The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) purge on anti-competitive activities in construction-related sectors looks set to continue as the cartel buster prepares to turn its attention toward the waste sector; with three companies – Bagnall & Morris (Waste Services) Ltd, Gaskells (North West) Limited, and Ash Waste Services Limited – under the microscope.
In March 2023, the CMA handed down fines totalling more than £60 million to 10 members of the National Federation of Demolition Contractors for their part in a bid-rigging and collusion scandal.
More recently, it was reported that the CMA had shifted its focus to the house-building sector, identifying seven housing developers – Barratt Redrow, Bellway, Berkeley Group, Bloor Homes, Persimmon, Taylor Wimpey and Vistry – that had allegedly exchanged details about sales including pricing, number of property viewings and incentives offered to buyers such as upgraded kitchens or stamp duty contributions. Those seven housing developers have since offered to pay £100 million to affordable housing programmes across all four UK nations; the largest payment secured by the CMA as part of a commitments package.
The CMA says it has not reached a view as to whether there is sufficient evidence of an infringement of competition law for it to issue a statement of objections to Bagnall & Morris (Waste Services) Ltd, Gaskells (North West) Limited, and Ash Waste Services Limited. Furthermore, the CMA stresses that not all cases result in the issuing of a statement of objections and no assumption should be made at this stage that the CA98 has been infringed.
