All Analysis articles – Page 10
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CommentOlympic marketing debate: 'It's not as if it's a secret project'
Strict marketing rules have so far prevented many of the firms involved in the London Olympics from talking about their own work, but there are signs that pressure from Building and the industry is forcing the authorities to rethink. Will Hurst reports
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FeaturesWill Hinkley Point C survive planners and protests?
Hinkley Point C will be the first nuclear power plant to be built in decades and of course construction firms are keen to be part of the £10bn project. But wait: EDF still has to make a final investment decision, the plant hasn’t even got planning permission yet, and then ...
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FeaturesEnergy-efficient buildings – too clever by half?
A survey for Building’s Sustainability White Paper suggests that occupants find new buildings only marginally more efficient than older ones. Are their elaborate energy-slashing systems just too complicated to operate?
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FeaturesUniversity Technical Colleges: Dumbing down
Until January of this year, University Technical Colleges were fast gaining favour as a way of attracting new talent into our industry. Then, out of the blue, education secretary Michael Gove downgraded vocational qualifications, putting the feasibility of the programme in question. Building asks whether the government is making a ...
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CommentDoes Part L 2013 spell death for renewables?
A focus on building fabric instead of renewables is the most cost effective approach for housing, says Mel Starrs
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CommentEco standards in schools are slipping
Michael Gove’s free schools were meant to rip through red tape. But it’s not just the curriculum that has been relaxed - increasingly, sustainability and space requirements are being dropped too. Now fears are growing that this latest austerity measure could spread to all new schools, as Allister Hayman reports
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FeaturesBuilding by numbers: Variation in public project costs
The latest government data shows dramatic variations in the cost of construction procurement across the public sector. But will arming decision-makers with these figures turn them into leaner, more savvy clients? Building reports
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Features30 things you might not know about Part L
The latest consultation on the energy regulation has already been attacked from all sides, but with the first changes set to come into force in October, housebuilders can’t afford to ignore it. Vern Pitt lays it all out on the lawn
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FeaturesHigh Speed 2: Jobs on the line
HS2 has got off to a speedy start by appointing its first-phase consultants in just three weeks. But the real wow-factor of this mega-project is that it could employ thousands of construction workers over more than two decades. Building assesses the opportunities ahead
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CommentEco-towns: Back to the garden city
Strategically planned large-scale development is back on the government agenda, but this time it’s less eco-town, more leafy suburb. Building reports
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FeaturesWill the Olympics mean other projects in London get delayed?
Traffic restrictions set for the six weeks of the Olympic and Paralympic Games are designed to help cope with unprecedented levels of visitors to the capital. But could London’s other construction projects end up in a jam?
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FeaturesMoD work: Private sector-led plan of attack
The Ministry of Defence’s announcement that it won’t let any new construction contracts this year has left bidders in limbo, but could the imminent appointment of a private sector partner boost morale in the ranks?
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Comment
Video: Greg Barker responds on Green Deal
Climate change minister answers questions on insulation drop-off
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CommentThe Green Deal: We're not getting insulation pre-assessments right
Insulation pre-assessments are key to the success of the Green Deal - but most are being carried out using completely the wrong method, warns sustainable building expert Neil May
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FeaturesIs the Green Deal heading for failure?
The Green Deal is supposed to be the biggest domestic refurbishment programme since the Second World War. But the government’s own figures predict it will be anything but. Joey Gardiner asks if the coalition’s flagship policy could be heading for failure
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FeaturesA guide to the Olympic venues: Greener, faster, smarter
Finally, after six years of work and waiting, we have entered London’s Olympic year. Building kicks off our 2012 campaign with a guide to the main venues and what makes them greener, faster and smarter
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FeaturesDelivering the Olympics: Six months to go …
So far the construction industry’s Olympic record has been excellent. Cue big pat on the back. The question is, with a new, inexperienced client taking over and just six months to go, can it finish the job? Building reports
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CommentOlympic wonders & blunders with Jack Pringle
Why partner at Pringle Brandon thinks Hopkins’ velodrome races to victory over Anish Kapoor’s Orbit
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CommentRICS investigation: Who is First4ADR.com?
The promotional website for adjudicators’ and arbitrators’ services is now the subject of an independent inquiry over its alleged links to two senior RICS staff, but much about it is still shrouded in mystery - leaving many in the dispute-resolution community more concerned than ever. Building reports
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FeaturesCarillion's purchase of Eaga: Blinded by the sun
In April, Carillion bought Eaga - a company with big plans to install PV panels on 30,000 homes - and rebranded it as Carillion Energy Services. Seven months later, government feed-in tariffs have been cut in half, and all 4,500 jobs are on the line. So was the £298m purchase ...