All articles by Richard Steer – Page 4
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Comment'Carillion rescue talks failed because of the pensions deficit'
The problems were so structural and so ingrained that others were dissuaded from coming in to rescue the contractor, says Richard Steer
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Comment2018 predictions: Richard Steer
Building has asked a selection of winning people and firms from 2017’s Building Awards to predict the big opportunities, threats and surprises that we might expect to see in the coming 12 months.
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Comment2018: be prepared
Next year will be dominated by lessons learned from the Grenfell Tower tragedy, the refurbishment of the Houses of Parliament, and a little thing called Brexit.
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CommentThe blame game
The government has used the recent leaseholder scandal to blame the industry for the ‘broken’ housing market. In fact, it’s just covering up its own lack of action when it should be working with housebuilders to find ways of fixing the problem
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CommentBusiness as usual
Will the new and weakened Tory government do more to promote construction? With a new set of challenges, and time ticking for the Brexit negotiations, recognising the industry’s potential is more important than ever
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CommentBarwell is ridiculously optimistic
The housing minister’s assertions that Brexit will not affect the speed and quality of reforms outlined in the housing white paper do not match up with the reality of a depleted and overworked civil service
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CommentGetting their own house in order
The government has been willing to listen to advice from the construction industry when considering the renovation of its home in Westminster. Would it not be wise to listen to our views on the housing shortage and Brexit as well?
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CommentWhat just happened?
A series of head-spinning political events in 2016 has left many in the construction industry feeling discombobulated and grappling to understand how the commercial consequences will unfold
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CommentNo bars to freedom
With £1.3bn to spend on five new prisons, construction has a golden opportunity to drag the criminal justice system out of the Victorian era and use design to change lives
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CommentPerfect timing
With a new chancellor who knows a thing or two about our industry, there has never been a better time to build
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CommentUK economy: Steadying the ship
Whatever the outcome of the EU referendum, it’s important that those on both sides of the debate now work together to get the UK economy and construction back on course after months of uncertainty
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CommentBIM for the masses
While big firms are embracing BIM and the benefit it brings, a large section of the industry is made up of SMEs that are struggling to see the point. It’s time to make sure everyone in the supply chain is part of the BIM process
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CommentWe hold the key
Michael Gove’s recent rhetoric about rehabilitation may open the door to designing the UK’s new generation of super-prisons as institutions of redemption, a million miles away from the high-tension, low-hope jails across the Atlantic
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CommentA big year
Construction starts the year at the epicentre of political and economic debate, and over the next 12 months it will be constantly under the spotlight - here are the hot topics to keep an eye on
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CommentFooting the bill
The new housing bill would cut permanently the regulation on converting office or light-industrial sites into housing, circumnavigating both local authorities and affordable housing obligations. So who would be the winners and losers?
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CommentA lack of understanding
Construction delivers around 7% of the country’s GDP. So why does this Conservative government seem so intent on running the industry that has underpinned the economic recovery into the ground?
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CommentConstruction – the lazy lie
Suggestions that UK workers, particularly within the construction industry, could be working harder are unfair
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CommentChina: The great leap Westwards
The impact of shares plummeting in Shanghai could result in Chinese ambitions turning to the UK construction market