Proposed Building Safety Bill changes could reduce the availability of insurance and prevent smaller companies from operating in housing development, construction bodies have warned.

The Construction Industry Council, a forum for construction industry bodies, has voiced concern to MPs about changes to the flagship legislation announced last month. 

The government is now proposing to extend the time period for retrospective compensation claims for defective building works from six to 30 years rather than to 15 years as first announced last year. CIC said feedback from some of its professional institution members suggests this proposed extension is “unworkable”.