gummer, Jonathan Blunden and Oliver Slater discuss the landmark Competition Appeal Tribunal class action brought against six of…
Key updates to the Administrative Court Guide
Sep 24, 2024
Olivia Dawson and Jonathon Blunden highlight for practitioners the key amendments in the latest edition of the Administrative Court Guide.
Procurement Act 2023: What does the delay mean for you?
Sep 17, 2024
On 12 September, the Government confirmed the rumours and the highly anticipated Procurement Act 2023 (the “Act”), due to come in to force…
Recent orders for possession in University protest camp claims - implications for academic institutions
Sep 13, 2024
Joe Walker and Fred Groves provide an update on unauthorised pro-Palestinian protest encampments on university premises where many have…
Dear Government - It’s time to get innovative about means of public investment
Sep 13, 2024
Steve Gummer and Shyann Sheehey issue a call on the government to make use of their options to address various barriers to investment and…
Significant tightening of rules for water companies – the Water (Special Measures) Bill
Sep 13, 2024
Allan Owen and Elizabeth Withers discuss the recent Water (Special Measures) Bill and how the changes will affect water companies in the UK.
The Golden Thread of information unravelled: navigating the Golden Thread Guidance for Higher-Risk Buildings
Sep 10, 2024
Steve Gummer and Shyann Sheehy talk through the recent Construction Leadership Council guidance on a ‘Golden Thread’ of information as part…
The Court of Appeal decides on JCT DB 2016 termination provisions
Aug 23, 2024
Helen Arthur provides an update on an important Court of Appeal ruling in a case concerning the proper construction of termination…
Summer school on construction contracts
Aug 08, 2024
Laura Campbell and Rachel Murray-Smith discuss school-related construction work and how the summer holidays play a crucial role in keeping…
New government, same challenge, new solutions
Aug 08, 2024
Steve Gummer and Steve Cirell rate the new government and its approach to environmental challenges and policy.
Preventing workplace sexual harassment The Worker Protection Amendment of Equality Act 2010 Act 2023
Jul 31, 2024
David Leach talks through the new worker protection amendment of the Equality Act 2010 in relation to preventing sexual harrasment in the…
Business Cases and Financial Modelling for Solar PV Projects
Jul 31, 2024
Steve Gummer discusses the upcoming focuses of his 'Green Steves' programme, the first of which is solar energy.
GB Energy bill unveiled
Jul 31, 2024
Steve Gummer and Elizabeth Withers introduce readers to the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) introduced the Great British…
Making solar add up – The revenues of a solar plant
Jul 25, 2024
Join the Green Steves in this insightful episode featuring Steve Gummer guest expert Manon Derelle, a seasoned professional in energy…
The King’s Speech and construction: what did we get and what’s next?
Jul 25, 2024
With a new government avowing to ‘get Britain building’, Michael Comba and David Owens go over the contents of the first King’s Speech of…
The King’s Speech - What is on the Employment Law Horizon
Jul 23, 2024
The King’s Speech on Wednesday, 17 July, launched the plans for the new Labour Government. Whilst there is quite a lot of information to…
More lessons learned from the Local Government PFI Investment Programme
Jul 23, 2024
In this second article, Rob Hann, (Head of Local Government at Sharpe Pritchard) sets out some lessons from the development of the PFI…
The Supreme Court on whether collateral warranties are construction contracts
Jul 17, 2024
Rachel Murray-Smith and Helen Arthur discuss a significant and much-anticipated judgment for the construction industry handed down by the…
A new investment programme for Local Government – Building on from PFI?
Jul 16, 2024
Rob Hann looks back at the local government PFI investment programme rolled out between 1997 and 2010 under the successive Blair/Brown led…
Sleeved Power Purchase Agreements
Jul 16, 2024
In the latest in a series on the different types of power purchase agreements available for local authorities to consider when procuring…
Policy Statement on onshore Wind
Jul 11, 2024
Within days of taking office, the Government has ended what was an effective ban on new onshore wind turbines. Steve Gummer and Aakash…
The WFH Debate: Changes to the Flexible Working Regime and lessons from the Wilson case
Jul 08, 2024
With the rules on Flexible Working having changed on 6 April 2024, the remote vs office-based working debate which has been the subject of…
Marcic reimagined
Jul 08, 2024
The scope for nuisance claims being brought against water companies has just been expanded and not necessarily clarified by the Supreme…
“Just dropping in”: changing large development schemes
Jul 08, 2024
It is almost inevitable that large scale developments will be spatially phased in their build out. Flexibility to accommodate a degree of…
IR35: when does it apply?
Jul 08, 2024
Angela Ferguson covers IR35 legisislation and runs viewers through recent employment law changes.
EPC regulation – reform affecting commercial premises
Jul 08, 2024
Sarah Wertheim and Francesca Gallagher examine the impact of recent and upcoming changes in EPC legislation on commercial landlords.
How to defend a smash and grab adjudication
Jul 08, 2024
Michael Comba and David Owens provide seven top tips on defending smash and grab adjudications.
