Most programmes appear credible until construction starts
Projects rarely fall behind in a single dramatic moment. They drift when assumptions about sequencing, access and logistics go unchallenged, says Francesca Zuddas
Why London should lead the UK’s shift to circular construction
Sticking to the norm is not an option given construction’s contribution to waste. We must move to an approach prioritising re-use and the capital is perfectly placed to spearhead the effort, writes David Wellwood.
The new NPPF – why planning is becoming harder and less predictable
The value of more permissive policies are limited when the system is in flux. We need a system with clear rules and predictable processes, argues Paul Smith
How will the Building Safety Levy impact development?
The Building Safety Levy comes into force today, adding another layer of cost pressure to a strained development market. Robert Ray sets out the key impacts and why the sector should be ready
Universities have always been innovators. Their campuses tell a different story
With budgets under pressure and expectations changing, university estates need to work harder. Lisa Pike explores how campuses can become more flexible, inclusive and human
The most important commission a city can make is a vision
Judging this year’s UK Design Capital of the Year award has reminded Martyn Evans that the greatest act of civic design is not designing a building at all – it is deciding what kind of city you want to become
If UK construction cannot reach a million willing young people, who can?
With Alan Milburn’s review into NEETs imminent, it’s time for the construction industry to move beyond outreach. Firms must establish lasting links with unemployed young people to turn their enthusiasm into enduring careers, says Morgan Sindall’s Timothy Clement
Burnham’s pivot to council housebuilding risks an immediate drop in delivery
As concerns emerge about potential development delays due to the prime minister’s policy shift, Richard Cherry argues housing needs a long-term approach, not political wins
Why construction must open its doors to people leaving prison
Public projects and release on temporary licence can create real pathways from custody into construction careers, here’s how
Capture carbon before it caps construction
The construction industry should get behind carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS) as pressure mounts to reindustrialise and ramp up delivery while cutting emissions at the same time, says the Mineral Products Association’s Martin Casey
This month’s construction industry gossip: Charge of the light brigade
The latest chatter around the industry
The evolving role of cost management in the age of AI
As projects become more complex, cost managers must be given the tools and skills to deliver strategic value, not just to control price, writes Stephanie Marshall
AI is already paying off for consultants, but human oversight is becoming the differentiator
Construction consultants are reporting tangible returns from AI investment. The firms that pull ahead will be those that can show not just efficiency gains, but better services, stronger oversight and clearer value for clients
How Open Doors is rewriting construction’s careers story
With construction needing to recruit more than 41,000 workers a year, Build UK’s Open Doors programme is expanding its format for 2027 to connect even more young people with careers in the built environment
Those who accuse housebuilders of landbanking misunderstand how development works
The idea that developers routinely profit from withholding consented land is wrong and diverts political energy from the structural reforms needed to boost delivery, writes Huseyin Huseyin
A retentions ban is too simplistic
Retentions pose a complex problem that requires a careful answer rather than the outright ban government intends, argues Francis Ho
Are construction contracts ready for a hotter future?
Sheena Sood explains the delivery, performance and commercial risks of increased heat, how different contracts allocate them, and what may need to change
Whose side are you on? A look at new RICS guidance for expert witnesses
Tony Bingham ponders upon the “musts” and “must nots” of the latest RICS guidance to surveyors acting as expert witnesses
How insolvency affects dispute resolution
When a dispute involves an insolvent party, the challenge is not so much obtaining a ruling as enforcing it
What happens when an adjudicator disagrees with both parties about the very basis of their disagreement?
The parties disagreed on what the contract said about damages – but the adjudicator ruled it said nothing at all
