All Comment articles – Page 7
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CommentWe must put people and their homes at the heart of the planning process
It is essential that we develop a consistent, national approach to community consultation before we start designing and building, says Sadie Morgan
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CommentThis is not just a green building, this is a Marks & Spencer’s green building…
The argument about the relative benefits of retrofit versus rebuild for the flagship store has been hijacked by cheap political point-scoring, writes Gleeds chairman Richard Steer
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CommentCivils and carbon: must try harder
Designers and specifiers of civils works are missing opportunities to reduce the carbon intensity of projects. Is it laziness, or are there deeper issues at play?
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CommentHow to drop a manifesto pledge without blinking
By downgrading the target of 300,000 new homes to a mere “ambition”, Michael Gove leaves big questions about housing supply unanswered
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CommentConstruction must respond quickly to the fast growing number of vacancies
Job vacancies grew faster than in any other sector in the UK economy in Q1, and there’s an elephant in the room no one wants to talk about
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CommentTime to open our doors and show next generation what construction has to offer
Schools and colleges told us that they need more notice so we are starting the countdown to Open Doors 2023 now
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CommentA strategy for another age and no solution to the current crisis
The government’s energy security strategy focuses on long-term solutions to longstanding problems. But the UK has more immediate concerns
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CommentWhy don’t we care more about preserving biodiversity?
The devastating impact of climate change is widely known but the degradation of our planet’s biodiversity is just as detrimental to its health
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CommentYou employ more disabled people than you think
People working in construction often find their disability is not recognised and they do not get the right support – that has to change
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CommentNever mind tax cuts and upgrade grants, a proper retrofit strategy is what we really need
In the wake of the spring statement, the conversation must move from fuel subsidies to efficiencies if we are to solve the energy crisis
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CommentWhy a fabric-first approach can help cut high energy costs
When analysing how to make our buildings more energy efficient, we should start with the materials used to build them
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CommentHydrogen: not cheap but much-needed and well worth it in the end
We need brave thinking and bold investment to solve the current energy and climate crises
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CommentUkraine’s refugee crisis – businesses want to help but it’s not proving easy
Business leaders, with their reputation for cutting through problems, have a role in pushing ministers to take a more active role
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CommentWe have been working in Ukraine for years. I never imagined events as appalling as these
Two weeks ago we were considering life after covid. Now our staff still in the region are fearing for their lives
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CommentBeware the new biodiversity burden for developers
Requiring all new schemes to provide a net gain in biodiversity will add cost and complexity
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CommentWhy new safety laws could do more harm than good
As increased liability pushes insurance costs beyond reach of most firms, capacity to fix unsafe homes or build new ones will plummet
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CommentSettle now or later? Why the final account stage needs more attention
Given the benefits of holding fire, contracts should make more provision for resolving all disputes at the final account stage
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CommentHigh energy costs – it’s not just households who are feeling the pinch
The impact of on businesses is not yet part of the public debate – but it should be
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CommentEssential law: Defects, part two
In the second article of the essential law series to look at the topic of defects, Jane Burrows explains when a defect could prevent practical completion as opposed to just being a snagging item
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CommentThe best buildings have the best clients – and the public sector is lagging behind
In 2021 we saw some of the most exciting developments of our decade kick off. This year’s schemes should be even better