Opinion – Page 4
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Fix planning to fix housing? It’s just a mantra, not the truth
Over and over, politicians have sworn to slash the red tape, but that’s not the key – housebuilders won’t build if there’s no prospect of profit
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What we need from the next government
As a nation, we find ourselves with a lot to do and little money to do it with – not least in terms of housing, planning and sustainability. Vote wisely!
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The debate on retrofit has become polarised. That can get in the way of good placemaking
Many buildings were not constructed with the future in mind and prioritising retrofit could fail to solve the poor placemaking of the past, says Steve Perkins at Turner & Townsend
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A long-term vision for investing in assets begins with engineers and surveyors
Technical advisers should be brought in to help make better property investment decisions, ideally at the time of purchase, says Neil Granger of TFT
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Who will speak up for the builders?
The Co-op Live debacle is symtomatic of the awful PR that too often plagues our sector when high-profile projects go wrong, says Richard Steer
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Evidence-based, human-centred augmented intelligence: how to flip the design paradigm upside down
Artificial intelligence is enabling us to design and build the optimal building from the outset, says Diego Padilla-Philipps. This means we can add value, improve performance and reduce the costÂ
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Plugging in: We need to get smarter about tech-enabled offices
Technology is no longer a bolt-on to be installed in an office after practical completion but an essential component of the ‘commute-worthy’ workplace, writes the BCO’s chief executive Richard Kauntze
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Comment
We are in a world where business leaders appear more radical than the Labour party
After the local elections, Keir Starmer looks certain to be our next prime minister, but where are the details beyond the aspiration to ‘get Britain building’?
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Construction industry gossip: a tour of the Palace of Westminster, the trouble with Co-op Live and another QS is sold abroad
The latest chatter around the industry
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Comment
It’s time to prepare for change – although we don’t have much to go on
The local election results confirmed what we already suspected about the likely outcome of the forthcoming general election. Anticipating where opportunities might be found under a new government is another matter, but Simon Rawlinson of Arcadis stirs the tea leaves
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It’s time to take mental health in construction as seriously as physical safety
Two people in the industry take their own lives every day. Employers must do more to address their workers’ mental wellbeing for the benefit of all, writes Thomas & Adamson’s Rob Bewick
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Uh-oh. Co-op Live’s woes leave industry with familiar sinking feeling
When old men in their 90s have heard of the debacle, then things have gone really wrong. Problem is, people will think it’s the builders’ fault because that’s what people do, writes Dave Rogers
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I saw the Co-op Live site with my own eyes three months ago. These delays do not come as a surprise
The UK’s largest arena was still far from being finished when ºÚ¶´ÉçÇø went to see it in early February, writes Tom Lowe
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Balancing the need for retrofit - from a planner’s perspective
While the need to avoid demolition is more urgent than ever, there are many challenges to overcome before a building can be retained. The next government could do much to improve the current system, writes Avison Young’s Laura JenkinsonÂ
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We’re a nation of NEETs. Something must be done
The UK has one of the worst productivity rates in Europe and we need to get more people working. Who will take ownership of this national tragedy, asks Richard Steer
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AI is going to transform the construction industry – are you ready?
Artificial intelligence is already a significant presence in our lives and the transformation of our world is only going to get faster. We therefore need to learn and adapt to stay relevant, says Diego Padilla-Philipps
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Balance of power shifts as contractors step away from bids
With margins increasingly at the top of businesses’ agendas, firms are no longer prepared to price anything and everything, writes Kelly Boorman
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Construction industry gossip: housing block naming conundrum, cycle lane claims and a unique footy challenge
The latest chatter around the industry
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Was Angela Rayner right to buy?
The shadow levelling-up secretary has taken flak for exercising her right to buy, but Labour has a long history of dalliance with the concept of selling council homes, writes Ben Flatman
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How much the next government spends on the NHS estate will be critical to its future
Creative thinking is going to be vital in addressing decades of underinvestment in the fabric of our healthcare servicesÂ