Buildings-based solar installations
Jul 08, 2024
Steve Gummer and Steve Cirell set out the key considerations for solar installations covering buildings.
Shareholders amend Articles of Association by conduct
Jun 25, 2024
In a recent case the High Court held a company’s articles of association were amended via shareholders’ conduct. This case, which concerned…
Guidance on Transitional and Saving Arrangements Published
May 15, 2024
Ahead of the changeover to the Procurement Act 2023, on 22 April the Government Commercial Function published guidance on transitional and…
Land Registry ‘lawyer assured information’ process
May 09, 2024
HM Land Registry is aiming to have no applications older than 12 months by Spring 2024, report Gemma Duncan and Lillee Reid-Hunt.
TUPE - crash course on the fundamentals
May 09, 2024
David Leach discusses Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employment rights.
Bitesize PPAs – local authorities and ‘private wire’ power purchase agreements
May 08, 2024
In a blog series Steve Gummer and Tom Knox explore the different types of power purchase agreements (“PPAs”) available for local…
Deep dive into solar PV
May 08, 2024
Steve Gummer and Steve Cirell stress the importance of strategy at a local authority level when it comes to solar PV projects.
The Heat is on: Everything you need to know about the Heat Network Technical Assurance Scheme
May 08, 2024
Steve Gummer and Kamran Zaheer provide the first instalment of a series on heat networks and heat network zoning.
Play by the Rules - understanding the Crichel Down Rules
May 03, 2024
James Mallery-Nelson examines the application of the Crichel Down Rules where public bodies decide to dispose of land acquired by…
JCT 2024 – what’s changed?
May 03, 2024
The Joint Contracts Tribunal (JCT) published its new Design and Build 2024 and Design and Build Sub-contract 2024 standard forms of…
The Public Service Obligations in Transport Regulations 2023
Apr 24, 2024
The Public Service Obligations in Transport Regulations 2023 (the “PSO Regulations”), which came into force on Christmas Day 2023, set out…
New laws to strengthen LPA powers of enforcement
Apr 17, 2024
A number of significant changes to the planning enforcement regime will come into effect from 25 April 2024. Perhaps the most notable of…
The impact of the Economic Crime and Transparency Act 2023 on local authorities and their companies
Apr 15, 2024
Sophie Alexander provides a critical analysis of the likely impact of the Economic Crime & Corporate Transparency Act 2023 on local…
Back-to-back contracting sounds simple, but is it really?
Apr 12, 2024
We often hear the term ‘back-to-back’ contracting, but what does this mean, and what are the common themes to consider when faced with a…
Registration deadline extended for Registered Building Inspectors
Apr 11, 2024
The Health and Safety Executive (“HSE”) has extended the deadline for the registration of Registered Building Inspectors (“RBIs”) to 6 July…
Avoiding late payment in construction - a fair payment practices guide
Apr 05, 2024
Allan Owen and Clarice Harper-Smith consider a variety of methods and options available to public sector contracting authorities and the…
Redactions to disclosure in judicial review litigation - a further update
Mar 19, 2024
A High Court judge has ruled that the general principle that a litigant in judicial review proceedings is not entitled, as a matter of…
Condition precedents in light of Lancashire Schools v Lendlease
Mar 15, 2024
Condition precedents are common in various commercial agreements. Ewan Anthony and David Owens discuss the court’s general approach to…
Spotlight on Construction Law
Mar 08, 2024
It has been a busy year in the construction industry, write David Owens, Rachel Murray-Smith and Helen Arthur, with some standout…
Planning & Infrastructure Authorisation – looking forward: policy highlights
Mar 08, 2024
It has been (another) year in which the Government has tried to carry out the tricky balancing act between getting more houses built and…
The Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023
Feb 29, 2024
Jo Pickering, Aidan Dickinson, James Mallery-Nelson, Victoria Okafor and Christopher Watkins explore some of the main legislative changes…
Spotlight on Employment Rights 2024
Feb 27, 2024
With 2024 set to be an interesting year for employment law and practice, we have already seen some changes from 1 January 2024 and there…
BNG begins: considerations at the application stage
Feb 23, 2024
On 12 February 2024, mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain (“BNG”) officially arrived. Alastair Lewis, Emily Knowles and James Goldthorpe explore…
Remediation Orders: What you need to know
Feb 16, 2024
Joe Walker and Helen Arthur explain what a remediation order is and look at two recent cases to see how the First-Tier Tribunal has…
Redaction of names of junior civil servants in judicial review proceedings
Feb 09, 2024
In a unanimous judgment, the Court of Appeal has dismissed the government’s appeal of a High Court judgment which proscribed the…
Paternity leave is becoming more flexible
Feb 02, 2024
David Leach sets out the key points for employers from new regulations affecting paternity leave.
Biodiversity Net Gain is a reality: the basics
Jan 24, 2024
Alastair Lewis and Emily Knowles looks at the latest developments in relation to Biodiversity Net Gain, including the all-important start…
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ABOUT SHARPE PRITCHARD
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