The Financial Times reported that difficulties agreeing on the cost of two important access-road projects led to a change of contractor. The reporting identified potential design changes costing approximately £30 million as one of the issues contributing to the commercial difficulties.

The roads are essential to support construction traffic and minimise disruption to surrounding communities. This case raises questions for anyone drafting a scope of work. Was the original design sufficiently developed? Were the assumptions underpinning the contractor’s price clear? How were design changes to be instructed, evaluated and agreed?

The report does not establish that a defective original specification caused the dispute, but it illustrates the importance of defining and managing design responsibilities.

I believe a scope of work must establish design responsibility, deliverables, interfaces, assumptions and a robust change-control procedure. Without these, design development can become a source of disagreement about price, programme and liability.

Scope definition and change control are inseparable. A contract that fails to manage either exposes both customer and contractor to unnecessary risk.

Source: Financial Times: Sizewell C road-building delays.

These issues and more are covered in my Developing Effective Specifications and Scopes of Work course on 14th December 2026. This popular course is also available as an in-house tailored event.

Check out our Developing Effective Specifications and Scopes of Work course.