The Week That Was - 7 March 2025

Welcome to the week that was, a round-up of key events in the construction sector over the last seven days.

Brown v Ridley and another [2005] UKSC 7 - which 10 years?

Following a leapfrog appeal from the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber), the Supreme Court has determined the question of how paragraph 5(4)(c) of Schedule 6 of the Land Registration Act 2022 applies where there is a claim for adverse possession.

To obtain legal ownership of land under adverse possession, one must show:

1. Factual possession of the land;

2. An intention to possess the land (to the exclusion of others including the legal owner);

3. Such possession was without the legal owner’s consent.

Paragraph 5 of Schedule 6 introduces three additional conditions. The third condition in paragraph 5(4)(c) of Schedule 6 requires that, "For at least ten years of the period of adverse possession ending on the date of the application, the applicant (or any predecessor in title) reasonably believed that the land to which the application relates belonged to him". The question for the Court was whether this was ten years ending on the date of the application, or any ten years?

The Supreme Court found that the ordinary meaning of the words prevailed and the period of reasonable belief can be any 10 years within the period of adverse possession.  Otherwise, the alternate construction "makes the apparent right to obtain registered title based upon adverse possession under the boundary condition purely illusory in most typical cases".  

For the judgment, please click here.

Construction Industry Training Board (CTIB) to allocate over £1bn for skills and training

Launching its strategic plan covering 2025 to 2029, CTIB aims to develop a skilled, competent and inclusive workforce, eradicating the skills gap and improving productivity, in support of the Government's housing and infrastructure targets.  £554 million is allocated to attract diverse and skilled people to construction, with a target of bringing 15,000 new people into the industry.  £315 million is earmarked for training and retention, with a further £137 million earmarked for the development of a skills and training system.  The remaining £143 million is for its own operation.  

For the plan, please click here.

Panama canal board approves new lake project 

The Panama Canal's board of directors has approved funding for the construction of a new lake that will guarantee reliable water supply for Panama's population and protect canal operations.  Work on this project is expected to begin in 2027 and has been referred to as "one of the most important public investments of this decade" to serve as a safeguard against future droughts.  The canal was severely crippled by a drought from 2023 to 2024 and the new lake represents a significant step towards canal sustainability, reliability and competitiveness for the benefit of all Panamanians and global trade, according to the Panama Canal Authority (ACP).  The project also includes funds to compensate families and local residents that will need to be relocated, a process that will be "carried out in an orderly, fair and transparent manner" according to the ACP.  A census of the area affected is set to be completed in April 2025, which will be used as a baseline for the compensation process.  The project is expected to take four years to complete.

For more information, please read here.

Boss of Balfour Beatty steps down

Leo Quinn, who has been the Group Chief Executive of Balfour Beatty for more than ten years, will step down from the board later this year.  Philip Hoare, who is the current Chief Operating Officer at AtkinsRealis, has been announced as his successor, and will join the group in September of this year.  It is understood that, following the arrival of Hoare, Quinn will continue in an advisory capacity for several months.

Balfour Beatty chair, Charles Allen, has stated “I am delighted Philip will join the Group as Chief Executive.  The selection process made clear that his depth of industry knowledge and his experience in delivering a profitable growth strategy across multiple geographies make him the ideal person to drive forward the Group’s success in our chosen markets….On behalf of the Board, I pay tribute to Leo for his exceptional and inspirational leadership of both Balfour Beatty and the industry over the last decade'.

For more information, see here.

AtkinsRealis boss switches to Asia role - but will be based in UK

AtkinsRealis has appointed Richard Robinson, currently head of the UK and Ireland business, to lead its Asia, Middle East, and Australia (AMEA) operations.  Despite the new role, Robinson will remain based in the UK and travel frequently to the AMEA region, which includes countries like Saudi Arabia and Australia.  Robinson, a trained chemical engineer, joined Atkins in 2019 and will continue as deputy co-chair of the Construction Leadership Council.  Chris Ball, former COO of AtkinsRealis' nuclear business, will replace Robinson as the new UK and Ireland president, effective 1 March 2025.  Ball has been with the company for over 20 years, including a decade as managing director for energy in the UK & Europe.  AtkinsRealis' President Ian Edwards praised both appointments, emphasizing the company's strong leadership and experience.

For more details, please read here.

With thanks to: Hannah McDonagh, Emrys Moore and Natalie Chan

Disclaimer: The information in this publication is for guidance purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.  We attempt to ensure that the content is current as at the date of publication, but we do not guarantee that it remains up to date.  You should seek legal or other professional advice before acting or relying on any of the content.