How long does adjudication take and what are the key deadlines?

17/03/26 Insights

Construction adjudication is a legally governed process that runs to a strict 28-day timetable, taking a dispute from the initial Notice of Adjudication through to a binding decision. This makes it one of the fastest ways to resolve payment and contractual disputes in the UK construction industry.

One of the biggest advantages of construction adjudication is speed. The entire process typically takes around 28 days from the referral of the dispute to the adjudicator’s decision. This timetable is set by law under the amended Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 to ensure disputes are resolved quickly and do not disrupt projects or restrict cashflow within the construction supply chain.

Notice of Adjudication

The process begins with a Notice of Adjudication. This is a short document served on the other party that identifies the dispute and the outcome being sought. At this stage the dispute must have ‘crystallised’, meaning the issue has already been raised and either rejected or ignored by the other party.

Adjudicator Nominating Body

Within seven days of the Notice being served, an adjudicator must be appointed. This can be done by agreement between the parties or by applying to an Adjudicator Nominating Body such as RICS or CIArb. If an adjudicator is not appointed within this period, the process may need to start again.

Referral Notice

The referring party must then serve a Referral Notice within seven days of the original Notice of Adjudication. This is the main submission and contains full details of the case, including the contractual background, the dispute itself, and all supporting evidence such as payment applications, correspondence, and contractual provisions.

Response

The responding party is then typically given between seven and fourteen days to provide their Response. This document sets out their defence, evidence, and any jurisdictional challenges.

Depending on the complexity of the dispute, the adjudicator may allow further submissions such as a Reply from the referring party. Occasionally there may be clarification questions or a short meeting, but adjudication is primarily a document‑based process.

Decision

The adjudicator must issue their decision within 28 days of receiving the Referral Notice. This period can be extended by up to 14 days if the referring party agrees, or longer if both parties agree.

Compared to court proceedings, which can take months or even years, adjudication is deliberately designed to provide a fast and practical route to resolving disputes while keeping projects moving and protecting cashflow throughout the construction supply chain.