BDW Trading Ltd v URS Corporation Ltd

Subject Matter

NEGLIGENCE — Duty of care — Structural designer — Claimant employing defendant to provide structural design services for buildings — Buildings having structural design defect but no physical damage — Whether defendant under duty to protect claimant against economic loss caused by structural defect — Whether actionable damage occurring on practical completion

[2023] EWCA Civ 772; [2024] KB 827; [2024] 2 WLR 181; [2024] 2 All ER 118; [2023] WLR(D) 299, CA

LIMITATION OF ACTION — Period of limitation — Defective premises — Statute amending limitation period for bringing claim in respect of defective premises — Whether new limitation period applying to ongoing claims — Limitation Act 1980 (c 58), ss 4B, 10 — Building Safety Act 2022 (c 30), s 135(1)(3)(6)

[2023] EWCA Civ 772; [2024] KB 827; [2024] 2 WLR 181; [2024] 2 All ER 118; [2023] WLR(D) 299, CA

TORT — Cause of action — Breach of statutory duty — Statutory duty to build dwellings properly — Whether capable of being owed to persons other than lay purchasers of dwelling — Whether capable of being owed to persons owing duty themselves — Defective Premises Act 1972 (c 35), s 1

[2023] EWCA Civ 772; [2024] KB 827; [2024] 2 WLR 181; [2024] 2 All ER 118; [2023] WLR(D) 299, CA

DAMAGES — Contribution — Entitlement — Whether right to bring contribution claim conditional on third party bringing claim against contribution claimant — Civil Liability (Contribution) Act 1978 (c 47), s 1

[2023] EWCA Civ 772; [2024] KB 827; [2024] 2 WLR 181; [2024] 2 All ER 118; [2023] WLR(D) 299, CA

PRACTICE — Claim — Amendments — Claimant applying for permission to amend particulars of claim so as to add claims — Whether judge erring in allowing application without determining points of law raised by defendant

[2023] EWCA Civ 772; [2024] KB 827; [2024] 2 WLR 181; [2024] 2 All ER 118; [2023] WLR(D) 299, CA

NEGLIGENCE — Duty of care — Scope of duty — Claimant incurring costs in investigating and remedying design defects resulting from defendant’s breach of duty — Whether claimant’s loss outside scope of defendant’s duty of care or too remote if costs incurred voluntarily

[2025] UKSC 21; [2025] 2 WLR 1095; [2025] 4 All ER 1, SC(E)

LIMITATION OF ACTION — Period of limitation — Defective premises — Statute amending limitation period where claimant entitled to bring claim “by virtue of” defective premises legislation — Whether amended limitation period restricted to claims under defective premises legislation — Limitation Act 1980 (c 58), s 4B — Building Safety Act 2022 (c 30), s 135

[2025] UKSC 21; [2025] 2 WLR 1095; [2025] 4 All ER 1, SC(E)

TORT — Cause of action — Breach of statutory duty — Statutory duty to build dwellings properly — Whether capable of being owed to developer — Defective Premises Act 1972 (c 35), s 1

[2025] UKSC 21; [2025] 2 WLR 1095; [2025] 4 All ER 1, SC(E)

DAMAGES — Contribution — Entitlement — Whether necessary that contribution claimant paid or was ordered or agreed to pay compensation in respect of damage — Whether necessary that contribution claimant’s liability to pay compensation established by judgment, admission or settlement — Civil Liability (Contribution) Act 1978 (c 47), s 1 — Limitation Act 1980, s 10

[2025] UKSC 21; [2025] 2 WLR 1095; [2025] 4 All ER 1, SC(E)

Appellate History

Commentary

Out-Law
Ruling confirms Building Safety Act’s impact on retrospective defect claims Case comment