All Letters articles 鈥� Page 14

  • Comment

    'Conservatory tax' won't work

    2012-04-20T00:00:00Z

    Part L could just put people further into debt

  • coins generic ld
    Comment

    Invest in local SMEs

    2012-04-13T00:00:00Z

    Contribution to the local economy will be greater if the contractors and tradesman are local SMEs

  • Comment

    Inbox: Think tank

    2012-04-13T00:00:00Z

    This week a reader has an idea to help Olympic firms get around the strict marketing rules, while others find fault with energy ratings for rented property and question Balfour Beatty鈥檚 recent UK restructure

  • David Gauke
    Comment

    Cut out the cowboys

    2012-04-13T00:00:00Z

    Simple solutions, cut the rate of VAT payable on building repairs and improvements to 5%

  • Comment

    Inbox: The benefit of foresight

    2012-04-05T00:00:00Z

    Readers discuss how changes to Part L could mean a rise in cowboy builders, whether housebuilders might regret welcoming the NewBuy scheme and why the best bidder doesn鈥檛 always win the job

  • Comment

    Inbox: Burning issues

    2012-03-30T00:00:00Z

    This week鈥檚 hot topics include regulating the biomass energy sector, the problems of public sector procurement and the enduring importance of building control officers

  • Comment

    Inbox: 23 March 2012

    2012-03-23T00:00:00Z

    This week one reader wonders why SMEs are treated so badly; others are confused over the state of the housing market鈥� and the Construction Act; while the railways get a passenger scratching his head

  • Comment

    Inbox: Unbelievable

    2012-03-09T00:00:00Z

    This week, readers are incredulous at the suggestion that consultants may be replaced with civil servants to lead projects and in total disbelief at the mess the school building programme is in

  • Comment

    Inbox: On a budget

    2012-03-02T00:00:00Z

    This week, readers seize hold of the purse strings - berating the government for failing to cap public procurement costs and laying into the RICS for racking up huge losses

  • Comment

    Inbox: Back to basics

    2012-02-24T00:00:00Z

    This week, readers argue that sometimes the best solution is the simplest; returning Battersea to its role as a power station and getting procurement briefs right rather than re-inventing the process

  • Comment

    Inbox: Hot topic

    2012-02-17T00:00:00Z

    Changes to Part L spark heated debate from readers, who argue that building control officers won鈥檛 police energy requirements and that, when it comes to the green agenda, one size does not fit all

  • Comment

    Inbox: Mixed messages

    2012-02-10T00:00:00Z

    This week one reader thinks the government has a strong FITs policy but weak PR, while another says Sir John Armitt is just plain wrong about the ODA鈥檚 鈥榥o marketing鈥� rule for firms working on the Olympics

  • Comment

    Inbox: Where's that CV?

    2012-02-03T00:00:00Z

    Green Deal skills[In his article, 鈥淭he Green Deal: We鈥檙e not getting insulation pre-assessments right鈥� page 31, 20 January], Neil May is right to highlight the knowledge and skills issues around insulation that will become critical to the success of the Green Deal. Without the right training and qualifications framework in ...

  • Comment

    Inbox: Do the math

    2012-01-27T00:00:00Z

    This week a five-figure bonus for the boss at the RICS leaves one of its full paying members raging, and the firm behind our article analysing Green Deal costs has some answers about its sums

  • Comment

    Inbox: A numbers game

    2012-01-20T00:00:00Z

    Readers note that a decision not to invest can be a wise one, that the big helping the small could amount to fewer accidents and that some calculations about the Green Deal could be flawed锘�

  • velodrome
    Comment

    Olympic construction firms: Credit where it's due

    2012-01-13T00:00:00Z

    Being involved in the Olympics is a great privilege for a small firm 鈥� and it鈥檚 a great shame that we can鈥檛 shout about it

  • Comment

    Inbox: Let's see change

    2012-01-13T00:00:00Z

    This week a reader calls for uniform standards for measuring sustainable development

  • Comment

    Inbox: Set in motion

    2012-01-06T00:00:00Z

    Readers offer a solution to propel feed-in tariffs to success, draw up a plan to help small builders and extol the virtues of forward-thinking projects such as the McLaren factory

  • Comment

    Inbox: Opposite directions

    2011-12-16T00:00:00Z

    This week, a plea to work together for the sake of industrial relations, a look at things from small firms鈥� point of view and a suggestion that the Thames Hub be transported away from the, err 鈥� Thames

  • Comment

    Inbox: It's a struggle

    2011-12-09T00:00:00Z

    Readers identify obstacles both here and abroad, whether it鈥檚 missing out on incentives in east London, first-time buyers losing tax relief, or Brits trying to adapt to cultural differences in Asia