What's Happening?
The collapse of Assent Building Compliance Ltd has led to significant challenges for private building control firms due to legislative barriers. Chris Vaughan, director at Approved Inspectors Ltd, highlighted that the private sector is willing and capable
of supporting affected clients but is hindered by the 'transfer of work' protocol triggered by Assent's mass project cancellation notices. This protocol requires extensive actions from registered building control approvers, making it impractical for most projects.
Why It's Important?
The situation underscores the impact of legislative frameworks on the ability of private firms to assist in crisis situations. The inability to provide timely support may lead to increased burdens on local authorities, affecting the efficiency and progress of ongoing construction projects. This could have broader implications for the construction industry, potentially slowing down project timelines and increasing costs.
What's Next?
With the seven-day window for many projects nearing expiration, most will revert to local authority control. However, private firms may still offer support through subcontract arrangements. The legislative barriers may prompt discussions on reforming the 'transfer of work' protocol to allow more flexibility and efficiency in handling such collapses in the future.
Beyond the Headlines
The collapse of Assent Building Compliance Ltd raises questions about the resilience and adaptability of the construction industry's regulatory framework. It highlights the need for a balance between regulation and operational flexibility to ensure that private firms can effectively contribute to crisis management without being hindered by bureaucratic constraints.
