2026: Horizon scanning in construction
Welcome everyone to our look forward to what themes are likely to affect the construction industry in 2026, both in terms of the underlying causes and the legal issues that arise out of them.
Regular readers will spot that the issues we focus on are similar to those in the past couple of years, reflecting the fact that the major challenges for the industry are evolving, rather than changing entirely. It is of course the evolution that we focus on in this article series, and what this will mean for those in the industry and their insurers.
We start this issue by focussing on a topic on everyone’s lips, being AI, with its implementation within the industry likely to be central to increasing efficiency and even safety on sites – making it essential that your contract is clear in determining the parties’ roles and obligations. We then turn to consider another evolving issue, being the need for new data centres to service the ever-growing demand in this regard (exacerbated of course by the rise of AI) and technical challenges that arise in this regard, followed by a deep dive into the Large Energy Users Connection Policy in Ireland.
Our next articles focus on a long-standing problem in the UK, being the need for new homes. Whilst high-rise residential is an obvious solution to this, the Gateway regime introduced by the Building Safety Act has to date presented problems. However, there are now some green shoots in England and, following various government policy announcements in December 2025, some further hope of clarity. Given the different approach to higher risk buildings in Wales, we have considered that separately, before going on to review the continued evolution of claims in a fire safety context.
Finally, we consider the ongoing challenges caused by PFI handback and RAAC concrete.
We hope this is helpful. As ever, if you’d like to discuss any of the issues in greater detail, please feel free to get in touch. We’d be glad to help.
Contents
- AI and emerging legal challenges
- Data centres
- CRU issues decision on private wire connections for Irish data centres
- England's Gateway regime: Delays and solutions
- Building safety in Wales
- Fire safety claims: What we know and what’s next?
- Gearing up for PFI contract expiry
- Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC)
Contributors
Tim Claremont
Partner
Gavin Hoccom
Partner
Michael Sadler
Partner
Natasha Davison
Senior Associate
Cai O'Kane
Associate
Paul Tohill
Legal Director
Contact
Tim Claremont
Partner
tim.claremont@brownejacobson.com
+44 (0)20 7871 8507
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