27 May 2011
Building
View all stories from this issue.
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Civil Litigation Costs: Sousa vs London borough of Waltham Forest council
31 May 11
Until legislation is passed to alter the situation, local authorities can be stung by 100% success fees when claims are made against them
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A path to zero carbon?
27 May 2011
Welcome to this year’s guide to codes and regulations, including Part L, energy research projects and innovative products
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Adjudication: The good book
27 May 2011
We’ve had 475 judgments since adjudication first came in and it’s a very different beast today. So the second edition of Peter Coulson’s tome on the subject is a must-read
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An education
27 May 2011
Half-term hols will come as a relief after the excitement of Tim Byles leaving, the education secretary displaying an appalling lack of handwriting skill and a sports day-style event that ended in tears …
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Balfour Beatty bags £317m wind farm link
27 May 11
Contractor-led consortium appointed for Greater Gabbard will also maintain the link as part of 20-year licence
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Bank of England in talks over ONS output controversy
27 May 2011
Meeting comes as Barbour ABI survey reveals 39% drop in value of new work
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BIM could cost QSs £2k per person
27 May 2011
Davis Langdon estimates that for QSs, the industry bill could reach £82m for training
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BIM: Designing tomorrow
27 May 2011
BIM is the word on everybody’s lips - but do we really know what it is? David Light says we won’t make the most of building information modelling until we start asking the right questions
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Buckingham Group completes hat-trick of sporting venues
2 Jun 11
New stadium for Brighton football club follows Olympic handball and Silverstone completions
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Bullivant turnover halves during recession
31 May 11
Piling specialist confirms 300 job losses since 2008
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Buro Happold at Chelsea Flower Show
26 May 11
Engineer Buro Happold and NEX Architecture create pavillion based on the way plants grow
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Central London office space squeezed, says Derwent
17 May 11
Developer notes rising rental values as demand outstrips supply
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Civils contractors report declining workloads
27 May 11
Overwhelming majority of respondents to CECA survey also report rising costs
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Common mistakes in…choosing a mediator
27 May 2011
The latest in our dos and don’ts series looks at how best to choose a mediator
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Construction activity increases in May
2 Jun 11
Employment in the sector also up according to latest data from Markit/CIPS PMI
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Construction appointments 3 June 2011
1 Jun 11
This week Drivers Jonas Deloitte, Echotect BV and Balfour Beatty are among those making changes
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Construction insolvencies jump by a fifth
31 May 11
First quarter survey shows impact of government spending freeze
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Construction’s green investment to increase by 17%
27 May 2011
Businesses will get greener over next three years, says survey
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Cost update: Q1 2011
27 May 2011
Our quarterly analysis of costs and prices reveals an industry hit by wage agreement troubles and high input costs
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Councils could have to reverse decision to scrap homes
27 May 11
Court ruling says councils should not consider planned scrapping of regional strategies when drawing up local plans
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CPD 1: Thermal performance of Aluminium
27 May 2011
In the first of our regular series of CPD modules designed to help you broaden your knowledge while you work, we look at the thermal performance of aluminium windows and doors. This module is Sponsored by Reynaers
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Crossrail over-site job goes ahead
27 May 2011
Planning permission for mixzed-use scheme
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David Higgins: Good move
27 May 2011
Network Rail is going through its biggest investment phase since Victorian times - and it’s got itself a new boss. Building talks to David Higgins, ex-Olympics chief, about leaving one big project for another
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De-coding BIM
27 May 2011
Building information modelling could be applied to save time and money on every government project within five years. But few people are using it and many don’t even know it exists. Here are seven key ways BIM will affect you and your work
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Diamond mesh
27 May 2011
Catnic’s security mesh is too small for bolt cutters to get through
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EC Harris appoints head of renewables for Europe
25 May 11
Former WSP renewable services director to lead the European renewables team, supporting the energy and manufacturing sector
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Eurotunnel to link UK power grid to France
27 May 11
£217m project will link UK and France with 500MW cable
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Funding squeeze for development tightens, report warns
31 May 11
CB Richard Ellis says that banks have withdrawn from real estate lending
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Galliford secures housing frameworks worth £584m
1 Jun 11
Largest of three frameworks is £400m agreement with housing association L&Q
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Galliford Try ties up £325m refinance deal
27 May 11
Four-year credit facility is operational this month
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Glazing beyond Part L
27 May 2011
This system exceeds Part L requirements and lets high levels of light into buildings
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Government unveils blueprint to cut construction costs
31 May 11
A newly established public construction board will drive 20% savings
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Government wants evidence on 'cash for planning' clause
27 May 2011
Controversial clause in Localism Bill voted through by MPs but ministers fear battle in the Lords
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Green Investment Bank to help Green Deal
27 May 2011
Government considering offering Green Deal finance
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Hands up if you can cut 20%
27 May 2011
We’re all more or less signed up to the government’s target of cutting 20% off costs in the next four years (or so we say). But how we do it is still the subject of fierce debate. Building asked three construction professionals what they would do
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Helical Bar back in the red
26 May 11
The loss follows a return to profit last year after a £71.9m loss in 2009
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Hidden houses: St Andrew's Phase 1
27 May 2011
One of 20 schemes to make the shortlist for the 50th annual Housing Design Awards
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Higgins reveals Network Rail overhaul plan
27 May 2011
Major projects division could bid for role building High Speed 2 rail line
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House prices rebound slightly in May
27 May 11
Nationwide House Price Index shows average price of a home up 0.3%
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Housing stats: Public sector completions rise
27 May 2011
?Sales and registrations are lower than this time last year, but public sector completions are up
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Huhne defends cutting feed-in tariffs
27 May 2011
Says he wished he had cut them earlier
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Inbox: who's right?
