All Comment articles – Page 516

  • Comment

    The copper rush

    2008-07-25T00:00:00Z

    Metal thefts are once again hitting the national headlines, so much so that the UK authorities now position the problem as second only to terrorism.

  • Comment

    Green carrots

    2008-07-25T00:00:00Z

    It is encouraging to see the industry raising its game in delivering more sustainable buildings. However, I believe there is confusion over how their green credentials are rated.

  • Green buildings, such as this residential block in Hammarby, Sweden, can best be encouraged by clear and consistent rating systems
    Comment

    Build-your-own

    2008-07-25T00:00:00Z

    I’ve always tried to see the silver lining in every cloud, but am I the only one that sees the great potential of the current downturn?

  • Lynne Sullivan
    Comment

    Wonders & blunders

    2008-07-25T00:00:00Z

    Louis Kahn’s gallery in Yale works brilliantly with the art inside, whereas Lord Foster’s simply belittles it

  • Hansom
    Comment

    You thought things were bad

    2008-07-25T00:00:00Z

    This week, we paint a vision of a dystopian future – a world in which journalists are politicians, the credit crunch ends in murderous pillage and the word ‘Olympics’ may not be spoken …

  • Ðǿմ«Ã½ buys a pint ... for Magyar Marsoni architects
    Comment

    Ðǿմ«Ã½ buys a pint … for Magyar Marsoni architects

    2008-07-25T00:00:00Z

    Chosen watering hole: The Devonshire Arms, Kensington Ambience: Wealthy locals and stray American tourists Topics of conversation: Italian design, cycling, kidnapping, the London bombings Drinks drunk: 12.5 bottles of Birra Moretti, one bottle of Peroni

  • Comment

    The Apprentices

    2008-07-25T00:00:00Z

    In the article on Ucatt’s call for an apprenticeship quota on public sector projects (9 July, www.building.co.uk), you offer a skewed view on the increasingly popular Programme-Led Apprenticeship scheme.

  • Rebecca Saunders
    Comment

    Braes of Doune Wind Farm v Alfred McAlpine Business Services

    2008-07-25T00:00:00Z

    The CaseThis case concerned two applications in relation to the First Award of an arbitrator, concerning an EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) contract dated 4 November 2005 between Braes of Doune Wind Farm (Scotland) Ltd as Employer and Alfred McAlpine Business Services Ltd as Contractor, whereby McAlpine agreed to carry ...

  • Comment

    Party Wall Act: Good news for good neighbours

    2008-07-25T00:00:00Z

    A recent decision on the Party Wall Act means that those who consent to a party wall notice are still protected by the act if a dispute arises

  • In the detail 25 July 2008
    Comment

    In the detail - 25 July 2008

    2008-07-25T00:00:00Z

    Can you identify this building to win a £25 drinks voucher?

  • Comment

    Inflation tsunami flattens construction prospects

    2008-07-24T18:50:00Z

    I recognise that I have said this time and again and probably will say it a few times more - but don't underplay the impact of rising inflation.I can already hear echoes of overexcited managment consultants suggesting to clients to take note of what is rising in the east and ...

  • Comment

    Keeping it real

    2008-07-24T15:36:00Z

    I received an interesting email from Ray Crotty of C3 systems some days ago now. It was in essence a challenge to look at the industry over 20 or 30 years and see if "we're seeing anything now that we haven't seen before in terms of economic adjustment at work ...

  • Comment

    Fresh dip in mortgage lending spells deepening gloom for housing market

    2008-07-23T11:10:00Z

    The latest figures from the British Bankers' Association make seriously grim reading. The seasonally adjusted value of loans approved in June for homes dropped to a third of what it was in the same month a year ago.The figures read: £3,297 million June 2008 against the already pitiful £4,243 million ...

  • Comment

    Plunging house sales create major tax headache for Darling

    2008-07-22T15:24:00Z

    If I were the Chancellor looking at the latest property transaction figures I wouldn't be worried, I'd be very worried.At 270,000 transactions for residential property in the second quarter, we are looking at a housing market about 38% less active than a year ago, when 432,000 transactions were undertaken in ...

  • Comment

    RICS figures suggest commercial building market is heading for a beating

    2008-07-21T11:55:00Z

    The release of some pretty nasty survey results on the commercial property market from the surveyors body RICS is far from the sort of fare one would have served up just before heading off on holiday, but there it is. Bleak, with spiky curves heading in just the directions you ...

  • Comment

    What makes the latest Rightmove figures significant

    2008-07-21T09:47:00Z

    Let's face it predicting house price movements is like trying to forecast the British weather. You can have a vague clue from the available data, but you are likely to be onto a loser more often than not if you try to pin down how things will turn out in ...

  • Comment

    And now for the good news - Treasury set to widen the goalposts

    2008-07-18T13:13:00Z

    I am not really sure why I was surprised to hear Nick Robinson on the BBC news last night confirming an FT story due to run today about the Treasury changing the borrowing rule set by Gordon Brown when he was Chancellor.It seemed clear that Government debt was set ...

  • Tony Bingham
    Comment

    Olympic hopeful

    2008-07-18T00:00:00Z

    Never trust an Olympic Delivery Authority until you can see the white of its balance sheet. On the strength of this, Tony Bingham is quite encouraged, actually

  • Denise Chevin
    Comment

    The path to happiness

    2008-07-18T00:00:00Z

    Happiness, there’s not too much of it around in construction at the moment.

  • Comment

    Webmaster review: Gleeds website

    2008-07-18T00:00:00Z

    The website of QS Gleeds – www.gleeds.com – is under the microscope this week, as is its television channel, www.gleeds.tv