Aviva’s Global Corporate and Speciality business has combined its construction, latent defects and real estate teams to create a single real estate and construction practice. The carrier said the move would make it easier to support brokers and clients across the full lifecycle of commercial real estate and construction projects.

In addition, Aviva said it was enhancing its mass timber proposition to enable it to extend its appetite for sustainable construction of large commercial buildings. This will allow it to offer lead lines on construction and latent defects. It will also offer lead line cover for the finished structure.

Aviva said its revised GCS real estate policy wording enhancements allow for more sustainable reinstatement of buildings and that cover supports energy efficiency improvements such as additional insulation and the installation of solar panels.

Matt Gordon, underwriting director, specialty and real estate, said: “Aviva GCS has united its real estate, construction and latent defects teams under one aligned strategy to keep pace with the fast-evolving world of real estate and construction – driven by accelerated build times, modern materials and complex regulation.

“Aviva has long been a leader in the real estate and construction market, having pioneered latent defects insurance in the UK over 40 years ago. Today, that legacy remains central to how we support sustainable development, uniquely enabling us to engage at design stage, before building even begins.

“Our enhanced mass timber proposition and tailored risk management solutions further reflect the future of the built environment: client focused, resilient and sustainable.”