Hansom: Life coach

Bob Neill, hoarse whisperer

We journalists hear all kinds of excuses for people not returning our calls, but one from Bob Neill, the shadow planning minister, last week caused me to raise a sceptical eyebrow. It seems the MP was struck with a viral infection that caused him to lose his voice for two days. With most developers, planners and housebuilders still at a loss as to what the Tories’ policies are – including lingering confusion about their plans for the Infrastructure Planning Commission – some may be asking what the excuse is for his silence the rest of the time.

Number’s up for MPs …

It seems MPs are still getting perks. Last week, the Association for Consultancy and Engineering held its annual reception for industry figures and MPs at the House of Commons’ riverside terrace, the climax of which was a surprise raffle. I say “surprise” because none of the guests had actually been given a chance to buy a ticket – except, that is, the politicians in attendance. Whether this was a ploy to lure MPs to an industry event or an elaborate scheme to spite Sir Christopher Kelly was not made clear.

Either way, the Daily Telegraph is bound to be on the case.

Stop the coach please

If you thought engineers were too absorbed with concrete buttresses and glulam beams to bother with the softer side of working life, engineering firm Conisbee may surprise you. The firm’s management is set to swap spreadsheets and CAD drawings for chats about drawing on positive energies, fostering deeper self awareness and, possibly, transforming their very lives. Confused? Let me explain. It seems Conisbee has enlisted the services of a life coach to work with the firm’s executives, presumably to instil them with ideas, motivation and general zest for life. But judging by the reaction of one senior staffer last week, the coaching will have the opposite effect. “I’ve never heard of anything so ridiculous,” he sulked.

‘Roome’ for improvement

Oxford’s historic Ashmolean museum finally has premises worthy of its incredible collection of artefacts. Rick Mather Architects’ £61m extension features a building services system that accurately controls temperature and humidity (previously temperatures had varied from zero to a toasty 45ÞC). The museum’s founder, Elias Ashmole, will be pleased. In 1675 he proposed “the building of some large roome, which may have chimnies, to keep those things aired that will stand in need of it”. Thanks to head of conservation Mark Norman for unearthing what is probably the earliest environmental control brief ever written.

Hold the babysitter … I’d like a new home

Who says regeneration schemes take a long time to come to fruition? One architect, working on the latest attempts to improve council housing stock on the South Acton estate in west London, was speaking to a resident at a community consultation event. “My son is 36 today,” she told him, in a somewhat exasperated tone. “The day we had the first consultation over improving our homes, I had to organise a babysitter.”

Blazing saddles

Anybody who enjoyed watching Chris Hoy and Victoria Pendleton powering their way to cycling glory at the UCI Track Cycling World Cup last weekend in Manchester will be disappointed to hear of the state of the iconic Herne Hill velodrome in south London. The cycle track has, of course, been the site of two of Building’s magnificent cycling competitions over the past two summers. Oh, and the 1948 Olympics. However, issues over the lease mean there is still no funding to repair the velodrome’s dilapidated buildings.

As a result, youngsters are spending their fourth winter training in marquees. VCL, which runs the facility, is appealing for any unwanted site huts or 20ft storage containers to house bikes and riders. Email alex.smith@ubm.com