The Construction Leadership Council has endorsed the Conflict Avoidance Pledge developed by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). 

Under the pledge, clients and contractors commit to implementing conflict avoidance measures in their contracts and on site. 

The pledge has been designed to reduce the financial cost of disputes and help projects be delivered on time and in budget.

Organisations signing up to the pledge are encouraged to work collaboratively and use early intervention techniques throughout the supply chain to try and resolves issues before they escalate into disputes. 

The Conflict Avoidance Procedure (CAP) helps parties avoid disputes and agree a settlement by mediating discussions, providing impartial and objective assessments of the issues, recommendations for bases for settlement and providing expert advice.

Andy Mitchell, chair of the Construction Leadership Council said: “The CLC fully endorses the Conflict Avoidance Pledge. Preventing the escalation of problems with the delivery of construction projects into disputes is in the best interests of the whole supply chain, and will save the industry significant time and money. 

“The Pledge has already delivered measurable results for those organisations that have used it, and we hope others will adopt it, and help to build a more collaborative and stronger industry.”

Several professional bodies in the construction and engineering sectors have signed up to the pledge. These include, for example, the Institute of Civil Engineers, Royal Institute of British Architects, Transport for London and Network Rail.

Click here for further information, and to sign up to the Conflict Avoidance Pledge.