All Features articles – Page 592
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Features
The colour of money
Do housebuilders have to go into the red in order to turn green? It looks like they do, because putting in ecological features can be so expensive that payback times may never come.
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Features
Community test
In the first in our series of revisits, Alan Cherry, chairman of developer Countryside Properties, meets one of his customers at the Greenwich Millennium Village to review the successes and failures of the country's highest-profile sustainable community
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FeaturesSwiss ease
From the land of chocolate and cheese comes another remarkable product – a slot-together modular building system, not unlike Lego, called Steko. Marcus Fairs went to see the first UK project to use the blocks – a cliff-top home in Cornwall
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Features
Mild, green, fairly liquid
Lord Falconer's planning green paper was designed to clean up the system by cutting through stubborn layers of built-up bureaucracy – but turns out to be a bit of a wash-out.
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FeaturesSmall but perfectly formed
Black Country Housing and Community Services Group caught a lot of attention two years ago with an ultra-green scheme at Bryce Road, Dudley, boasting composting toilets, photovoltaic panels, greywater recycling and a whole lot more.
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Features
Front line
Are developers grasping the green agenda? Judith Harrison sees signs of hope, but John Callcutt doesn’t see much beyond general enthusiasm
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Features
The generation game
Lessons learned as children affect our working lives – and we're not talking Tonka toys
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Features
Meet the neighbours
With all eyes on the eurozone, it is easy to forget the possibilities in central and eastern Europe. Following on from our euro special, Victoria Madine discovers that these markets are about to become mainline stations on the European Union's gravy train
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Features
The Bickerton affair
Bickerton Construction went from thriving regional contractor to emaciated corpse in a matter of months. Tom Broughton investigates what many creditors suspect to be a very suspicious death …
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Features
Appointments
ContractorsMalcolm Ward, former southern area manager for Galliford Midlands, has joined Try Accord as commercial business unit director.Willmott Dixon has appointed John Cooper construction manager.HousebuildersJayne Turpin, previously with Alfred McAlpine Homes, has joined Cala Homes as field sales manager.Ward Homes Anglia has appointed Sue Dance area sales manager.Millwood Designer Homes ...
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Features
Tender price forecast: Maintaining balance
So, how has the industry fared since the tumultuous events of 11 September? Surprisingly well, in fact. Despite continuing uncertainty, Davis Langdon & Everest reports that tender prices are still on the up, new orders are holding up and the private commercial sector is still leading robust growth
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Features
Bending the rules
If government proposals on flexible working become law, what will the consequences be for employers? Angela Daw explains all you need to know
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Features
Flexibility benefits
Why companies that don't promote a work–life balance are making a false economy
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Features
Builder's craic exposed
The dark winter days are upon us and we all need cheering up a bit. So for one week only, Building throws political correctness out of the window, gathers its readers round the hearth and tells tales of the funnier side of site life …
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FeaturesWorking with Christopher Wren
Greenwich's Old Royal Naval College is arguably the finest collection of early modern buildings in the UK. After being taken over by Greenwich University, it became what must be the most sensitive refurbishment project in Britain. Thomas Lane finds out how it was done.
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Features
Five tips on how small firms can help staff juggle work and life
Develop clear guidelines - establish what the procedures are for changing hours, and outline which job roles have scope for flexible working. Clear guidelines will help counter any accusations that some employees appear to have more help than others.Consider the organisation’s culture - sometimes long hours are a necessity when ...
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Features
The roads to freedom
The workplace can be a tyranny. If the customer comes first, workers must come second, and the result is stressed-out, miserable staff. Eleanor Cochrane looks at a scheme to give us our lives back, plus a chance to record your views and an account of a firm that's got it ...
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FeaturesHanif Kara
Hanif Kara, founding partner of structural engineer Adams Kara Taylor, knows that image can be crucial when you're building a business. So how come he's so nervous telling Marcus Fairs about his own?
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Features
HBG hangs on to top with contracts worth £33m
Kier is hard on the heels of the Dutch-owned contractor, but the December lull is apparent across the board.
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Features
Appointments
HousebuildersMorris Homes has promoted Clare Crowther to group marketing director and Chris Minshall to sales director for the north of England. In the firm's West Midlands division, Daren Asson has joined as regional buyer and Stuart Rawcliffe has been appointed construction director.Jane Currie (left) has been promoted to sales manager ...