Alex Smith Freelance
Building
Stories by this contributor.
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The Regs Files: Streamlining Parts K, M and N
25 May 2012
The proposed streamlining of Parts K and M, and the end of N, have been broadly welcomed by the industry. But would more simplification serve to clarify or confuse?
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Green light for £78m Bodleian library revamp
26 May 10
Wilkinson Eyre designs will open up Giles Gilbert Scott’s ’book fortress’ to the public
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Architects to take on developers in festival cycle sprint
14 May 10
London Festival of Architecture kicks off with a five-lap race around London’s Smithfield’s market
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Lib Dems and Tories split on nuclear power
12 May 10
Lib Dems opposed to expansion in nuclear power but Tories agree there will be no public subsidies
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Chris Huhne appointed energy and climate change secretary
12 May 10
The appointment will be one of five cabinet posts for Liberal Democrats in David Cameron's government
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Michel Roux opens at RICS: what should be on the menu?
10 May 10
Michel Roux Jr has opened a restaurant at RICS HQ on Parliament Square
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Tories propose Lib-Dem coalition and swift cuts
7 May 10
David Cameron attempts to woo Liberals by promising discussions on electoral reform
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Election uncertainty will stall housing market
7 May 10
Jones Lang LaSalle says lack of clarity on Hips, public sector cuts and planning will put brake on housing recovery
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Construction ministers Healey and Lucas retain Labour seats
7 May 10
Tory shadow construction and housing ministers win easily in Tory heartland
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Tories surge in last Building poll before voting
6 May 10
Online vote sees the Conservatives build an 8% lead over the Lib-Dems
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CRH struggles to recover from bleak mid-winter
5 May 10
Building materials sales fell 23.5% in the first two months of the year
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How construction can make cycling safer
30 Apr 10
Following the tragic death of architect Rebecca Goosen, who was killed in a collision with a 32-tonne cement mixer last year, Building's web editor joined a cement mixer driver on a trip through central London to try and understand why HGVs are involved in 39% of all cycling fatalities
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Building buys a pint … for CB Richard Ellis
23 April 2010
“Your shoes look like pork pies.” Charles Ingram-Evans was pointing at my Clarks loafers. Apparently they contravened the “never wear brown in town” City dress code, which also applies to the property industry
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Commercial Estates Group reveals ambitious Leeds plans
16 Mar 10
Kirkstall Forge will feature 300,000 sq ft of offices plus housing designed by Feilden Clegg Bradley
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More than 160,000 construction jobs cut in 2009
17 Feb 10
Construction job losses declined by 10% in fourth quarter but sector still accounts for one fifth of UK redundancies.
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Orders have fallen £17bn since 2007
11 Feb 10
ONS figures reveal largest drop took place in commercial and private housing sectors
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Balfour Beatty wins FM work for QinetiQ
23 Dec 09
Seven-year contract with technology company will be worth at least £15m a year
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Balfour Beatty wins £100m Greenwich schools jobs
23 Dec 09
Construction group also reveals £91m of contract wins on North Lanarkshire schools PPP
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Construction output grew 1.9% in third quarter
23 Dec 09
But upward revision of 3% is not enough to pull UK out of recession
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House prices predicted to rise 1-2% in 2010
22 Dec 09
Shortfall in housing supply will push up prices despite wider economic pressures
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Carillion wins £157m health PPP in Toronto
22 Dec 09
Carillion Health Solutions JV will build and finance the city's Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
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Double win for Rab Bennetts at Sustainability Awards
25 Nov 09
The newly crowned Sustainability Leader of the Year also wins a Sustainability Project of the Year award for Elizabeth II Court
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Stonewest wins prize for restoring Brighton's Royal Pavillion
23 Nov 09
Georgian Group gives specialist contractor heritage award for its work on John Nash's Brighton landmark
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Public sector work keeps Morgan Sindall on track
10 Nov 09
Trading in line with expectations despite slump in fit out market
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Savills: House prices to fall by 7% in 2010
6 Nov 09
Property group predicts further drop, despite 3.7% rise this year
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Building launches APC final assessment videos
9 Oct 09
Building's APC experts put real questions to 'candidates' in our new series of filmed interviews
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Redrow to refocus on family homes after £141m loss
10 Sep 09
Housebuilder to abandon flats for fewer, larger house types in bid to return to profit
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Race car built from carrots to hit Brands Hatch
10 Sep 09
Part-vegetable sustainable racing car runs on chocolate and wine waste
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Winning BSF work: How AOC Architecture moved up a class
4 Sep 09
This small firm of architects won a lucrative BSF contract in Southwark after proving itself on local primary school projects
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Unemployment rises sharply in seaside towns
21 Aug 09
Cuts in public spending would deepen recession in traditional seaside resorts says TUC
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Lend Lease posts £329m loss after writedowns
21 Aug 09
Australian group is hit by £419m of writedowns while net operating profit falls 29% to £155m
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T Clarke profits plunge 44%
21 Aug 09
Half year revenue falls 12% in 'tough' six months for electrical contractor
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The Pink Plinther enters the velodrome
