SharpeEdge Archive
Twelve New Towns for the Future
October 09, 2025
James Goldthorpe and Conrad Turnock summarise the New Towns Taskforce’s report to Government, published on 28th September, and ask - what next?
Key updates to the Administrative Court Guide
September 30, 2025
Chloe McQuillan and Jonathan Blunden dive into recent amendments to the Administrative Court Judicial Review Guide, exploring what they mean for practitioners.
Algorithm and State: Automated decision-making in the UK Public Sector
September 12, 2025
Beatrice Wood explores the impact of Automated Decision making on the UK government and local authority sector.
The Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce Interim Report
September 12, 2025
Bridget Newman discusses the report published by the Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce on the UK’s nuclear regulatory framework.
Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (“the Bill”)
September 11, 2025
The team at Sharpe Pritchard provides readers with an overview of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill.
High Court backs Newham’s Compulsory Purchase of Final Flat in Redevelopment Scheme
September 08, 2025
Francesca Gallagher and Rachel Hey discuss the recent High Court judgment upholding the Compulsory Purchase Order of a London council.
A New Chapter for UK Sustainability Reporting: Government Consultations Open
August 27, 2025
On 25 June 2025, the UK Government launched three major consultations aimed at strengthening sustainability reporting and climate disclosure. Jemima Allison and Nimoy Kher set out why they matter.
REMA Update: New direction for electricity market reform
August 12, 2025
Bridget Newman provides insight into the future of the electricity market under the influence of the Review of Electricity Market Arrangements (REMA) Programme.
Ofgem’s energy system cost allocation and recovery review – Proposed reforms and impact assessment
August 07, 2025
Kamran Zaheer brings readers up to date with the latest proposed reforms to the sharing out of Britain's energy costs.
Powering the future: Legal insight on driving demand for hydrogen in the UK
July 30, 2025
Meghan Vaillancourt analyses the law surrounding the future of hydrogen fuel in the UK after report from the leading trade association.
Commercial market operator principle clarified in CAT ruling on subsidy control challenge
July 30, 2025
Jonathan Blunden, Oliver Slater and Oliver Dickie analyse a recent Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) judgment rejecting a challenge to two loans made by a combined authority.
Government issues response to the UK ETS expansion to waste
July 30, 2025
Natasha Barlow provides insight into the Government's response to the UK Emissions Trading Scheme consultation.
Some thoughts for a government implementing Cunliffe
July 24, 2025
Steve Gummer provides an in depth explanation of the impact that the Cunliffe Report will have, and shares how the report is not quite what it first seems.
Abolition of GB electricity zonal Pricing – Welcome certainty for developers and investors
July 24, 2025
Nimoy Kher explains the ins and outs of zonal pricing on electricity around the country.
Beyond the headlines: The Cunliffe Report’s quiet revolution in UK water regulation
July 24, 2025
Sharpe Pritchard provide insight into the Cunliffe Report, exploring the impact that the proposed changes would have on the water sector.
Cunliffe in-depth: What the Cunliffe Report means and what comes next
July 24, 2025
Steve Gummer and Allan Owen delve into the recently published Cunliffe Report, and explain what it means for the water sector.
Onshore wind opportunities for local authorities in 2025
July 24, 2025
Tom Knox explains net-zero options opening up for local authorities from new government strategies and planning reform.
The CAT’s approach to Subsidy Decision Reviews: Fast, cheap and simple?
July 16, 2025
Olivia Dawson and Oliver Slater consider the Subsidy Control Act’s subsidy challenge regime, the Competition Appeal Tribunal’s (the “CAT’s”) approach to case management and costs, and what the future for challenges to subsidy decisions might look like.
Millbrook Healthcare Limited v Devon County Council – Its impact on local government procurement
July 16, 2025
Oliver Dickie, Christopher Watkins and George McLellan dive into the recent High Court judgment on interim relief in procurement claims.
Airport Subsidy Challenged in the CAT
July 09, 2025
Oliver Slater, Beatrice Wood and Steve Gummer dive into the latest Competition Appeal Tribunal subsidy control challenge, brought against the Welsh Government's subsidy to Cardiff Airport.
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…
Modifying subsidies: What is permitted and what is not?
Beatrice Wood and Oliver Slater explore recent developments and discuss the process of awarding subsidies.
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.
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…
Partial debt guarantees- Reviving Investment in UK Water Infrastructure
Is it Time for a Public Sector Major Infrastructure Debt Guarantor?
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…
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…
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.
Changing Course: Navigating Variations Under JCT and NEC Contracts
Tiah Weekes explains the process of changes to contracts in the field of construction.
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…
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.
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.
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.
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.
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…
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.
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…
New statutory obligations for public venues
James Mallery-Nelson discusses the legal requirements of Martyn’s Law.
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…
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…
Please mind the “registration gap”!
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
Emily Knowles analyses the provisions on spatial development strategies in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.
“Oh what a woollen web we weave…”
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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?
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?
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
David Leach and Natasha Barlow explore recent proposals to amend TUPE provisions in connection with public procurements.
Recognising the challenge of IT procurements
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
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?
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
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
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?
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
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
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
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
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
Emily Knowles and James Goldthorpe provide an update on the recent policy developments in planning law.
Webinar: NEC101 – Compensation Events, an introduction
Join Laura Campbell (Sharpe Pritchard) and Robert Gerrard (NEC Consultant) for this webinar as we go over NEC Compensation Events – what…
Termination
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
Allen Owen takes readers through the key areas of interest in NEC4 contracts.
Bus franchising reform – on the road to change?
Beth Edwards and Shyann Sheehy explore the possible introduction of bus franchising.
It’s time for CATOs
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.
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
David Leach discusses pension disputes, the IDRP process and the pensions ombudsman in this pre-recorded webinar.
Budget 2024: Highlights for local government
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?
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
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
Sydney Rich and Rachel Murray-Smith explain performance bonds, PCGs and how building contracts are affected.
What are the NEC payment mechanisms?
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
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
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
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
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
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?
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
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
Steve Gummer and Shyann Sheehey issue a call on the government to make use of their options to address various barriers to investment and…
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