I was sad to read the views of Steven Morgan at BAA. I suspect there will be a lot of claims specialists and lawyers rubbing their hands at his belief in “the bracing effects of competition”

Although the NEC standard form, partnering and frameworks may not be a panacea, they have to be the right road. Morgan’s return to lowest price wins is surely a backward step. Unfortunately, as BAA has such purchasing clout, the contracting industry will probably fall for the plan, bidding silly prices and we will see more company failures in the future.

Will our industry ever rid itself of its confrontational nature? The final sentence in your leader of the same issue is so true: “It’s sad but true that trust in construction remains an elusive virtue.”

Christopher Thomson, Woodley Coles

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