All Building articles in 1999 Issue 44

View all stories from this issue.

  • Features

    Is Woolf working?

    1999-11-05T00:00:00Z

    However fine the Woolf reforms sound in theory, the fact is that a third of parties have abandoned the courts since they were introduced. This would appear to be because, in practice, Woolf is making justice a lottery.

  • News

    Stirling Prize shortlist out

    1999-11-05T00:00:00Z

    The shortlist for the £20 000 Stirling Prize for Architecture has been announced by the RIBA. The leaders in each category are: Education: Ranelagh multidenominational school, Dublin, Ireland, by O’Donnell + Tuomey Commercial: Sto AG marketing and training uilding, Stuhlingen, Germany, by Michael Wilford & Partners Arts and leisure: NatWest ...

  • Features

    If Laing lost, who wins?

    1999-11-05T00:00:00Z

    Last week Laing joined the queue of major contractors opting out of competitive tendering, effectively giving £400m to its rivals. So, who is going to snap up all that extra turnover?

  • News

    Westbury profit up as new policy kicks in

    1999-11-05T00:00:00Z

    Top six housebuilder Westbury Homes lifted pre-tax profit 24% to £24.6m for the six months to 31 August 1999. The company focused on increasing its average sales price rather than overall sales. This was reflected in its turnover, which was up only 1% to £226m and its average price, ...

  • Features

    Keith Miller

    1999-11-05T00:00:00Z

    Privately owned Miller Group came to public notice with a protracted battle to buy Cala. That bid failed but the firm has a lot of hungry money. So how did a privately owned, family firm come by all that cash?

  • Features

    Swell job

    1999-11-05T00:00:00Z

    A new ground rehydration system can correct subsidence without the need for demolition and underpinning and prevent it happening in the first place.

  • Features

    Just the job

    1999-11-05T00:00:00Z

    WSP's sustainability director Peter Sharratt tells Elaine Knutt what he does, and why it doesn't give him much time to go sailing.

  • Features

    Ivory towers

    1999-11-05T00:00:00Z

    Birmingham city planners are doing their best to shrug off the city's "concrete jungle" tag. But, for Aston University's new student residences, architect Feilden Clegg has offered an upmarket take on the tower block.

  • News

    Tax troubles still plague industry

    1999-11-05T00:00:00Z

    Contractors claim they are still facing tax difficulties with the Construction Industry Scheme as the final deadline for compliance arrived today.One London subcontractor said that his company was still without sufficient CIS25 vouchers despite repeated requests for additional ones.The vouchers must be sent to the Revenue by subcontractors whenever a ...

  • Features

    Why Harmon won at Portcullis House

    1999-11-05T00:00:00Z

    A buy British policy, bullying by the construction manager and misconduct by an official seals victory for cladding contractor Harmon and raises questions over best-value procurement.

  • News

    Goodall still on prowl

    1999-11-05T00:00:00Z

    Brunswick Developments still plans to buy a UK housebuilder despite the collapse of talks with Alfred McAlpine last week. Andrew Goodall, chief executive of privately owned Brunswick, said: We will certainly look at other opportunities. The market value of most shares in the sector has come off 25% and ...

  • News

    Firms face unpaid fees on landmark lottery schemes

    1999-11-05T00:00:00Z

    Contractors and consultants out of pocket on Bristol Harbourside, Sheffield pop museum and Stoke theatre.

  • Features

    Is it e-legal?

    1999-11-05T00:00:00Z

    More and more major clients are using electronic data exchange to manage project information. This is efficient, but unless firms are alert to the dangers, it can increase their legal risk.

  • News

    NHS think-tank to dream up hospitals of the future

    1999-11-05T00:00:00Z

    NHS sets up high-powered body to look at construction design for 21st-century healthcare.

  • Features

    Welcome to total design

    1999-11-05T00:00:00Z

    The outline of a new world of integrated specification, design and construction is becoming visible. Each stage in the process will be integrated with every other and it will speak your language.

  • News

    Harmon to open way for flood of claims

    1999-11-05T00:00:00Z

    Cladding contractor’s victory in MPs’ building case casts doubt over government procurement policy.

  • Features

    Housewives' choice

    1999-11-05T00:00:00Z

    The JCT deserves a pat on the back for its new domestic works contract. It s eight pages long, easy to use and could save a lot of trouble when Mrs Bingham hires a contractor to build an extension.

  • News

    HBF chief Humber in line for six-figure pay-off

    1999-11-05T00:00:00Z

    Letter from federation president to housebuilders asks for contributions to present for retiring chief executive.

  • News

    Chancellor to reject industry calls to cut VAT

    1999-11-05T00:00:00Z

    Failure to cut VAT on repair and refurbishment will severely compromise government's anti-cowboy strategy.

  • News

    Specialists call on state to stop withholding cash

    1999-11-05T00:00:00Z

    Government urged to set good example by ending cash retentions on public sector projects.