All Comment articles – Page 6
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Comment
How to drop a manifesto pledge without blinking
By downgrading the target of 300,000 new homes to a mere “ambition”, Michael Gove leaves big questions about housing supply unanswered
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Comment
Construction must respond quickly to the fast growing number of vacancies
Job vacancies grew faster than in any other sector in the UK economy in Q1, and there’s an elephant in the room no one wants to talk about
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Comment
Time to open our doors and show next generation what construction has to offer
Schools and colleges told us that they need more notice so we are starting the countdown to Open Doors 2023 now
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Comment
A strategy for another age and no solution to the current crisis
The government’s energy security strategy focuses on long-term solutions to longstanding problems. But the UK has more immediate concerns
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Comment
Why don’t we care more about preserving biodiversity?
The devastating impact of climate change is widely known but the degradation of our planet’s biodiversity is just as detrimental to its health
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Comment
You employ more disabled people than you think
People working in construction often find their disability is not recognised and they do not get the right support – that has to change
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Comment
Never mind tax cuts and upgrade grants, a proper retrofit strategy is what we really need
In the wake of the spring statement, the conversation must move from fuel subsidies to efficiencies if we are to solve the energy crisis
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Comment
Why a fabric-first approach can help cut high energy costs
When analysing how to make our buildings more energy efficient, we should start with the materials used to build them
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Comment
Hydrogen: not cheap but much-needed and well worth it in the end
We need brave thinking and bold investment to solve the current energy and climate crises
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Comment
Ukraine’s refugee crisis – businesses want to help but it’s not proving easy
Business leaders, with their reputation for cutting through problems, have a role in pushing ministers to take a more active role
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Comment
We have been working in Ukraine for years. I never imagined events as appalling as these
Two weeks ago we were considering life after covid. Now our staff still in the region are fearing for their lives
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Comment
Beware the new biodiversity burden for developers
Requiring all new schemes to provide a net gain in biodiversity will add cost and complexity
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Comment
Why new safety laws could do more harm than good
As increased liability pushes insurance costs beyond reach of most firms, capacity to fix unsafe homes or build new ones will plummet
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Comment
Settle now or later? Why the final account stage needs more attention
Given the benefits of holding fire, contracts should make more provision for resolving all disputes at the final account stage
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Comment
High energy costs – it’s not just households who are feeling the pinch
The impact of on businesses is not yet part of the public debate – but it should be
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Comment
Essential law: Defects, part two
In the second article of the essential law series to look at the topic of defects, Jane Burrows explains when a defect could prevent practical completion as opposed to just being a snagging item
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Comment
The best buildings have the best clients – and the public sector is lagging behind
In 2021 we saw some of the most exciting developments of our decade kick off. This year’s schemes should be even better
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Comment
Gove’s proposals are not enough to level up a town like mine
The housing secretary’s apparently ambitious proposals lack clarity and detail. The towns he is meant to be helping deserve better
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Comment
Where is the money to support Gove’s bold plans?
There is no sign of the sustained government funding that will be needed for yesterday’s proposals to deliver on their bold and welcome ambition
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Comment
Plan three years ahead to achieve the gold standard for public sector frameworks
The focus on how to improve procurement, frameworks and alliancing is very welcome – especially if clients can be persuaded to take a long-term view