Opinion – Page 387
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Comment
The skyline just got safer
When ڶ launched its Safer Skyline campaign almost two years ago, the crane industry was in crisis
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Comment
Old people aren't dead
Let’s design homes that encourage elderly people to live fulfilling lives – rather than sticking them in institutional spaces in which they simply bide their time
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Comment
A fair exchange is no robbery: Currency fluctuations
Money matters: Currency fluctuations have never been much of a concern, but with the pound at an all-time low, parties need a more advanced approach to managing risk
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Comment
The Taylor Wimpey "debt deal buzz" that isn't
Taylor Wimpey shares moved up 8% last Friday and the Daily Mail thinks it knows why.The move came on the back of a similar-sized jump on Thursday.According to the paper, it's the result of a buzz in the City that "an agreement had finally been reached" between the housebuilder and ...
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Comment
Rapid rise in company failures underlines threat to construction firms
The latest insolvency figures make bleak reading and confirm the stress on construction businesses in the wake of the credit crunch.If you add up all the construction companies falling into receivership, administration or company voluntary arrangements in England and Wales in the final quarter of last year you get 226. ...
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Comment
A problem of our making
Regarding the controversy over Staythorpe power station’s use of foreign workers, power plants for the UK are bought through international tender on a turnkey basis
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Comment
A message for the union
I have been a member of Ucatt for many years and though you [Ucatt] are good at representing the workforce on legal matters you are very poor at representing the British workforce on ethnic matters
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Comment
Coming of age
So, “like collaborative working, being sustainable was a child of the boom years”. If so, now is the time for both to come of age and be taken seriously
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Sterling work
I am a Malawian currently studying in the UK. I appreciate Unicef’s work but this project is exceptional and must be commended
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Comment
A game of risk
I appreciate the risk taken by specialist construction companies, but I fear that Peter Lewis is not looking far enough when he says specialist contractors are at “the end of the chain and bearing the full weight of the risk”
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Comment
The full footprint
We need to start making an effort in not only looking at the energy used in running a development once it is completed but also the cost to the environment in constructing it and then demolishing the structure once its useful life has expired
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Comment
Bond. Which bond?
While Ian Yule’s article focuses mainly on an “on demand” bond and highlights the particular case of Permasteelisa, his opening paragraphs promote myths about performance guarantee bonds
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Comment
ڶ buys a pint … for Sonnemann Toon
“I read ڶ in the toilet,” announces Gary Toon as I hand him his pint. I’m not really sure where to go with that. “Er,” I begin in response, but am saved by Cressida, his wife and fellow partner in their architectural practice, Sonnemann Toon
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Comment
Cold comforts
As we all huddle for warmth and HSE inspectors don their crash helmets to go and play in the snow, some observers spy green shoots rising out of the frozen earth. Unnamed observers, obviously...
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Comment
Rightmove wrong interpretation?
Why is it that when I looked at the data presented in the press release covering the newly launched Rightmove consumer confidence survey I came to a very different interpretation from that given?I am not an expert in survey work, but I am always interested in how they are put ...
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Comment
...on the subject of gloom, here's the latest state of trade survey
The latest industry state of trade survey covering construction product manufacturers and contractors gives a reasonable view of just how rosy things are. It is put together by the Construction Products Association. I will leave you to judge.Here are a few key findings: 78% of construction product ...
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Comment
Don't look for a paradigm shift in one month's Halifax figures
Those in the housing industry will be mightily relieved by the Halifax figures released today.Seasonally adjusted the rise in the price of an average house was put at 1.9%. Unadjusted the rise was a less spectacular 0.9% with about £1,300 added to the average house price.However shortlived this upward blip ...
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Comment
Lack of grit and the economic crisis
Why is it understandable in the current British economy that councils are running out of grit? That was the thought that came to mind as I walking to work this morning.For me it was an enjoyable walk as the fresh snow creaked under my boots and I had the extra ...