Progress of construction works
Most construction contracts will include a date by which the works described in the contract must be completed. This is either by means of a defined completion date, or a commencement date and a specified period for the works. This date may be varied during the works, for example if an extension of time is granted, or if the works are accelerated.
If no date or period is defined, a term will be implied that the contractor must complete the works in a reasonable time, that is, the time it would ordinarily take, plus an allowance for any extraordinary circumstances.
Unless the contract includes express provisions requiring that the works are carried out in a particular way, the contractor can achieve the completion date in whatever manner they choose, for example, by starting slowly and then speeding up, or by working sporadically. There is no implied term requiring that the works are carried out to a specific timetable.
However, many contracts include express terms requiring that the contractor proceeds ‘regularly and diligently’ with the works, irrespective of whether they are likely to achieve the completion date. They cannot work sporadically, or slow down if it becomes apparent that they will beat the completion date. Sub-contracts may include similar obligations, requiring sub-contractor progress to be reasonably in accordance with the progress of the main contract.
The term ‘time at large’ refers to a situation in which there is no date for completion, or where the date for completion has become invalid. The contractor is then no longer bound by the obligation to complete the works by a certain date. They may however still be bound by an obligation to proceed regularly and diligently or to complete the works within a reasonable time.
Designing Buildings Wiki includes a number of articles providing more information about construction progress and its measurement:
- Acceleration.
- Accepted programme.
- Activity schedule.
- Base date.
- Benchmarking.
- Completion date.
- Construction progress meeting.
- Construction progress report.
- Contractor's master programme.
- Critical path method.
- Design programme.
- Earned value analysis.
- Extension of time.
- Fast track construction.
- Gantt chart.
- How progress is agreed in construction.
- Information release schedules.
- Key performance indicators.
- Lead time.
- Line of balance (LOB).
- Logistics management.
- Milestones.
- Pareto analysis.
- Phased construction works.
- Precedence diagram method.
- Productivity in building design and construction.
- Productivity in construction: Creating a framework for the industry to thrive.
- Programme consultant.
- Programme float.
- Programme for building design and construction.
- Project programme.
- Regularly and diligently.
- Scheduling construction activities.
- Short period programme.
- Tender works programme.
- Time-location chart.
- Time at large.
- Time is of the essence.
- Time management of construction projects.
[edit]
Featured articles and news
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.