Mitigation in the construction industry
The term ‘mitigate’ means to make less severe or serious.
This can be important in the construction industry in a number of different circumstances.
- In relation to project delays, it refers to minimising the impact of the risk event (an event or cause of delay or disruption). For example, acceleration might be used to mitigate a delay. Where there is a claim for an extension of time, the contractor may be required to mitigate the delay and any resulting loss, even where the fault is not their own.
- In terms of losses incurred, it can refer to claimant's duty to mitigate their loss. A claimant will generally not be allowed to recover damage which could have been avoided had the claimant acted reasonably. For more information see: Mitigation of loss.
- In relation to planning policy, planning obligations or planning conditions might be used to mitigate or compensate for the negative impacts of a development. For more information see: Planning obligation and planning condition.
- In terms of risks, a contingency plan might be enacted to mitigate project risks, such as adverse weather, industrial disputes and so on. For more information see: Contingency plan.
Mitigation strategies might also be used in relation to:
- Environmental impact.
- Loss of habitat.
- Carbon emissions.
- Flood protection.
- Duty to warn.
A handbook on environmental impact assessment, 4th edition, published by Scottish Natural Heritage in 2013, suggests that:
These are the measures taken to avoid, cancel or reduce adverse impacts of a project. They are:
- Avoidance measures: Designed to avoid or eliminate any adverse impacts arising in the first place, including alternative or ‘do nothing’ options;
- Cancellation measures: Designed to nullify or cancel out any adverse effects of a project before adverse effects are felt;
- Reduction measures: Designed to minimise or at least reduce adverse impacts remaining after avoidance and cancellation measures have been applied to a project.
Culvert, screen and outfall manual, (CIRIA C786) published by CIRIA in 2019, suggests that the mitigation hierarchy is typically:
NB Global Warming of 1.5 ºC, Glossary, published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 2018, defines mitigation (of climate change) as: ‘A human intervention to reduce emissions or enhance the sinks of greenhouse gases.’
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Consequential loss.
- Planning condition.
- Planning obligation.
- Contingency plan.
- Risk.
- Environmental impact assessment.
- Relevant event.
- Extension of time.
- Duty to warn in construction.
[edit] External references
- Ref The Society of Construction Law Delay and Disruption Protocol, 2nd edition, published in February 2017 by the Society of Construction Law (UK).
Featured articles and news
Plumbing and heating for sustainability in new properties
Technical Engineer runs through changes in regulations, innovations in materials, and product systems.
Awareness of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism
What CBAM is and what to do about it.
The new towns and strategic environmental assessments
12 locations of the New Towns Taskforce reduced to 7 within the new towns draft programme and open consultation.
Buildings that changed the future of architecture. Book review.
The Sustainability Pathfinder© Handbook
Built environment agency launches free Pathfinder© tool to help businesses progress sustainability strategies.
Government outcome to the late payment consultation, ECA reacts.
IHBC 2025 Gus Astley Student Award winners
Work on the role of hewing in UK historic conservation a win for Jack Parker of Oxford Brookes University.
Future Homes Building Standards and plug-in solar
Parts F and L amendments, the availability of solar panels and industry responses.
How later living housing can help solve the housing crisis
Unlocking homes, unlocking lives.
Preparing safety case reports for HRBs under the BSA
A new practical guide to preparing structural inputs for safety cases and safety case reports published by IStructE.
Male construction workers and prostate cancer
CIOB and Prostate Cancer UK encourage awareness of prostate cancer risks, and what to do about it.
The changed R&D tax landscape for Architects
Specialist gives a recap on tax changes for Research and Development, via the ACA newsletter.
Structured product data as a competitive advantage
NBS explain why accessible product data that works across digital systems is key.
Welsh retrofit workforce assessment
Welsh Government report confirms Wales faces major electrical skills shortage, warns ECA.
A now architectural practice looks back at its concept project for a sustainable oceanic settlement 25 years on.
Copyright and Artificial Intelligence
Government report and back track on copyright opt out for AI training but no clear preferred alternative as yet.
Embedding AI tools into architectural education
Beyond the render: LMU share how student led research is shaping the future of visualisation workflows.
Why document control still fails UK construction projects
A Chartered Quantity Surveyor explains what needs to change and how.
Inspiration for a new 2026 wave of Irish construction professionals.
New planning reforms and Warm Homes Bill
Take centre stage at UK Construction Week London.