URS CORPORATION LTD v BDW TRADING LTD

[2025] UKSC 21, Supreme Court, Lord Lloyd-Jones, Lord Briggs, Lord Sales, Lord Hamblen, Lord Leggatt, Lord Burrows and Lord Richards, 21 May 2025

Negligence – Whether duty extended to repairs carried out voluntarily – Building Safety Act 2022, section 135 – Defective Premises Act 1972, section 1(1)(a) – Contribution claims

The claim arose as a consequence of inspection work carried out on two tower block developments in the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower disaster. URS Corporation Ltd ("URS") was the designer of the development and BDW Trading Ltd ("BDW") was the developer. On the basis of the assumed facts the inspection revealed significant defects in the structural design of the building. Practical completion of the blocks took place between 2005 and October 2012.