The Conflict Avoidance Pledge could hold construction together

Disagreement is an all-too-common reality for complex construction projects. But the escalation to conflict is rarely in anybody’s best interests. To break the destructive cycle and allow work to continue in a spirit of cooperation, the UK construction industry is getting behind a new procedure that promises to boost trust – the Conflict Avoidance Process (CAP).

What is the CAP?

To keep conflict at bay, the construction industry has adopted a new government-backed early intervention strategy. The CAP has gained popularity in recent years as a means of managing and avoiding disputes.

The basic idea is to resolve emerging issues before they escalate into costly disputes. To do this, the CAP can be written into contracts so that parties in construction projects are able to resolve any disagreements out of court.

The CAP’s key commitments

Proactive collaboration between parties is the cornerstone of the CAP. It achieves its amicable outcomes by identifying and addressing potential disputes as early as possible.

When parties sign up to the CAP, they make a commitment to:

– Work collaboratively with other parties to resolve issues before they escalate

– Integrate conflict avoidance strategies within projects

– Commit necessary resources to implement these strategies across all projects

– Develop skills needed to identify early signs of disputes and apply suitable conflict resolution measures

– Work with industry partners to promote and utilise conflict avoidance methods.

Growing acknowledgement of the need for conflict avoidance

Support for better conflict avoidance procedures has grown significantly around the UK. In 2025, parties involved in the construction industry recognise that the pledge benefits everyone by creating a culture of proactive dispute management.

To date, some 475 construction organisations have signed up to the CAP. Significantly, the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) is encouraging its members to adopt CAP practices.

Likewise, government endorsement of CAP is on the rise. The Scottish government has recommended its use in public sector projects, with similar discussions underway with the Welsh government, the Northern Ireland Assembly and authorities in Ireland. The UK Parliament refurbishment and restoration project will integrate CAP into its construction contracts.

Focus on the job

Signing up to the CAP means recognising that conflict is avoidable through collaboration. By working proactively to identify any possible contractual disputes, the construction industry is making the responsible decision to put collective interests first, nipping any potential issues in the bud long before they have the chance to escalate.