Procuring to prevent another Grenfell Tower disaster

Launching the DLUHC Guidance on Collaborative Procurement for Design and Construction to Support Building Safety

Preventing another Grenfell Tower disaster depends on a major overhaul of construction procurement practices, breaking away from the adversarial ‘race to the bottom’ through which low prices undermine safety and quality. Please join Dame Judith Hackitt and other speakers from 2pm to 4pm on Monday 28th for the online launch of ‘Collaborative Procurement Guidance for Design and Construction to Support Building Safety’, announced by Secretary of State Michael Gove and co-authored by Professor David Mosey of King’s College London, Russell Poynter-Brown of On Pole Ltd and the DLUHC Procurement Advisory Group.

The Guidance and an Overview are at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/collaborative-procurement-guidance-for-design-and-construction-to-support-building-safety and the launch speakers will explain how improved procurement practices should be linked to the safety approvals of any ‘in scope’ new build or refurbishment so that:

• Teams are selected on value criteria including the safety of designs, works and products, so as to avoid the ‘race to the bottom’

• Contractors and suppliers are appointed early on a conditional basis, so as to improve and agree safety proposals and reduce risks

• Teams are integrated through collaborative contracts that take account of resident consultation

• The design, construction and operation of buildings and refurbishments are supported by a ‘golden thread’ of digital information.

Please register for this important event and please notify your colleagues and contacts.

Schedule of events

2.00: Why is this launch significant? Baroness Deborah Bull, King’s College London

2.10: Why is collaborative procurement essential to building safety? Dame Judith Hackitt

2.25: What is different about the new Guidance? Professor David Mosey, King’s College London Centre of Construction Law

2.45: How should the construction industry implement the Guidance? Professor John Cole CBE, Royal Institute of British Architects

2.55 Q and A

3.05: How can the Guidance support the Building Safety Regulator? Beth Dunning, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

3.15: How should clients lead implementation of the Guidance? Martin Cawthorn, L & Q

3.25: How should procurement and legal advisers implement the Guidance? Katie Saunders, Trowers & Hamlins

3.35: How can we implement the Guidance through frameworks? John Welch, Crown Commercial Service

3.45: Q and A

4.00: Close