19 Aug 09
Cyclist picked for the Trafalgar Square plinth is among riders at Building's track day in Herne Hill
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Video: Twitter users get switched-on in Birmingham
17 Aug 09
Construction's internet pioneers meet face to face at the third Be2Camp 'unconference'
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Trak goes into administration
5 Aug 09
Administrator says a buyer is not likely to be found for Hemel Hempstead contractor
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Images: The US embassy plans opposed by Cabe and the mayor
5 Aug 09
Outline plans by Zimmer Gunsul Frasco turn back on local area, says design watchdog
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Construction's top footballers head for David Beckham Academy
4 Aug 09
Firms invited to field teams for the fourth Construction Cup, playing against Paul Allen, Ray Parlour, Kerry Dixon and Lee Sharp
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Big losses at Northern Rock as new lending falters
4 Aug 09
Bank says new mortgage lending was £1bn short of predicted levels
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BRE launches green advice service
4 Aug 09
Enterprise hub will help SMEs bring sustainable inventions to market and advise on use of green techniques
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Galliford Try appoints Ian Baker as housing boss
4 Aug 09
Baker rises through ranks to become managing director of housebuilding division
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Vinci wins £25m contract on Sheffield BSF
3 Aug 09
Contractor will refurbish and extend the grade II-listed High Storrs secondary school
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Take off for £28m extension at Leeds Bradford airport
28 Jul 09
Leeds council approves expansion of West Yorkshire's international airport
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Bomb blast engineer loses damages action against Mott MacDonald
24 Jul 09
Graham Hopp loses damages case against former employer and MoD over injuries caused by roadside bomb in Iraq
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Wind turbine sit-in continues despite court threat
24 Jul 09
Protest against closure of Vestas factory in the Isle of Wight enters fifth day
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Make energy ratings public, say Tories
24 Jul 09
New legislation would force ministers to publish the energy rating of government buildings
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Donaghy deaths inquiry: Make construction minister full-time
8 Jul 09
Long-awaited report into site deaths also says Gangmasters Licensing Regulations should be extended to cover construction
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Grafton looks to housing recovery as turnover falls 31%
3 Jul 09
Builders' merchant takes big hit in Ireland but says trading has stabilised
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Cost cutting reduces Marshalls debt by £37m
3 Jul 09
Firm closed factories and raised £4m in rights issue in response to 19% fall in revenue
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Balfour Beatty predicts more progress in 2009
3 Jul 09
Strong performance in roads and building sectors help offset reduced UK rail work
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ProCure21 procurement expert to appear at healthcare conference
16 Jun 09
Cliff Jones will provide overview of the NHS framework selection process and reveal what is required of the supply chain
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John McAslan reveals cinema plans for Hornsey Town Hall
12 Jun 09
The £16m project to restore the north London town hall includes a public performance space and private housing
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WYG wins £4.17m contract in Serbia
12 Jun 09
Project aims to ensure EU gets full value for funds directed at regional development
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Building joins Bobby Moore in bike ride to Paris
12 Jun 09
Riders in the Build Moore cycling challenge will pedal 200 miles to raise money for Article 25 and the Bobby Moore Fund
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Building turns off air-conditioning for World Environment Day
5 Jun 09
Turning off the chillers at magazine's Ludgate House HQ will save at least £30
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Rising debt delays Liverpool stadium until 2012
5 Jun 09
Liverpool FC says construction will be delayed by three years in light of mounting debts
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Capita Lovejoy shines in Jewellery Quarter design competition
29 May 09
Birmingham City Council selects winning design for £1.5m Golden Square
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Interserve seals £270m Enniskillen hospital PFI
22 May 09
A constortium headed by Interserve will build the acute hospital and provide facilities management for 30 years
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Willmott Dixon tops construction green list
22 May 09
Construction firms feature prominently in Sunday Times Green List with contractor ranking third overall
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SME civil engineers hit by falling workloads
1 May 09
Small engineering businesses workloads declined in April despite government spending initiatives
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Tube Lines appoints Dean Finch as chief executive
1 May 09
Finch will replace Terry Morgan who moves to Crossrail as non-excutive chairman
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Balfour Beatty seals £170m Fife hospital deal
1 May 09
The PPP healthcare project will deliver a new wing to Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy
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Budget must deliver 'green collar' jobs
20 Apr 09
Construction groups march to Downing Street to demand government support for UK's renewable industries
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Homes with negative equity hits 900,000
17 Apr 09
Council of Mortgage Lenders says negative equity is contributing to fall in property sales
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Top firms wanted for Building’s 2009 Good Employer Guide
14 Apr 09
If you work for a great company tell us before April 20 and it could feature in our Good Employer Guide 2009
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Rok wins housing contracts worth £86m
14 Apr 09
Moat Housing Association framework deal will see Rok deliver homes across London and the South East
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Gem of Tanzania found on eBay
18 Mar 09
The ruby valued at £11m on Wrekin's balance account is currently available on eBay for £5.50
