More Comment – Page 504
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CommentBuilding buys a pint … for Sonnemann Toon
“I read Building in the toilet,” announces Gary Toon as I hand him his pint. I’m not really sure where to go with that. “Er,” I begin in response, but am saved by Cressida, his wife and fellow partner in their architectural practice, Sonnemann Toon
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CommentCold comforts
As we all huddle for warmth and HSE inspectors don their crash helmets to go and play in the snow, some observers spy green shoots rising out of the frozen earth. Unnamed observers, obviously...
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Rightmove wrong interpretation?
Why is it that when I looked at the data presented in the press release covering the newly launched Rightmove consumer confidence survey I came to a very different interpretation from that given?I am not an expert in survey work, but I am always interested in how they are put ...
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...on the subject of gloom, here's the latest state of trade survey
The latest industry state of trade survey covering construction product manufacturers and contractors gives a reasonable view of just how rosy things are. It is put together by the Construction Products Association. I will leave you to judge.Here are a few key findings: 78% of construction product ...
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Don't look for a paradigm shift in one month's Halifax figures
Those in the housing industry will be mightily relieved by the Halifax figures released today.Seasonally adjusted the rise in the price of an average house was put at 1.9%. Unadjusted the rise was a less spectacular 0.9% with about £1,300 added to the average house price.However shortlived this upward blip ...
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Lack of grit and the economic crisis
Why is it understandable in the current British economy that councils are running out of grit? That was the thought that came to mind as I walking to work this morning.For me it was an enjoyable walk as the fresh snow creaked under my boots and I had the extra ...
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We see rays of sunshine amid the gloom, construction buyers tell survey
You have got to admire the spirit, we are on the verge of the deepest recession most in the industry have witnessed and yet there are those in the construction who feel the worst may be passed.That seems to be what the latest construction market survey by the buyers' body ...
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Cold snap may prompt early collapse of weakened construction firms, says CEBR
It is good to see that the chill wind hasn't frozen the work produced by the economists at the consultancy CEBR.Here is one piece of cogitation that caught my eye.CEBR's chief economist Douglas McWilliams has done a "quick back of the envelope calculation" that suggests an additional two to three ...
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Economists mark 2009 for the biggest fall in house prices
If you bought a house in 2003 or afterwards there is a fair change that by 2013 it will be worth just the same or less than as you paid for it.That is the grimmest view taken by the forecasters at the economic consultant CEBR.However, looking at the most optimistic ...
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CommentStop navel-gazing and look up
We are so focused on our own disciplines that we fail to see there’s a bigger universe out there. What’s more, this universe is a lot more connected than we think
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Money can’t buy you love
Open mike: Successful projects rely on much more than hard cash, says Martin Murphy. Emotional investment by the local community and end users is what ensures success
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Building buys a pint … for Structure Tone
It’s a tentative start to the evening. The downstairs bar in Smiths of Smithfield is mysteriously shut. There’s an organic beer tasting event upstairs but by the looks on everyone’s faces that’s a non-starter
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CommentThe audacity of Hansom
Inspired by inaugural events across the pond, we indulge in some gentle globetrotting and encounter a failed QS in China, a cement protest in Greece and a lone Hungarian in the Middle East
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CommentSuds law: Limiting adjudication materials
You can throw anything you want at an argument in an adjudication – even the kitchen sink – but it won’t wash if you don’t give the other side time to consider it
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On the safe side: Corporate manslaughter and health and safety offences
Fears about the vagueness and leniency of health and safety and corporate manslaughter laws have been assuaged by two new pieces of legislation
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CommentDo we still need Minter?: Late payments act
The Late Payments Act compensates companies for the costs they incur while waiting for their money, so we may be able to say goodbye to an old bit of case law
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Forever bursting bubbles
I was interested to read Gideon Amos’ latest defence of the government’s eco-towns programme (16 January, page 30). However, I fear history will view this initiative as being merely the froth on the top of the last housing market bubble: not amounting to much now that the bubble has burst
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CommentThe passiv approach
There is always so much we can achieve by “doing the simple things well” – it’s a widely used sentiment and it’s nearly always true