Opinion – Page 2
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CommentThis month’s construction industry gossip: Expanding horizons
The latest chatter around the industry
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CommentThe case for optimism in construction
Amid the economic doom and gloom, some commentators believe confidence is returning, just slowly. So what will give it a boost?
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CommentA year of change signalled national ambition, now we must think local to deliver success
Devolving greater power, trust and transparency to local authorities is not just a matter of administrative convenience, it is vital for effective public good, says Mark Robinson
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CommentBuilding safety reform was essential, but there’s lots more work still to do
It was supposed to act as an enabler of safer housing, not an unintended barrier to progress. Here’s how we can make the Building Safety Act work better, says Lee Powell
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CommentA good start but there’s a lot more work to do: road testing the national infrastructure pipeline
Effective management of expectations is a key element of a successful product launch. Simon Rawlinson of Arcadis believes NISTA has set itself a massive task with the introduction of the new pipeline
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CommentThe government must be brutal in reducing planning burdens to help SME housebuilders deliver
There is no chance of meeting the 1.5 million homes target without smaller firms delivering. This government should be bolder in reforming planning to help them do it, argues Paul Smith
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CommentWhy procurement reform has taken decades – and why now is different
Calls for change are nothing new in our industry, but now we really do have the tools and the need to make it happen, says RLB’s Paul Beeston
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CommentConstruction must undergo systemic change to reap the benefits of technology
Despite decades of technical advances and a revolution in technology, the benefits have not flowed through to improved productivity, says Paul Ruddick, chairman and founder of Reds10
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CommentAnother UK consultant now owned by a US firm but Mace’s decision to sell up makes sense
To scale up, it needed outside investment and there was only one place it was coming from, writes Dave Rogers
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CommentUK steel sector needs to educate partners for a sustainable future
The sector needs to educate its construction partners to create a sustainable supply chain that helps achieve net zero targets and manages the transition of UK suppliers to low carbon UK steel production, says Jonathan Davis, preconstruction technical director at William Hare
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CommentNo one wants to be a fat, dumb client. This is how we avoid it
It is time to create a national capital projects delivery unit to ensure we really learn lessons and avoid wasting time and money over and over again, writes Beth West
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CommentPromoting neuro-inclusivity in the workplace will bring benefits for all
Employers have a responsibility to create and maintain work environments where everyone can thrive. Our industry is currently lagging behind, writes Ben Channon at Buro Happold
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CommentIn the face of increasingly extreme weather, developers, design engineers, architects and policymakers must take the lead
The recent heatwave presents yet more evidence that we face a challenge – and a huge opportunity – to construct buildings that are thermally comfortable, energy-efficient and wellness-led, says Abhishek Parmar at HB Reavis
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CommentWe can’t protect historic buildings if we don’t protect the skills to care for them
We think we are doing enough to respect and preserve our heritage — but are we really? After a week learning from conservation specialists, Eleanor Jolliffe explores what we are getting right, and what we are missing
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CommentGrenfell revealed the dangers of a siloed industry. We must rethink design and construction education as a result
Our industry is full of specialists who tend to be siloed in their thinking. A new qualification at the University of Leeds aims to produce graduates with a broader range of skills
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CommentWe don’t need more planners to build more houses, we need fewer pointless rules
An overgrowth of conflicting regulations is strangling small-scale development, Robert Adam writes
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CommentConstruction industry gossip: Housing minister on jury service? You decide…
The latest chatter around the industry
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CommentStreamlining gateway 2: time to take a two-tiered approach to building safety approvals?
It cannot have been the intention of the Building Safety Act to create delays to development - it’s time for a fresh approach, argues Bhavini Patel
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CommentWhat next for the Building Safety Regulator?
Evidence being heard by a House of Lords inquiry exposes fundamental flaws that ministers still need to address
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CommentGood luck, 10-year infrastructure strategy. You’re going to need it…
Events will determine the impact of Labour’s intricate infrastructure proposals and the current government turmoil suggests the clock is ticking, says Simon Rawlinson of Arcadis