All Building articles in 1999 Issue 39
View all stories from this issue.
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Features
The trouble with set-off
Construction firms have shown little reticence in using set-off provisions in contracts as a way of promoting positive cash flow. Adjudicators, like the courts, should be on the lookout for this iniquitous practice.
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Features
PFI procurement
Building’s series of articles on different procurement routes continues with procurement for private finance initiative projects.
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Features
Rough justice
A quality mark scheme with a consumer complaint element will hit cowboy builders hard. Alas, it will do the same to legitimate outfits.
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Features
Just the job
The Chinese project manager helping Ove Arup build business in Asia tells Elaine Knutt what brought him to Manchester.
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Features
The producers from hell
The Beeb got two feminists and a couple of builders to live together for a week, then filmed the ensuing scrap. But did they, in addition, do what they could to make sure it was as nasty as possible?
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News
Government recycle plea
The managing director of one of the UK’s largest producers of quarried products has called on the government to do more to encourage the use of recycled aggregates.David Tidmarsh, of Aggregate Industries UK, said the government as a client needed to increase confidence in recycling. Speaking in Bournemouth, Tidmarsh told ...
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News
Foster to sue on Reichstag
Architect Lord Foster has threatened to sue the German government over a disputed £1.2m repair bill for the £200m Reichstag parliament building in Berlin.Lord Foster is set to issue a writ to Bundesbaugesellschaft, the Reichstag public-private client, if it does not pay the money. The move follows a letter from ...
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News
Elephant race hots up
Three bidders are in the running for a £600m-1.2bn contract to redevelop a 40 ha area of the Elephant & Castle in south London. Three consortia led by developers European Land; St George and London; and Amsterdam/Countryside have been selected from a longlist of six. The teams omitted were led ...
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Features
Experimenting with drugs
Pharmaceuticals projects are ridiculously attractive: rapidly growing, secure, high-margin work immune to the ups and downs of the business cycle. The only catch is that they’re a “bloody nightmare” to get.
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Comment
Design faults
First person So, architects are still nursing their bruised egos, are they? Perhaps they should take a look around and buck up their ideas.
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News
Delegates turn on Milburn
Labour delegates gave chief secretary to the Treasury Alan Milburn a rough ride at a fringe meeting on public finance. Delegates said the private finance initiative was no longer needed because chancellor Gordon Brown has amassed a huge budget surplus.It was alleged that Brown’s fiscal measures, if they continue in ...
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News
Tube deal qualifiers to be named on Monday
Bidders for the £7bn public-private partnership sell-off of the London Underground are expected to hear on Monday whether they have prequalified and will be asked to tender. It is understood that five of the six consortia that applied will now be asked to submit a full bid. A consortium of ...
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News
Opera house faces new deadline crisis
Militant electricians could jeopardise prestigious national projects with more action over pay.
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Features
The cost of a holiday
The Working Time Regulations cause difficulties for companies that engage workers whose pay or hours fluctuate. On what basis do you work out their holiday pay?
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Features
Cost study: Holiday Inn Express
The client wanted a budget hotel built for a fixed price with minimum risk. Thanks to the innovative use of a special purpose vehicle company, it was able to start operating the new Holiday Inn Express at Wellingborough after just 30 weeks on site
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Features
Discovering Columbus
In 1996, Ove Arup Partnership began exploring the uncharted waters of document management systems. The team was unimpressed by what it found. Then an expert from its own computer arm rang. The result is a gift to the industry.
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News
No hold-up with Rogers claims new minister
DETR minister Beverley Hughes gives her first interview after her promotion in the summer reshuffle.
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News
Five consortia listed for Stonehenge visitor centre
Edward Cullinan Architects and Sidell Gibson among firms shortlisted to design, build and operate PFI centre.
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News
Dobson calls for HAs to house nurses
Housing associations are set to provide affordable accommodation for nurses in the centre of towns and cities. Secretary of state for health Frank Dobson said the department was talking to the Housing Corporation about housing provision and that the talks were encouraging.Speaking at a fringe meeting for the Socialist Health ...
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News
Ministers refuse to budge over NHS staff transfers
Contractors accuse government of moving goalposts over decision to allow trusts to keep staff.