27 May 2011
There’s little consensus to be found this week: the merits of BIM are in dispute, as is the the economic case for high-speed rail, and readers even disagree about introducing double decker trains to the UK
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Incentives key for Passivhaus in UK
1 Jun 11
Market forces alone won’t raise standards says consultant behind the Passivhaus Diary
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Integrated PV
27 May 2011
Marley Eternit is set to launch an integrated PV product that it says is the first on the market to be compatible with fibre cement slates.
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Interlocking slates
27 May 2011
Marley Eternit’s interlocking slates were used on a 110-home housing development
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Invest to impress
27 May 2011
This week’s magazine looks at the investments needed by the construction industry. The watch words? Use BIM and cut costs
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Invisible tiles
27 May 2011
Tony Dawkins used Monier Reland’s Solar PV tiles on his own house
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Is it possible to send zero waste to landfill?
2 Jun 11
We follow Rachel Woolliscroft, head of sustainability at Wates on her journey to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill
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JLL and King Sturge sign tie-up deal
27 May 11
Deal creates the UK’s biggest property agency
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Labour appoints new construction shadow minister
24 May 11
Chuka Umunna takes over from Gordon Banks as shadow minister for business, innovation and skills
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Lend Lease to complete halted Olympic village block
27 May 2011
Firm lined up by ODA to work on N14 block after contractor P Elliott went into administration
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London 2012 firms in talks over Rio Olympics work
27 May 2011
Brazilian construction giants also in capital to learn from UK Games supply chain
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London developers are on a roll
27 May 2011
What happens to the developers today happens to construction tomorrow, so they say, and if true, then it might be not as bad a year as many fear.
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McBains wins Jordan job
27 May 2011
Part of the firm’s stragey in the Middle East
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Mechanical ventilation
27 May 2011
Ventilations solutions specialist Airflow has launched a two zone mechanical ventilation with heat recovery unit called Duplexvent RK2.
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Mexican Millau set to link capital to Gulf of Mexico
6 Jun 11
The 200m-plus piers of the San Carlos bridge will be second in height only to Foster’s French landmark
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Mitie profit up 10% as energy services boom
27 May 2011
Revenue and profit at Mitie have increased 10% as growth in its energy services business has taken off.
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Modular PV system
27 May 2011
Renewable energy specialist Siliken has launched a modular PV system designed for installation onto domestic roofs.
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Morgan Est director latest Lend Lease recruit to Bovis business
27 May 2011
Appointment is the latest step in the reforming of Lend Lease’s management team
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Morrell starts cracking the whip
1 Jun 11
Paul Morrell will head up the government drive to make 20% cost savings on public sector building projects
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Movers and makers: roofing
27 May 2011
This week’s news from roofing manufacturers
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My Digital Life: Bruce Kennedy
12 May 11
iPods, Wikipedia and a good malt whisky
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My digital life: Dave Wakelin
12 May 11
Dodgy websites, Jeremy Clarkson and Linkedin
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My digital life: Sarah Orio
12 May 11
iPhone envy, videos of cats and flying kites
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My digital life: Simon Hopkins
12 May 11
Emails, guitars and Alan Partridge
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New Stratford Campus Library: A literary makeover
27 May 2011
Hopkins Architects’ design is intended to reinvigorate the University of East London’s campus
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OFT decides not to appeal CAT judgments
31 May 11
84% reduction of fines for 25 firms will stand
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Opik to present RIBA charity auction: 24 June
27 May 11
Fundraiser to help architecture students facing hardship will be held in June
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Part L in practice
27 May 2011
It was always going to be a big ask to meet the new energy performance and carbon reducing standards. But this project team seems to have found some (not too expensive) answers
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Penguins move in at Buxton-built enclosure
27 May 11
Surrey contractor hands over new home to London Zoo penguins
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PfS could become part of new education funding agency
27 May 2011
Could dbe folded into Education Funding Agency in April
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Planning approvals make first quarter recovery
31 May 11
However number of permissions still 17% down on last year
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Profit halves at Telford Homes
1 Jun 11
Revenue down 25% but housebuilder plans for expansion
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Public sector procurement – time to go private
27 May 2011
Time has shown that public sector procurement needs private investment. The industry must lay its prejudices aside, says Ken Gillespie, and get stuck in
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PV system
27 May 2011
Roofing specialist Redland has introduced a PV system suitable for existing roofs with a rafter width as little as 35mm.
