Building regs, Heathrow and the Science Museum's surveying section

Tue 30 May

Strong stuff (54 replies and counting) from Guardian columnist and environmentalist George Monbiot, who castigates the lack of proper energy testing of new houses. Building inspectors aren't bothered about how efficient houses are as long as they stand up. One can only expect more and more pressure being exerted in the industry with this regard. But as Monbiot accepts the government is hardly covering itself in glory in offering logical legislation to oversee, and police, new regulations.

Mon 29 May

Should we ditch Heathrow Airport and move East? The Town and Country Planning Association reckon so in a report released today. It makes a whole heap of sense - the infrastructure is rubbish and it's incredibly inefficient (I hope I'm not simplfying this a little too much). The arguments against voiced by a Heathrow defender on BBC Radio 4's Today show did amount to much beyond it will affect the local economy. Why go for Terminal 5 then? Short-termism and a lack of long-term planning. I wonder iwhat BAA bidder Ferrovial thinks of the idea?

I visited the Science Museum, which appears to have embraced children with extreme enthusiasm. There's thousands of them rushing around the place, not least drawn by the current Pixar exhibition - and a child-friendly cafe. Unfortunately the nearby permanent surveying section on the first floor of the museum was slightly sparser of keen under-15s. "is this where you meet all your contacts?" my friends ask. No.