All Features articles – Page 585
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Features
European whole-life costs
The lifetime costs of building in various European countries, including construction, occupancy and labour, and – of course – location, location, location.
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FeaturesParminder Mew and the temple of doom
It looked as if the Sikh community of Southall might never get its temple – let alone the biggest one outside India – until an adventurous project manager arrived to make it happen.
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FeaturesPilot error
Labour's pathfinder schemes were supposed to show what PFI could do for run-down housing estates, but after two-and-a-half years not one of the eight pilot projects has got under way. Mark Leftly finds out whether the idea will still fly …
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Features
Transfer fever
Council housing could soon be just a memory as local authorities hand over the keys to social landlords, who will use them to unlock billions in private finance. But will the result just make the overheating in the industry even worse? Josephine Smit takes the temperature
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FeaturesMaking history
Manufacturer Yorkon and architect Cartwright Pickard showed at Murray Grove that modular prefab could be turned into landmark design. Now the team has taken the lessons learned there and proved it can make money as well. Marcus Fairs reports from a revolution in the making
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Features
A slice of Tibet
Caroline Sohie of Arup spent four months as resident architect on a charity project in Ladakh, India. Here, she explains the value of such placements
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Features
Five things to look for in annual results
Turnover This is the biggest number in the results, and the best indicator of how the business is performing. If turnover is significantly up on the previous year, that means the business is doing well. But you need to distinguish between organic growth and additional turnover from mergers and acquisitions.Profit ...
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FeaturesAppointments
HousebuildersHousebuilder Lovell has promoted Alan Taylor regional manager for Scotland. Berkeley Homes (Oxford and Chiltern) has appointed Alison Graham (left) marketing manager in Abingdon. She will work alongside Jan Howe who has recently been appointed sales and marketing director. ClientsBrixton has appointed Paul Weston, previously with Gazeley, director of development ...
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FeaturesBathed in light
British architect Pringle Brandon Botschi's Austrian spa hotel encourages indulgence in its sun-drenched terraces, elegant, light-filled rooms and generous bathing areas. Pass the loofah …
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Features
New year blues
In this month's tracker, Construction Forecasting and Research reports a weak start to the year with both activity and order books down on the previous month
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Features
On the champagne trail
What MIPIM has to offer – as well as bubbly – is a whole continent of opportunity
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Features
Conscientious objectors
Almost 80% of fund managers are deterred from investing in firms with bad human rights or environmental records, which means that ethics has suddenly become big business. Matthew Richards finds out what construction can do to impress the money men
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Features
Delegation's what you need
If your company isn't growing as fast as your ambitions, it's tempting to blame the economy or bad weather. But you might be surprised to find the problem lies much closer to home. Victoria Madine talks to one owner-manager who invested in his own management skills – with impressive results.
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FeaturesSir John Fairclough
The government's latest one-man ginger group for construction is its former chief scientific adviser, but, as Thomas Lane discovered, he is not just calling for radical reform. He's much more ambitious than that …
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Features
Focus on the regions
A closer look at activity levels and order books in 11 regions around the UK (figures are % balances)The balance is the difference between the percentage of firms reporting an increase and those reporting a decrease
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Features
Jeans therapy
Sue Neumeister, HR manager at consultant Cyril Sweett, examines the benefits, difficulties and implications of having a company 'dress-down' policy
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FeaturesPart L: Time's up
By the time you get back to work after Easter, the new Part L of the Building Regulations will be in effect, and the chances are you won't be ready for it. The result could be completion dates blown away, teams turned upside down – even the end of design-and-build ...
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FeaturesA test of Sheffield's mettle
Since the collapse of Sheffield's famous steel industry, regeneration initiatives have come and gone with little success. So, what are the chances that the latest, Sheffield One, will rub the rust off the city's image?
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FeaturesThe north will rise again
The parallels between Manchester's upcoming Northern Quarter and Covent Garden in London are all too obvious. Both are based around former market buildings, and both rely on trendy one-off retailers and restaurants to create the sense of style and individuality that pulls in the crowds.
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FeaturesCity of fear
Developers are delivering the high-density urban living Lord Rogers demanded, just as crime figures soar and public services break down. Are developers now paying the price for government underfunding?