More Comment – Page 497
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CommentIndustrialised housing's hour has come
When the upturn comes, there will be growing demand for the products of industrialised housing companies. But how can they survive until then?
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CommentEnergy saving in existing stock: Energy junkies
Government consultations on improving the performance of our existing stock are welcome. But it will mean nothing if the public can’t kick the carbon habit
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CommentThe blacklist: how, why and what now?
So construction’s shameful secret is out. But how did the information watchdog track down the firm that was keeping the blacklist? And what action will be taken against it and its 40 clients?
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CommentThe world in a pencil
A graphite mark on a piece of paper is one of the most powerful, versatile and informative objects in the world. So why don’t engineers make more use of it?
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CommentBuilding buys a pint... Davy Smith Architects
When I arrive at the curiously named George and Vulture off Old Street, the team from Davy Smith Architects are clustered around a baby grand piano
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I don't believe the construction jobs figures...do you?
Many thanks to Jonathan for commenting below on my thoughts on the jobs figures released this morning. He comes from a recruitment background, so sees the situation first hand, and he seems as puzzled as I do over the official data that suggest construction employment is holding firm at a ...
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Are falling rents a prelude to a further nasty correction in house prices?
The latest survey of the rental market by the surveyors' body RICS suggests that the flood of "couldn't sell" properties into the lettings market has led to a sharp fall in rents. And the expectations are that rents will fall further.This rather fits with a recent conversation with an agent ...
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Construction gains 47,000 jobs in 2008 - it may be official but I don't believe it
Apparently there were 2,285,000 or so jobs in construction in the final quarter of last year up 47,000 on a year earlier and just 1,000 down on the quarter before, which appears to be the peak in this economic cycle.Puzzled? Wondering where these jobs are? Wondering why you are signing ...
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The Wrekin Ruby. The Italian valuers know "niente".
So, what’s the truth behind the Wrekin ruby?In case you havent heard, it's the £11m gemstone owner David Unwin junior used to shore up the balance sheet of the Shropshire based civil engineering specialist before it went under last week.Wrekin’s last company accounts claim it was valued at £11m by ...
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British Workers for British Jobs - be careful what you wish for
The news that Britain is looking to curb the flow of non-EU surveyors and construction managers entering these shores will no doubt be welcomed unreservedly by many.Not me. I read that piece of news with some deep regrets.Why?Because it represents just one more door closing on the opportunity for people ...
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CommentBlackening our name
What is it with this industry? Just when you think we’ve left the Dark Ages well behind something comes along to remind us what a short step we are from dodgy and outdated working practices
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How to be good when times are bad: early contractor involvement
Early contractor involvement thrived during the good times. But can the system stand up in today’s tougher economic environment?
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CommentI’m cynically depressed
What’s going to happen to architecture now that the tyranny of the icon has ended? Well, looking around at the current state of the art, we shouldn’t get our hopes up
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The evolving apprentice
Laing O’Rourke should be applauded for its commitment to doubling its apprentice numbers (27 February, page 10), but one of the most interesting parts of the story, which did not feature in your article, is that Laing O’Rourke’s new Apprenticeship Plus programme shows the evolving nature of construction training
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CommentThe dance of debt: Costs of dispute
Some folk will perform the litigation tango over trifling disputes, and lose vast sums in the process. But at least they teach us a few new things about the law…
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CommentWonders & blunders
Roger Alton is at home at Terminal 5, but needs a map to find his way around the Barbican
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CommentWhat’s Russian for carpe diem?
Russia is hosting the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi in 2014, and UK construction should seize the day – with a little help from the British government, says Lord Davies of Abersoch
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Linnett to the rescue: Linnett vs Halliwell
A party can’t get out of coughing up its fair share of an adjudicator’s fees by quibbling about jurisdiction after the event (we have one Christopher Linnett to thank for that)