In a fresh blow for the contractor group, Mr Justice Constable also refused an application for more time to pay, ruling the companies must satisfy the adjudication award within 14 days.

The Technology and Construction Court found there was no real prospect of overturning last month’s landmark ruling, which used Building Liability Orders under the Building Safety Act to extend liability beyond Ardmore Construction, now in administration, to associated group companies.

The judge dismissed all five grounds of appeal put forward by the Ardmore firms, including arguments that the court had gone too far by making an “anticipatory” Building Liability Order before final liability had been fully determined at trial.

Constable said the defendants were largely attempting to reargue points already rejected and had failed to show the original ruling was “plainly wrong”.

Crest was also awarded interest at 5% dating back to September 2025 plus 100% of its legal costs.

After the ruling, Ardmore said it would still apply directly to the Court of Appeal.

The ruling in Crest Nicholson v Ardmore marks a major escalation in how the Building Safety Act 2022 can be used to pursue liabilities across corporate structures, with the court making clear that group companies can be forced to stand behind historic defects.

With Ardmore intending to take its case directly to the Court of Appeal, the case could become a defining test of how far the Building Safety Act can reach into contractor group structures and who ultimately pays for legacy defects.