All Comment articles 鈥� Page 479
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Comment
Another month another set of "worst ever" new orders figures
The February figures for new orders were worse than the January figures which were the worst monthly figures ever recorded.There is perhaps little to add to the comments made last month other than to say if you are looking for optimism, perhaps the social housing sector may offer a few ...
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Contractors optimistic despite being trapped in mire of recession - says CIPS
The buyers' body CIPS remained muted about the prospects for construction despite a slight lift in the construction industry.The main construction index published by CIPS rose to 30.9 for March up from a series low of 27.8 in February. That means that things were not getting as worse as quickly ...
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Nationwide springs pleasant surprise for house sellers and builders
The latest analysis by the Nationwide of house prices suggests that this spring has brought with it an unexpected 0.9% bounce in the price of houses. This will add some more cheer to those currently enjoying the blue skies, sunshine and abundant blossom.With so much to feel good about in ...
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Homeowners turn their backs on using their homes as a bank
I was intrigued by the response from the surveyors' body RICS to the latest Bank of England figures for Housing Equity Withdrawal.The figures show a continuation in the rapid repayment of housing debt, as the graph below shows, and this will have had a major impact on the recent decline ...
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Brown shoots are the new green shoots
At a meeting recently I was chastised for being rather too glum, so I have been casting around of late for more colourful topics in these black times for construction.Positives are rather hard to find, but I had an interesting conversation this morning with an industry contact who has been ...
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Keep off my land
I would preface my comments by stating that I was brought up on a social housing estate. Our argument is not with social housing tenants but the fact we have been deceived by Bellway (6 March, page 20)
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Figure it out
Re: 鈥楥olleges delayed鈥�, 20 February, page 10, BAM Construction has 11 colleges currently at approval in design stage and waiting further substantial funding from the Learning and Skills Council
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CommentIn my expert opinion: How to pick an expert witness
Expert witnesses can make or break a case, so it鈥檚 vital to pick exactly the right (independent, knowledgeable and impressive) person for the job
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CommentDon鈥檛 encourage them
As with the banking industry, we鈥檝e seen an age where architectural incompetence and buffoonery was rewarded over professionalism
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Cut it out
I have just read your article 鈥淩obinson Low Francis slash staff pay 12.5%鈥� (13 March, page 15)
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CommentClients: what are they like?
Which clients deserve a medal? Which should be shunned like yellow dogs?
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CommentWonders & blunders: Keith Bradley, Feilden Clegg Bradley
Keith Bradley loves his hometown of Bath. The old city of pleasure, with its meandering crescents, that is. Not the faux-Georgian monstrosity of the Southgate shopping centre
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CommentDon鈥檛 lose your balance
Affordable housing may be one of the few lifelines for builders at the moment, but we must make sure we don鈥檛 fall back into the trap of creating ghettos for the poor
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CommentHobbies and/or interests
In tough times, it鈥檚 important to distract yourself with such activities as theatre rehearsals, horse racing and 鈥� er 鈥� whatever a former construction minister got up to in the House of Commons
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Keep the dream alive
Your article, 鈥淒eath of a dream鈥� (13 February, page 40) is perhaps to be questioned
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CommentYou can't just do what you want: Adjudicator's guidelines
聽What are the legal guidelines that an adjudicator has to stay within? This frequently asked question just became a little bit clearer thanks to a recent case in the Scottish courts
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CommentLet's get it right this time: Construction Act changes
The government looks set to oppose any amendments to their changes to the Construction Act, but some of these weren鈥檛 fit for purpose anyway
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Accentuate the positive
The role of all professionals in development and construction is already changing as a result of the recession
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CommentAbout time, too
It may not float everyone鈥檚 boat, but the arrival (finally) of fresh QS Rules of Measurement is pretty exciting for cost managers. And they鈥檙e looking good, says Richard Steer
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Comment
Sorry to be a party pooper, but hold fire on bigging up the mortgage figures
There has been much joy in the housing sector at the news that the number and amount of home loans approved by banks grew for the third consecutive month in February, according to the British Bankers' Association.While this is clearly not more bad news for housing and homes loans businesses ...