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PVC alternative
27 May 2011
Marley Alutec’s product is an alternative to PVC
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Ramboll opens first US office in New York
1 Jun 11
First North American office will focus on waste-to-energy projects
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Regs round-up
27 May 2011
A whole alphabet of regulations may be changed soon, as the government aims to tighten up energy efficiency, while not overburdening businesses. It’s already rewritten the definition of zero carbon. Here’s what’s in force and what’s coming up
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Retail support
27 May 2011
The Grand Arcade retail centre was covered by Admaster support panels
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Solar hot water system
27 May 2011
Atmos Heating Systems has brought out a solar hot water system called EasySolar
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St Modwen secures planning for 3,000 homes
1 Jun 11
Regeneration firm targets former RAF sites and predicts strong half-year results
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Stratford residential towers win planning
27 May 11
Newham council wins planning for £58m project
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Sustainable urban drainage
27 May 2011
The system helps with compliance with the Code for Sustainable Homes and for situations where councils require SUDS as a condition of planning. The company said the system takes up to 95% up less space than conventional systems and is suitable for car parks and highways. It consists of a large concrete box filled with a 75mm deep mulch layer, 500mm-750mm of soil filter medium, an observation pipe and connection to a surface water drain, infiltration or soakaway system. From the surface ...
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Tata Steel to cut 1,500 jobs in UK as steel demand drops
27 May 2011
Demand currently at two-thirds of 2007 level
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The better homes lab
27 May 2011
Designing energy-efficient homes is the easy bit - making sure the dwelling performs as expected is more tricky. That’s why forward-thinking housebuilders are embarking on some serious research. Alex Smith verifies the results
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The future belongs to the clickizens
12 May 11
The first day of the BCO conference in Geneva covered the future of offices, the economy and the possibilty that 25 year olds may one day rule the world
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The last judgment
27 May 2011
Today’s lesson comes from the book of Ecclesiastical and wrestles with questions of choice, free will, causation - and whether it’s OK to tell the odd porkie
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The shape of Scunthorpe
27 May 2011
Scunthorpe leisure centre rises from the landscape as a series of interlinked domes, more in number than the Eden Project. We find out how you specify roofing for such a complex project, where nearly every element is unique
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The Shard edges skywards
27 May 2011
Work is progressing on the Shard, with the first 31 floors nearly complete
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The Shard: London's tallest building
27 May 2011
Londoners have hardly been able to believe their eyes as the capital’s tallest building has shot up in front of them at dizzying speed. Building braves icy winds to report on an engineering triumph
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Thermostatic mixer taps
27 May 2011
Douglas Delabie has upgraded its Temposoft tap and mixer range to give water savings of up to 84% compared with traditional basin taps.
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Tribal group ends takeover talks
26 May 11
Consultant ends acquisition phase and says it has good growth prospects as an independent company
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UBM and Galliford Try join charity
27 May 2011
Latest members of Transformation Trust
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VT acquisition boosts Babcock revenues by 50%
17 May 11
Revenue close to £3bn but defence firm only records 5% organic growth while total debt exceeds £700m
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Waterproof swimming pool
27 May 2011
Alwitra’s Evalon V roofing membrane was used to refurbish a swimming pool
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Wates buys £50m turnover Linbrook
1 Jun 11
Contractor buys response maintenance firm for undisclosed sum
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Westfield wins planning to triple size of retail centre
27 May 11
Broadmarsh shopping centre in Nottingham will undergo £500m expansion
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What is BIM?
26 May 11
The beginners guide to building information modelling
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Willmott Dixon 43% profit boost due to cheap subbies
27 May 2011
But chief executive expects main contractors to suffer this year as supply chain prices soar
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Working in Qatar: First person
26 May 11
The EC Harris partner in Qatar on the challenges and opportunities of working in the Middle East
