STOP KICKING UP A FUSS

摘要

When I read about Newlon Housing Trust falling out with its long-term partnering contractor Willmott Dixon, I muttered a swear word about partnering. I muttered more about the clever procedural objections of Newlon's lawyers during the two adjudications about the contract. I muttered even more about the ingenious arguments run by Newlon when Willmott Dixon went to the High Court to enforce the two adjudication quarrels. Newlon lost every time. I cheered up when Mr Justice Ramsey threw a bucket of cold water on this "is it one dispute or two?" business. Willmott Dixon won this contract in 2007 for homes, offices, shops, leisure facilities and student accommodation, in a sort of new village at Tottenham Hale, London. The contract is the ACA project partnering form PPC2000. It yells at the parties to be open and transparent and co-operative and love each other.