Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Key definition

Contract Documents definition

What does Contract Documents mean? In construction practice, contract documents are the bundle of written and electronic documents that together make up the binding building contract and set the parties’ obligations on scope, quality, time, price and risk. The term is not defined by statute; its content is defined in the chosen form (for example JCT/SBCC, NEC, RIAI or the Irish Public Works Contracts) or bespoke agreement, and construed using ordinary principles of contractual interpretation, including any agreed order of precedence. Typically included are: the conditions of contract (with amendments and schedules), the employer’s requirements/works information/scope, the contractor’s proposals (on design and...

Guidance on Construction Contract Documentation: content, incorporation, hierarchy and interpretation across standard forms (JCT/NEC/FIDIC), ERs, CPs, BoQs, specifications, programmes, BIM and tender documents

Published by a LexisNexis Construction expert

Practice notes

On most projects, a construction contract assembles a set of documents that, taken together, set out each party’s obligations and Liabilities, and define the works plus when, where and how they are to be delivered. These are commonly called the ‘Contract Documents’.

Beyond the conditions of contract, the documents included will depend on the Procurement route selected. Typically (using JCT terms for ease), these comprise:

employer’s requirements
contractor’s proposals
a contract sum analysis or (depending on the form of contract) bill of quantities
specifications
drawings
the programme
BIM protocol

Other ancillary documents may clarify the parties’ responsibilities, for example the tender, minutes of a pre‑contract meeting, or derogations/tender clarifications. Where appropriate, these may appear as separate contract documents or be incorporated within one of the items above.

Conditions of contract

The conditions of contract commonly adopt, or are based on, an industry‑standard form, for example one of the contracts in the JCT, NEC or FIDIC suites...

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Web page updated on 26/05/2026

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