A glazing contractor has won a legal test case against Barratt after the housebuilder deducted 3% from its agreed payments. An adjudicator has ruled that Barratt "improperly withheld" the cash and the ruling could open the floodgates for hundreds of specialist contractors to launch legal battles against housebuilders. Southern Glass Services (SGS) decided to fight Barratt Southampton after winning contracts to fabricate, supply and install glazing on two phases of the Ocean Boulevard project in the city. Rates were agreed in early 2005, but Southern received letters from Barratt later that year and in 2006 stating that discounts would be taken from payments to the firm. The adjudicator found that there was no contractual basis for the deduction and ordered that the discounts - running to more than £19,000 - must be returned.
