Does the Commercial Payments Bill address construction’s greatest payment challenges?

By David Crosthwaite 2026-08-26T06:00:00

Removing retentions, introducing tighter payment deadlines and strengthening enforcement should improve payment practices across the industry. The question is whether the changes are enough to address the problems which the industry says matter most, David Crosthwaite writes

The most significant intervention in construction payment practice in a generation has entered committee stage in the House of Lords (21 July). Whether it addresses the industry’s biggest payment problems, however, remains an open question.

For construction, three of the bill’s most significant changes concern payment periods, retentions and enforcement.

Already registered? Login here

To continue enjoying Building.co.uk, sign up for free guest access

Existing subscriber? LOGIN

Stay at the forefront of thought leadership with news and analysis from award-winning journalists. Enjoy company features, CEO interviews, architectural reviews, technical project know-how and the latest innovations.

Limited access to building.co.uk
Breaking industry news as it happens
Breaking, daily and weekly e-newsletters

Get your free guest access SIGN UP TODAY

Subscribe now for unlimited access

Subscribe to Building today and you will benefit from:

Unlimited access to all stories including expert analysis and comment from industry leaders
Our league tables, cost models and economics data
Our online archive of over 10,000 articles
Building magazine digital editions
Building magazine print editions
Printed/digital supplements

Subscribe now for unlimited access.

View our subscription options and join our community