September 2, 2025
URS Corporation Ltd v BDW Trading Ltd (Rev1) [2025] UKSC 21 (21 May 2025)
A developer sued engineers for negligent design years after construction. The Supreme Court found the negligence claim was time-barred as the cause of action accrued on construction, not discovery. However, a claim under the Defective Premises Act 1972 could proceed. Facts The respondent, BDW Trading Ltd (BDW), a major residential property developer, engaged the appellant, URS Corporation Ltd (URS), a firm of consulting engineers, to provide structural design services for apartment blocks. The buildings were completed between 2010 and 2012. Several years later, between 2017 and 2019, significant structural defects were discovered, allegedly stemming from URS’s negligent design. BDW issued