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Firms still using blacklist face prosecution
6 Mar 09
If construction firms continue to use blacklist they could be found guilty of breaching the Data Protection Act
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Over 40 construction firms used illegal blacklist
6 Mar 09
Firms including Balfour Beatty and Laing O'Rourke paid annual fee of £3,000 to obtain sensitive information on workers
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Revealed: the construction firms who used worker blacklist
6 Mar 09
Some of the biggest names in construction used illegal blacklist to vet potential workers
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Construction cyclists start 1500km journey to Cannes
5 Mar 09
Over 60 cyclists left Greenwich this morning on the first leg of the Cycle to Cannes charity ride
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Building to host energy infrastructure conference
20 Feb 09
Next week's event features top industry speakers on the future of the nuclear, coal and renewable sectors
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Saint-Gobain and Lafarge plan €1.5bn rights issues
20 Feb 09
French materials giants both turn to investors for cash boost following sharp downturn in markets
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Finnish nuclear firm claims €2.4bn damages from Areva JV
29 Jan 09
Damages claimed from Areva and Siemens as building work runs three years late at Europe's first new reactor for a decade
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David Chipperfield to masterplan extension of Houston art museum
27 Jan 09
New buildings at the Menil Collection will include galleries, a café, an auditorium and a drawing institute
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UK enters recession as output falls 1.5%
23 Jan 09
Construction fell 1.1% in the last quarter of 2008 according to the Office of National Statistics
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Minister to address Building's new energy infrastructure conference
22 Jan 09
Minister Mike O'Brien will meet with industry experts to discuss new-build opportunities in the energy sector
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2012 Olympics creates 30,000 construction jobs
16 Jan 09
Workforce on Olympic site will triple this year, with further apprenticeships pledged
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Galliford Try heads for housing top five
12 Jan 09
Chief exec says downturn will propel firm into top tier of housebuilders, as 500 staff put onto four-day week
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Bond Bryan gets go-ahead for Rotherham college
12 Jan 09
Architect gains planning approval for £70m new-build art and technology college in town centre
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Arup sets up Heathrow hub development firm
12 Jan 09
Consultant establishes new firm to work on proposed £4.5bn Heathrow transport hub station
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Galliford Try JV wins £60m Scottish water contract
9 Jan 09
JV with Black & Veatch is named as preferred contractor on storm overflow transfer scheme
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Morgan Sindall's Muse unveils £350m Swindon regeneration plan
27 Nov 08
Scheme in partnership with public sector includes bus station, hotel, leisure and health facilities as well as shops, offices and homes
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Rail work boosts profit at Jarvis
27 Nov 08
Interim results show 50% increase in turnover as profit hits £4.3m
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House prices steadier in November
27 Nov 08
But Nationwide says monthly fall of just 0.4% does not signal market recovery
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Materials sales slip 10% at Marshalls
13 Nov 08
Supplier hit as commercial projects halted and housing sector demand falls 15%
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Overseas growth puts Keller on track for record year
13 Nov 08
Organic growth abroad and infrastructure work boost groundworks firm, which also announces two acquisitions
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Public work keeps Morgan Sindall on top form
13 Nov 08
Record results forecast for 2008, thanks to focus on education and infrastructure
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Building photography exhibition opens at Somerset House
11 Nov 08
Richard Bryant's images features construction sites and brownfield land as well as landmark completed buildings
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Chelsea denies reports of stadium move
10 Nov 08
Newspaper report of new stadium designed by HOK Sport denied by club
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RMJM reveals student centre for University of Bedfordshire
31 Oct 08
The student centre on the Luton campus will include a 400-seat lecture hall
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Final shortlists unveiled for 2008 QS Awards
30 Oct 08
Carillion, Wates and Bridgford will fight it out for Best Contractor's QS at next month's awards
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Tottenham Hotspur plans new football stadium
30 Oct 08
Club has already spent £44m acquiring land around White Hart Lane site
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House prices crash 15% in a year
30 Oct 08
Average UK home now worth £30,000 less than a year ago, says Nationwide
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Over 60% in fear of losing job
30 Oct 08
Building's online poll shows 60% are fearful and 13% already fired
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Building launches business blog
27 Oct 08
Financial blog features news, gossip and up-to-date share prices for over 30 construction stocks
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Mitie fined £300k over electrician's death
23 Oct 08
Firm fined for safety breach that caused 2005 electrocution, but directors are acquitted
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£44k fine after builder paralysed in fall
21 Oct 08
HSE highlights need for height risk assessment after man falls two storeys on site
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Corus cuts steel output by 20%
17 Oct 08
UK and Netherlands plants slash production in response to economic crisis
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Wembley scores at building control awards
17 Oct 08
Stadium wins Best Commercial Project and is runner-up in two other classes at Local Authority Building Control Awards
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Margaret Beckett appointed housing minister
3 Oct 08
Former deputy leader of the Labour Party replaces Caroline Flint who moves to the Foreign Office
