All Comment articles 鈥� Page 468
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Housing activity rises but prices set for further falls
The latest RICS housing market survey paints a more optimistic picture of the housing market, with evidence that confidence and activity continue to improve.The 鈥榥ew buyer enquiries' series (the balance of surveyors reporting an increase rather than a decrease in buyer interest) has been rising since November and, at 48 ...
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North-South divide develops in housing market - is it a cause for concern?
The latest housing market report from the surveyors' body RICS will provide further cheer for most of those selling homes.The June 2009 report suggests that the pace of collapse in prices continues to ease, the volume of sales has nudged up and there appear to be more buyers. And there ...
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Worst fall in output on record
The construction output figures from the Office of National Statistics covering the first quarter of 2009 highlight the true nature of the construction recession, or should we say depression, with considerable destocking leading to sharp falls in output. Total output in construction during the first quarter of 2009 fell an ...
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Construction shrinks at the fastest rate ever recorded
It was with genuine shock that I looked at the latest output figures. I was busy finishing something off when Noble Francis of the Construction Products Association called to ask if I'd seen the figures.I thought he was pulling my chain when he read over the numbers.I'm regarded as gloomy, ...
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Why you might want to raise a glass to building homes?
As we rage about the cost to the taxpayer of 80p bath plugs and the construction of elaborate duck houses, here's a figure to contemplate.For every new home built in recessionary times, each taxpayer is about 10p to 15p better off.Not a lot maybe, but see 20 homes being built ...
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Noises off
In my experience, good acoustics in schools are still viewed as a nice-to-have rather than a must-have (鈥淐an you hear me at the back?鈥�, 15 May, page 40)
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CommentTranscendental mediation: A mediator's role
The talking cure for construction disputes is a fine way to settle an argument 鈥� but only if the mediator is prepared to go beyond the role of polite, ineffectual facilitator
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CommentHuman sacrifice won't help us
Kicking out apprentices and slashing training is not going to cure the recession, but it will kill the recovery. What firms need to do is keep their nerve 鈥� and their staff
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CommentHansom: Rock, paper, scissors
It鈥檚 a dead heat for who鈥檚 had the worst week: a load of rockery-dwelling statues, the man faced with a mountain of company records, or a client forced to delay a 鈥� ahem 鈥� delicate procedure
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CommentSometimes a great notion...
They say great ideas have three phases: first, they鈥檙e ludicrous, then they鈥檙e wrong and finally they鈥檙e obvious
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Good health
Regarding your article on a health scare prompting regulation change (29 May, page 13), hats off to NHBC for producing a report that takes the real world into account
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Settle down: The popularity of mediation
Mediation is proving ever more popular as a way of settling disputes before they get to court. And, as it saves money, parties are going willingly to the talking block
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A cable to the sun
In reply to Hugh Bantin鈥檚 query about wind energy (8 May, page 32), yes, it is fickle and average output is about 30% of maximum
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CommentWonders & blunders
Martin Playford revisits two grand schemes from the seventies, one a gleaming symbol of the might of the City, the other a sad leftover from a best-forgotten motorway project
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CommentThe disaster area
Open mike:聽The latest data from purchasing managers confirms that construction has been one of the worst afflicted areas of the UK economy. Roy Ayliffe peers into the gloom for signs of hope
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Comment
The third amendment
The Standing Joint Committee for The Standard Measurement of 星空传媒 Works has prepared amendment three to the Seventh Edition, effective from 1 June.
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CommentThe true aim of architecture
Robert Adam鈥檚 rant (22 May, page 24) about architects and how 鈥渢hey like to pretend they know best about what鈥檚 good for society ... 鈥� reminded me of a talk Buckminster Fuller gave at the school of architecture at Bristol university in 1965
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CommentAsking for the moon: Construction Act changes
The Specialist Engineering Contractors鈥� Group wants payment security on demand included in the new Construction Act. It should not 鈥� and will not 鈥� become law
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Messing about near boats
I work for a charity called the Waterway Recovery Group (www.wrg.org.uk) which restores the derelict canals of England and Wales