Opinion – Page 343
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Comment
Why the long bill?
The prices of labour and materials in the construction industry have fallen and tender prices have plummeted
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Comment
Are you ready to commit?
The Carbon Reduction Commitment energy trading scheme comes into force in April, but building owners should be preparing for it now if they want to avoid a hefty bill
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Comment
Grim outlook for jobs in UK construction
The official figures show construction lost 67,000 jobs in the third quarter of this year. This is more than 1,000 jobs each working day and half the jobs lost to the UK economy over that period.So while there may be suggestions of more stability in the wider economy, construction is ...
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Comment
Housing recovery is resting on happier family homes market
The latest swathe of housing data continues to suggest a pick up both in prices and activity and the RICS November house price survey, released today, adds further weight to the case for a housing recovery.Its measures for sales, expected sales, new inquiries, new instructions, prices and expected prices are ...
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CommentAfter copenhagen
We still have little idea of how low-energy designs perform, which means we’re like scientists conducting endless experiments without ever seeing how they come out
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CommentEnd this crisis by Christmas: Richard Steer on the RICS
The RICS has to sort out the mess it’s made, or rumours of a breakaway group are bound to resurface
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Comment
After Copenhagen
Whatever happens in Copenhagen this week, the UK has already committed itself to some of the most ambitious targets for reducing carbon emissions in the world. It’s worth reminding ourselves of that. It’s also worth asking ourselves what this means and how on earth we might, well, get there.The average ...
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CommentHansom: Dangerous liaisons
Construction has come over all drama and intrigue, it seems. We therefore invite you, ladies and gentlemen, to a cloak and dagger meeting, a masked party and a duelling lesson. Don’t forget your wigs
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CommentShould we blame the big boys?
On 13 November you published an article by Richard Steer complaining about uneconomic bidding by QSs
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Comment
Or blame all QSs?
I read with interest the article in which Richard Steer was having a whinge about how the prevalence of low bidding was having a dramatic impact upon levels of professional QS fees
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Comment
Where does it all end?
Stephen Blake, director of the Office of Fair Trading (23 October, page 30) has drawn attention to the illegality of one bidder obtaining a price from another
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Comment
They should have said
It was with some incredulity and confusion that I read the news item “Industry slams payment law plans” (13 November, page 12)
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Comment
Planning obsolescence
I was most impressed with the first question posed at last week’s Homes and Communities Agency “open meeting” on 26 November
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Comment
Whistling in the dark
Further to your recent “whistleblower” item (13 November, page 15), it seems the proposed action by Balfour Beatty ex-employees is driven by an assumption of continuing unemployment with a commensurate loss of prospective earnings
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Comment
Arbitrary distinctions
I read John Redmond’s piece about arbitration with a wry smile (27 November, page 51)
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CommentInformation overload: The bumf tax
Tenderers are forced to wade through a shedload of information for the odd relevant detail, costing them a fortune. A few trips to the county court might put an end to the practice
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CommentDon’t get your suspenders in a twist
The Construction Act says it is lawful to down tools if you haven’t been paid what you’re owed. But what happens if you get it wrong and the money isn’t owed?
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Comment
Blowing their cover
At last, the details of the infringements that sparked the OFT inquiry into bid rigging are exposed for all to see. Those of a nervous disposition should look away now
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Comment
Cometh the hour: Nick Raynsford welcomes Paul Morrell
If anyone can pull off the new role of chief construction adviser, it’s Paul Morrell, says Nick Raynsford. But we need to give him time before we can reasonably expect to see results