More Comment – Page 548
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CommentWhat a relief
It may look like fiddling while Rome burns but the tax measures in last month’s Budget may actually get our industry to become a bit more eco-conscious
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Building buys a pint … for NG Bailey
It’s only February but the team at NG Bailey are already psyching themselves up for Little Britain. Gary’s so keen he’s signed up for a two-day skipper’s course.
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CommentSquashed flat
So farewell to Erinaceous, possibly the most bizarrely named company in the construction sector: the hedgehog has finally curled into a ball and rolled out of the door.
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CommentThink 08: The great energy exchange
To take the sustainability debate global, Building began an email conversation between green experts from around the world. Here three of them, from Australia, the US and the UK, discuss the role of legislation in designing and constructing green buildings. Ché Wall of Australia kicked off the emails …
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CommentLesley Lokko: 'I enjoy writing the sex scenes. It's great fun!'
Erotica isn’t perhaps the first thing you think of when Building drops on your desk, but then it’s not every week we get to interview best-selling bonkbuster author Lesley Lokko. Emily Wright spoke to her about her African upbringing, her training as an architect and, well, you know, the naughty ...
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CommentWeb watch - On board
Building’s new sustainability, regeneration and general construction message boards will allow users to chat, argue or just let off some steam
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More than one dispute in an adjudication: David and Teresa Bothma (T/A DAB Builders) vs Mayhaven Healthcare Ltd
This is a Court of Appeal decision. At first instance, the judge refused to enforce the adjudicator’s decision.This was because he came to the conclusion that there was more than one dispute. The contractor’s notice of adjudication identified a dispute in respect of the date for completion of the contract, ...
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CommentSplendid isolation
Mediation is an excellent alternative to court proceedings, but these days the two forms of dispute resolution are getting mixed up. Mediation should be left to its own devices
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CommentG is for guarantee, H is for hazardous
The A to Z of construction law - Our instant course in legal concepts continues by asking when is a guarantee not a guarantee and how should hazardous materials be handled in contracts?
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The wrong tool for the job
You wouldn’t go to a chiropractor to have your teeth checked, so why go anywhere other than the TCC for a building dispute?
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Commercial property demand plummets
The latest RICS survey on commercial property demand makes grim reading.Two figures are particularly worrying for the construction sector. Firstly: The balance of surveyors reporting demand down against those seeing demand rising was 30%, the worst figure for six years. Secondly: The balance between surveyors saying there was more available ...
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Slowing lending points to worsening housing market
There was little joy in today's release of the Council of Mortgage Lenders March figures for lending, as they reinforced data pointing to a weakening housing market.Lending was up 5% on February, but the normal 20% March jump was absent with the figure 17% down on a year ago. Worse ...
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Still on course for zero
The recent report by NHBC on attitudes to zero-carbon homes must be seen as a call to action and not an excuse for failure.
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Not the final chapter
The seven architects shortlisted to design the “Library of Birmingham with Repertory Theatre” in Centenary Square would be well advised to take the grand promises of councillor Whitby and his senior advisers with a large pinch of salt.
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Hot air at speaker’s corner
According to The Daily Telegraph, £191,000 has been spent on air-conditioning for the speaker’s dwelling at the Palace of Westminster.
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As Poles depart - what then?
At last some good statistical news for the Government – unemployment down – employment up – an increase in the number of vacancies.This boost will be particularly welcomed by both the Chancellor and Prime Minister, as the employment figures are so far proving to be their strongest card in their ...
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Meanwhile... housing market gets gloomier over the pond
If the RICS housing market survey has failed to provide enough gloom, here's the story from across the Atlantic. Foreclosures (repossessions) in March up 57% on the same month a year ago, according to RealtyTrac, an online marketplace for foreclosure properties.RealtyTrac also suggests that things are so bad that more ...
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Worst housing market figures we've recorded, says RICS
The latest poll of estate agents by the surveyors body RICS produced the gloomiest set of figures on house price falls in the poll's 30 year history.According to the latest monthly RICS housing market survey, the seasonally adjusted figure for the difference between the proportion of agents seeing house price ...