Ignoring sustainable clauses could cost you dear

摘要

With the ever-increasing emphasis on environmental protection, environmental sustainability is becoming more and more important in the construction of infrastructure. Indeed, it is not uncommon for highways contracts, including PFI contracts for road construction, operation and maintenance, to require that the contractor builds and operates the road with reference to certain environmental standards and requirements. These requirements will be set within a framework of legislative and contractual provisions, either in very general terms or by specifying detailed requirements in relation to sustainability, earthworks and landscaping. As part of the feasibility exercise of a project, an environmental impact assessment would have been carried out to assess the possible impact - positive or negative - that the project may have on the natural environment. The purpose of the assessment is to ensure that decision makers consider environmental impact when deciding whether to proceed with the project.