More Focus – Page 3
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FeaturesTop 150 Consultants 2025: Assessing a year of a Labour government for construction
Only 12% of respondents to Building’s survey think Keir Starmer’s party are doing a good job in supporting the built environment. Carl Brown digs into the reasons why
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FeaturesTop 150 Consultants 2025: Driving efficiencies through artificial intelligence
The importance of AI and machine learning to construction continues to grow year on year. This year we asked consultants for concrete examples of efficiencies or savings enabled due to the technology. Carl Brown reports
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FeaturesHigh tech architecture pioneer Sir Nicholas Grimshaw dies aged 85 leaving global legacy
The architect behind Eden Project and Waterloo International has died, leaving a practice that exported British high tech architecture worldwide and buildings that embodied optimism in technology’s power to address challenges.
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FeaturesCost model: Why London office MEP upgrades are essential
MEP systems are ageing while regulations and sustainability targets tighten. Upgrades are needed to maintain asset value and rental competitiveness
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FeaturesFrom discontented planners to a glorious summer: Leicester Cathedral’s new extension
The number of visitors to Leicester Cathedral soared following the discovery of Richard III’s tomb. The opening of a new heritage and learning centre marks the completion of Leicester cathedral’s masterplan to improve facilities for staff and visitors alike, Thomas Lane reports
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FeaturesCreating new ways to open up the city … Meet the woman behind London’s Open House festival
Mary Richardson caught up with Manijeh Verghese, the recently appointed chief executive of Open City, for a preview of some of the buildings in this year’s Open House festival, which starts on Saturday. She also spoke about the story of Open City, her vision for the charity, and her role ...
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FeaturesWhat does the appointment of Steve Reed as new housing secretary mean for housebuilding?
Angela Rayner’s replacement held the shadow housing brief in 2021 and now he returns to the role in government. But although he has promised to ‘build, baby, build’, Reed lacks the influence on Keir Starmer that his predecessor had
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FeaturesThe Reform party conference: what a Farage government would mean for housing, investment and ‘net-stupid-zero’
Despite being largely overshadowed by the resignation of Angela Rayner, the two-day event in Birmingham showed a party which is evolving from a protest group into an organisation that is seriously preparing for government. Tom Lowe considers what a country led by Nigel Farage would mean for construction
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FeaturesHow Manchester is setting the pace for regeneration and urban living
Building Design’s new UK Design Capital of the Year award, part of the Architect of the Year Awards 2025, will recognise cities for ambitious urban strategies. In this instalment, the spotlight is on Manchester, a city that stands out for the speed and scale of its reinvention
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FeaturesThe plan to cut the gateway 2 backlog: Key points from Tuesday’s parliamentary hearings on the BSR
This week saw an unusual amount of scrutiny of the Building Safety Regulator, with committees in both the Commons and the Lords examining the issue. Daniel Gayne watched the debates to find out where the troubled institution is headed
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FeaturesHow Glasgow is setting new standards for sensitive regeneration
Building Design’s new UK Design Capital of the Year award, part of the Architect of the Year Awards 2025, will recognise cities for ambitious urban strategies. In this instalment, the spotlight turns to Glasgow, where architects, planners and civic leaders are driving a renewed period of development
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FeaturesAt HTA Design, they are building the case for better housing
Ben Flatman visited HTA Design’s east London studio to hear how one of the UK’s most experienced housing practices is responding to today’s complex challenges
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FeaturesThe housing sector was happy with the spending review – but lack of transport investment could scupper its delivery in London
After setting out a vision for development centred on public transit links, the mayor of London came out of the spending review empty handed. Can London build 88,000 homes a year without new infrastructure? Daniel Gayne reports.
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FeaturesHow Cambridge is planning for a denser and better connected future
Building Design, sister title to Building, will crown the UK Design Capital of the Year at the 2025 Architect of the Year Awards, celebrating cities with vision. The shortlist – Cambridge, Glasgow, Manchester and Newcastle – highlights ambitious urban strategies and bold experiments. This week Cambridge’s transformation is in the ...
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FeaturesProcurement update: new approaches to large London projects
Can innovative new procurement systems improve the UK’s patchy record in delivering major commercial projects on time and budget, as global uncertainties raise risks?
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FeaturesWho is Amy Rees? All you need to know about new Homes England chief
MHCLG’s pick to lead the government’s delivery agency came out of left field. So what do we know about the new quango boss? And what does her appointment tell us about Homes England’s future?
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FeaturesCost model: Building the good manufacturing practice facilities the UK science sector needs
For the UK to achieve its goal of being a sciences superpower, it needs safe, highly controlled buildings to house research, development and manufacturing of life science products
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FeaturesSlowly does it: where is this elusive growth for construction?
Economic recovery is proving much slower than construction businesses had hoped but some experts point to signs the long term outlook will improve, eventually …
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FeaturesPipe dreams: Why the infrastructure pipeline must improve if construction is to benefit
The launch of the infrastructure pipeline last month was hailed as a gamechanger for UK construction and investment in private finance for public infrastructure. But Joey Gardiner discovers there are serious fears that it won’t live up to the hype