BuildLaw Issue 34 December 2018 | Page 34

in the future.
The upholding of a claim in respect of reduced ROCs outside the liquidated damages provision is highly significant. It rare for delay related losses not to fall within a liquidated damages provision regardless of whether the delay can be characterised as a separate breach of contract, such as the failure to achieve the required level of ROCs in the present case. Similar issues are likely to arise whenever the commercial viability of a project is premised on government subsidies or approvals which are time sensitive. The court relied heavily on indications of intention found in other parts of the contracts in the present case and parties would be wise to spell out whether the loss of such subsidies or approvals are to be covered by any liquidated damages for delay.
References
Hall & Anor v Van Der Heiden (No 2) [2010] EWHC 586 (TCC).
Cavendish Square Holding BV v Talal El Makdessi (Rev 3) [2015] UKSC 67.
GPP Big Field LLP & Anor v Solar EPC Solutions SL [2018] EWHC 2866 (Comm).

About the Authors

Philip Duffield
Partner, London

Aidan Steensma
Of Counsel, London

Louise Dalton
Senior Associate

Jay Randhawa
Associate, London


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