Opinion – Page 382
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Comment
Are falling rents a prelude to a further nasty correction in house prices?
The latest survey of the rental market by the surveyors' body RICS suggests that the flood of "couldn't sell" properties into the lettings market has led to a sharp fall in rents. And the expectations are that rents will fall further.This rather fits with a recent conversation with an agent ...
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Construction gains 47,000 jobs in 2008 - it may be official but I don't believe it
Apparently there were 2,285,000 or so jobs in construction in the final quarter of last year up 47,000 on a year earlier and just 1,000 down on the quarter before, which appears to be the peak in this economic cycle.Puzzled? Wondering where these jobs are? Wondering why you are signing ...
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The Wrekin Ruby. The Italian valuers know "niente".
So, what’s the truth behind the Wrekin ruby?In case you havent heard, it's the £11m gemstone owner David Unwin junior used to shore up the balance sheet of the Shropshire based civil engineering specialist before it went under last week.Wrekin’s last company accounts claim it was valued at £11m by ...
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British Workers for British Jobs - be careful what you wish for
The news that Britain is looking to curb the flow of non-EU surveyors and construction managers entering these shores will no doubt be welcomed unreservedly by many.Not me. I read that piece of news with some deep regrets.Why?Because it represents just one more door closing on the opportunity for people ...
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Blackening our name
What is it with this industry? Just when you think we’ve left the Dark Ages well behind something comes along to remind us what a short step we are from dodgy and outdated working practices
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I’m cynically depressed
What’s going to happen to architecture now that the tyranny of the icon has ended? Well, looking around at the current state of the art, we shouldn’t get our hopes up
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The evolving apprentice
Laing O’Rourke should be applauded for its commitment to doubling its apprentice numbers (27 February, page 10), but one of the most interesting parts of the story, which did not feature in your article, is that Laing O’Rourke’s new Apprenticeship Plus programme shows the evolving nature of construction training
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Wonders & blunders
Roger Alton is at home at Terminal 5, but needs a map to find his way around the Barbican
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Comment
What’s Russian for carpe diem?
Russia is hosting the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi in 2014, and UK construction should seize the day – with a little help from the British government, says Lord Davies of Abersoch
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Could do (a lot) better
It’s good that Cabe is assessing designs for ڶ Schools for the Future, but the way it’s going about it leaves much to be desired
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Comment
Catch-up from Cannes
ڶ’s journos are out in force at Mipim, bringing you the latest interviews, videos and news stories from the property event
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Comment
Cakes and ale? Fat chance
While bigwigs from our own industry forgo power lunches and business-class flights for the communal fridge and easyJet, at least Dubai’s know the value of pointlessly exorbitant gestures …
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Do as you would be done by
With our construction supply chain under pressure, I read with great interest your article “Out of credit” (27 February, page 20)
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These things are important
Bernard Cribbins was the voice of The Wombles, not Paddington, who was voiced by Michael Hordern (27 February, page 32)
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Bargain basement
I read with interest the articles on markets that could ease the burden of recession and on the complex regulations associated with loft conversions (20 February, pages 46 and 62)
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Ready and willing
I am currently studying ڶ Surveying and the Environment at the University of Plymouth
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Red alert as new orders plunge to record low in January
January 2009: the worst monthly new orders figures ever recorded.And with little sign that February will be prove any better, the latest figures for new orders underline the collapse of construction across the board.Every sector - even public non-housing - was down on a year earlier with the exception of ...
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Comment
Window shoppers aplenty but buyers dwindle in the housing market
There has been a big surge in window shoppers, but no increase in sales. In fact they are a little worse. That is the nub of the latest housing market survey from the surveyors' body RICS.Much will be read into the surge in interest with suggestions that this represents the ...