Opinion
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CommentA new year – and the same old problems need new solutions
A radical rethink of how we build is essential in 2026 for construction to help hit government targets and deliver the growth this country so desperately needs, writes Richard Steer
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CommentApprenticeship reforms risk creating a competence crisis in construction
As industry leaders voice their alarm over Skills England’s apprenticeship reforms, Karen Wood has taken the difficult decision to pause the firm’s carpentry and joinery apprenticeship programme because of the damage these ‘wrong-headed’ proposals could cause
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CommentPlanning reform needs to drive regional growth at pace
Using transport links as the key for unlocking housing can deliver much-needed growth that is both sustainable and inclusive, says Viral Desai at AtkinsRéalis
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CommentFuture-proofing construction: Why AI must start with people
The industry can harness artificial intelligence to future-proof the workforce. Its success depends on cross-generational training, Nicola Seddon writes
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CommentThis month’s construction industry gossip: Sparkles and stars
The latest chatter around the industry
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CommentSocial value is not the problem – poor implementation is
Social value isn’t failing because the principle is flawed - it’s struggling because procurement systems lack the capability and confidence to deliver on their own ambitions, says Ellie Jenkins of Akerlof
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CommentConstruction’s long year: why 2026 must deliver
Gateway 2 approvals are finally moving, inflation and interest rates are easing and major infrastructure projects could spark recovery - but only if government turns promises into action
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CommentCan Steve Reed save Christmas with his planning reforms?
The fact that measures to standardise planning decisions will be made non-statutory is disappointing, but planning reform can still be a valuable gift, writes Paul Smith
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CommentWhy it’s so important to change the public perception of new towns
Only large-scale developments can offer enough investment for the major new infrastructure that people want and need, but we must work hard to take those people with us, writes Brian Yates at Stantec
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CommentPurpose, not process – the future of project management in an age of AI
The opportunities of digital transformation are inspiring and bring many benefits, but good project management remains a human discipline, generating something that AI cannot, Simon Venner at Ward Williams writes
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CommentWhy my generation is falling in love with construction
The desire to make a difference and help change circumstances and the environment for the better is alive and well in a generation of school leavers trying to work out what they want to do next, writes Oscar Sitwell
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CommentCOP30: Let’s focus on the practical wins despite the fossil fuel shortfall
COP30 may not have delivered the headline ambition that many hoped for, but it has shown that practical cooperation can drive real change, writes WSPs David Symons
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CommentThe infrastructure opportunity we’re overlooking: Smarter asset use
Built environment professionals know that the most sustainable solution is often not to build at all. Last week’s Budget invited the industry to focus on optimising what already exists, Holly Davis writes
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CommentNavigating a no-growth Budget
Private development risks being crowded out as government investment programmes accelerate. Clients may need to rethink their market positioning in a fast-changing market, Simon Rawlinson of Arcadis suggests
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CommentThe chancellor’s blind spot? A Budget that ignores Britain’s building potential
Labour pledged to power growth, yet Wednesday’s Budget offered little for the sector that fuels it. Without focusing on construction capacity and skills, the country’s ambitions risk grinding to a halt, says T&T’s Patricia Moore
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CommentThe Budget can bring stability, but it’s efficiency that must drive public spending
With Rachel Reeves set to deliver tomorrow’s autumn Budget, Pagabo’s deputy chief executive argues that the UK’s challenge is not the level of investment but how effectively it is deployed
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CommentTechnical due diligence: Why smart investors are taking a commercial approach
With the Budget looming next week, speculation is swirling around potential adjustments to capital gains tax and stamp duty reforms, but there is a more immediate concern that many people overlook – whether the technical due diligence informing their decisions is actually fit for purpose, writes Keith Godsmark
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CommentWe need concrete solutions to save the UK cement industry. The chancellor can start the process
As UK concrete demand hits a 62-year low, cracks are exposed in how materials are sourced and valued. Liz Gilligan argues that smarter procurement and low-carbon innovation could put the sector back on a solid footing
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CommentIt starts with a single bedroom: Industrialising Hospital 2.0
The new hospital programme is one of the largest and most ambitious infrastructure projects in the UK. By adopting a platform approach using MMC, we can make it a success and transform the delivery of hospitals for decades to come, Paul Ruddick writes
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CommentGovernment must move from strategy to execution on £725bn infrastructure pipeline
Ahead of next week’s long-awaited Budget, Richard Whitehead explains why delivery must now match ambition if the UK is to realise its infrastructure promise