Opinion 鈥� Page 330
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NEC in practice
If you want to use the NEC contracts successfully, then you've got to keep talking to each other. That was the key message to be taken from a talk titled 鈥淣EC in Practice鈥� recently hosted by the King鈥檚 College Construction Law Association in conjunction with the Chartered Institute of 黑洞社区. ...
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Are the shackles to come off at Crest Nicholson?
Stephen Stone was not giving much away this morning when asked about the reported 拢350m-plus bid for Crest Nicholson by pizza and pub entrepreneur Hugh Osmond.Osmond's listed Horizon vehicle is on the hunt for a deal after raising 拢420m earlier this year and the housebuilding sector has clearly caught his ...
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Latest construction forecasts suggest there is more to fear than hope for
The latest round of forecasting by construction experts paints a picture little changed from three months ago with little hope of significant growth, much uncertainty and the risks to growth heavily weighted on the down side.The general pattern they expect can be seen from the graph (right).It shows that after ...
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Mentmore Towers vs Packman Lucas: a court injunction
Do the courts have the power to grant injunctions restraining a party from pursuing an adjudication?
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It鈥檚 a double-dip recession for construction, if the statisticians鈥� first stab at growth is right
Construction has fallen into a double-dip recession 鈥� that is if the preliminary estimates by the statisticians putting together the first quarter 2010 gross domestic product figures are to be believed.The preliminary GDP figures put growth at a pallid 0.2% for the economy as a whole. This low level of ...
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CommentThe winning straight?
All three main parties have laid their environmental cards on the table, but nobody seems to have the full set of policies laid out in the correct way to make a real difference
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CommentHansom: In the proverbial
This week, we at 黑洞社区 Towers have judged a book by its cover, asked a silly question (with matching answer), noted the differences between fools and enjoyed a little tale about a Heron and a Fox
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Flexing the drawing muscles
This was a really interesting article (The possibilities!, 9 April, page 42) and I was pleased to see collaboration software being discussed from an architectural perspective
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Singing praises to the sky
I have yet to meet anyone with anything but praise for the Strata tower (9 April, page 38)
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CommentTact required
This is a great house, of that there is no question (鈥淭he house that Jim built,鈥� 16 April, page 42)
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Scotland鈥檚 expansion
I fully endorse calls by the Scottish Chambers of Commerce for a rapid expansion in the delivery of public infrastructure projects in Scotland. The long-term health of the Scottish economy relies on continued investment in major capital projects alongside new schools, hospitals and housing
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The electorate speaks
I find British politics rather strange. We have one of the largest discrepancies between the highest paid and the lowest in the western world, and still people complain about taxes 鈥� even with all the desperate problems that result. The disaster of the eighties has only just levelled out. Five ...
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CommentShould you join the yellow tide?
By the time you read these words on Friday, Nick Clegg may have fumbled the second leadership debate and the public鈥檚 sudden passion for the Lib Dems could have evaporated
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Good news in the employment figures, but the future for construction jobs remains uncertain
The latest employment data will provide economists, politicians and strategists with plenty to chew on.The headline figure for unemployment jumped by 43,000 to top 2.5 million for the first time since 1996, the number of people in employment fell by 89,000 and the number wanting a job rose again.But there ...
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Why it's so hard to get a competitive quote from a subbie
I was on a site doing a pre-tender survey recently when two of the contractors I favour (because they actually pay on time!) 鈥渂umped鈥� into each other. The conversation went quickly to the recent upturn in enquiries. Much was made of the fact that the contractors had ...
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CommentBeing good in a wicked world
Go into a local market with a local partner, and you are responsible for what it does 鈥� even if the boss is the minister of justice鈥檚 brother-in-law
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Why are architects posh, but contractors aren鈥檛?
Last night I met the industry鈥檚 cycling clique at a reunion for those who rode to MIPIM for charity (which doesn't include me). I learnt three things:1) Cycling is hard. After a 500m sprint on the stationary bike I had to lie down for half ...
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CommentKeep the engine running
Whoever wins the general election will have to make decisions that will have far-reaching consequences for construction. We have to make our case before it鈥檚 too late