All Building articles in 1999 Issue 48
View all stories from this issue.
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Features
Room for review
Is the UK complying with European competition law? A recent judgment by the European Court throws doubt on the UK's implementation of procurement directives.
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Features
The problem of the scale
Churchill described Britain and America as "divided by a common language". So what chance has the design team when architects and engineers can't agree on the scale of their drawings?
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Features
Work and playstation
Fledgeling construction manager Exterior has been given the chance to prove itself on a £20m headquarters for computer games giant Electronic Arts. How is it coping?
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Features
Post modern
Architect Alan J Smith has turned Newcastle's Victorian head post office into one of the most comprehensive mixed-use developments of our times.
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Features
Love me tender
When competitive tenders are sought in the public sector, an implied contract exists whereby the prospective employer agrees to treat all tenderers fairly. Might this not also apply to the private sector?
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Features
Lawyers' love letters
"Letters of intent" are there to get the works started while the contract gets sorted out. But if things go wrong before that happens, all sorts of wonderful things can happen. Wonderful for lawyers, that is.
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Comment
Just like the movies
Second opinion Construction should stop trying to emulate car manufacturers and take some tips from film-makers.
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News
Minister slams industry record on minorities
Minister for lifelong learning Malcolm Wicks gave construction executives a dressing-down over the industry’s failure to recruit women and those from ethnic minorities at a conference on further education last week.Speaking to the largely white, male audience, Wicks said: “Look around this room. There are a few women, but this ...
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News
Land price rises to hit homes margins
Economist's report warns that spiralling cost of land will outstrip home price rises and eat into housebuilders' profit margins over next decade .
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Comment
Are we going to be PC?
First person Prime contracting is set to revolutionise procurement in this country. So, why do so few of us know so little about it?
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Features
Cost update
This quarterly analysis looks at changes to material prices, labour costs and work item rates.
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News
Railtrack pull-out frees up Tube contracts
Contractors are queuing up to bid for the sub-surface line work on the part-privatisation of London Underground, following news that Railtrack would no longer be bidding for the work. Rod Hoare, chief executive of the Metronet consortium, said: “We are definitely interested in bidding for the sub-surface section and have ...
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Features
In the chair
Ten tips on how to prevent your meeting becoming unfocused, an office popularity contest or a downright brawl.
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News
Railtrack offers carrot, or stick, to consultants
Bonuses of up to 20% are on offer, but professionals may lose profit if they fail to perform well.
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News
Safety concerns over Cardiff rock concert
City council in discussions about stability of cantilevered stands at Millennium Stadium’s new year’s gig.
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News
Burland in Ealing retake
A consortium including developer Manhattan Loft Corporation and architect James Burland is set to carry out a £20m-30m redevelopment of Ealing Studios in west London. The consortium, led by film production company Fragile Films, was named preferred bidder on Tuesday by the National Film and Television School, owner of the ...
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News
Management on the brink of buyout at Symonds
Parent group Dalkia will retain facilities management business and outlets in Australia.
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News
Countryside blooming despite skills squeeze
Skills shortages have whittled away the benefits of price inflation for many housebuilders this year, says Countryside Properties chief executive Graham Cherry. The boss of the South-east-based housebuilder said: “The key thing that has been affecting us is the lack of skilled workers, which has resulted in higher build costs.”Despite ...
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Features
Beverley Hughes
Construction may be only one of the junior minister's responsibilities, but her message is that the industry is vital to Labour's wider agenda.
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News
Beazer to seal prefab deal
Beazer Partnership Homes is expected to announce within days that it has finalised a deal with Amphion Housing Consortium to build 2000 factory-made homes in the south of England. The work will push up the group’s turnover by £100m over the next four years, says the company. Observers say the ...