The year’s best quotes from Building, including Berkeley MD Rob Perrins on working with Tony Pidgley, Mott MacDonald’s Keith Howells on Star Wars, and Ray O’Rourke on UK work culture

Keith Howells

It’s a bit like Star Wars really, the rebels ganging together against the evil Empire

Keith Howells, chairman of Mott MacDonald, on the battle between independent consultants and their larger listed rivals



Rob Perrins

If I hear one more time that this is the last best site on the river I’m going to shoot myself. [I hear it] every time someone brings me a land bid - and the worst offender is the chairman

Rob Perrins, managing director of Berkeley group, on working with tony Pidgley


Stef Stefanu

People who build up firms live with it. Part of it becomes part of your body. The company is like a living being. It’s your baby, it’s everything

Stef Stefanou, chief executive of collapsed Doyle Group



Andrew Warren

Why does the government even bother to undertake consultations if it doesn’t publish the results and then buries the findings?

Andrew Warren, director of the Association for the Conservation of Energy, on the continued lack of a response to the consultation on Part L of the building regulations




Sean 1024px

We’ve almost got to a point where we’re taking professions for granted in the UK. That’s not happening anywhere else

Sean Tompkins, chief executive of the RICS




Daniel Moylan

Source: David Woolfall

It’s a funny approach to say the planning system is too cumbersome while then parking the decision on one of the most important pieces of infrastructure we’ll see in the UK for years

Daniel Moylan, head of the London mayor’s aviation unit on government procrastination on airport expansion




ian baker

Greg [Fitzgerald] said: ‘What if we raise a bit of money with the objective of doubling housebuilding? How would you go about it and can you let me know by Monday?’ It was one of those conversations where you say: ‘Er … OK … Right…’

Ian Baker, group managing director of housebuilding at Galliford Try, on demanding chief executives

 

Ray O'Rourke

Why don’t we have so many women in the industry? I think we should move more towards the German model, which is working 35 hours a week, rather than 48 hours for 48 years. It’s not sustainable for people to work, in the current methods you use, for 48 years. It just won’t work

Ray O’Rourke, chairman of Laing O’Rourke, at the Government Construction Summit tells the industry it needs to change