CEM206-Construction Contract Law

Module Provider: School of Construction Management and Engineering, School of Built Environment
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Autumn term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2022/3

Module Convenor: Dr Ronan Champion
Email: r.champion@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:
The procurement of construction work takes place within specific legislative frameworks. Contracts result from agreements between businesses for all forms of consultancy and construction work, whether they are formally written or not. New developments in statutes, court cases and standard form contracting have a significant impact on the kinds of deals that take place in the construction industry. Also, new business processes promote new ways of working and collaborative business arrangements that require a deeper understanding of the way that business participants interact in the construction process. The construction industry is characterised by the way that each participant typically works for a different practice or firm, and they are all expected to work together, usually under the terms of business contracts (formal or informal) within the statutory framework that prevails. This module seeks to explain the statutory and contractual context of contracts in construction, in order that the students will be able to recognise and confront the kinds of problem that can get in the way of successful contract management.

Aims:
To understand and interpret contractual relationships in construction projects. Lessons from research and practice are used side-by-side with the teaching to provide robust explanations and help to develop a deep understanding of the consequences of how construction contracts are drafted, chosen and managed.

Assessable learning outcomes:
Students will be able to make informed decisions about risk apportionment, procurement methods, contract strategies and dispute resolution strategy. In addition, students will be able to explain the legislative context of contracts, and the impact that innovations and current policy development are having on construction procurement policy.

Additional outcomes:
Students will be familiarised with legal approaches to construction contracting, and will understand the diverse influences on contract policy and procurement.

Outline content:

• Principles of the law of contract and recent developments


• Relationship between procurement practice and contract law


• Developments in procurement policy


• Contract choice and procurement strategy


• Claims management


• Tort law in the construction context


• Civil liability for building defects


• Remedies for breach of contract


• Project security: Insurance


• Bonds and guarantees


• Arbitration and litigation


• Alternative dispute resolution

Global context:
Construction contracting is related very closely to the place in which construction work is carried out. By making clear the reasons for specific contract clauses, placing them in their statutory and common law context, students will understand that contracts are context-dependent.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
The module will be taught by lectures, tutorial discussions and seminars, some of which will involve specialist experts in aspects of construction law. Self-administered on-line tests are used to help guide reading and learning.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	24
Guided independent study:	10	66
Total hours by term	34	66
Total hours for module	100

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written assignment including essay	50
Class test administered by School	50

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Formative assessment methods:
Self-administered multi-choice tests based on the core text-book for the module will be available for the students to check their own understanding of the main issues in this module.

Penalties for late submission:

The below information applies to students on taught programmes except those on Postgraduate Flexible programmes. Penalties for late submission, and the associated procedures, which apply to Postgraduate Flexible programmes are specified in the policy £Penalties for late submission for Postgraduate Flexible programmes£, which can be found here: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmissionpgflexible.pdf
The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:
A mark of 50% overall

Reassessment arrangements:
Students are required to contact the School to confirm reassessment arrangements.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books: 

2) Specialist equipment or materials: 

3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear: 

4) Printing and binding: 

5) Computers and devices with a particular specification: 

6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence: 

Last updated: 22 September 2022