Opinion – Page 558
-
CommentHold that axe
The architecture school at Cambridge is a world-class institution renowned for the calibre of its ex-students (ahem). Only the Brits could think of shutting it down
-
Comment
A recipe for disaster
If danger is your bread and death your butter, you might be attracted by contracts containing fitness for purpose obligations. Otherwise, steer clear
-
Comment
A place for leisure
In 1997 outline planning permission was granted for a business park on a 53-hectacre site. The permission covered mixed-use development for business and commerce, comprising classes A2, B1, B2 and B8, together with recreational use associated with a particular recreation ground. No environmental impact assessment (EIA) was carried out in ...
-
CommentWho are you today?
A piece of legislation that protects ‘consumers’ against unfair treatment from ‘commercial’ types – meaning you – undermines whole basis of a building contract
-
-
Comment
The making of a muddle
The Skanksa vs Egger case blurred the distinction between entitlement to extension of time and entitlement to compensation. Here’s what happened …
-
Comment
Backing the bill
Despite objections from certain camps, government backing for more stringent punishments in order to reduce the level of workplace death and injury (“Queen’s speech heralds corporate manslaughter bill”, 26 November, page 15) is largely matched by the corporate world’s level of concern.
-
Comment
It’s not either/or
The article on “new urbanism” (26 November, page 41) pitted two extreme and opposing views of architects. On the one hand, we are asked to believe that a bunch of icon-obsessed egos is working in the interests of self-promotion rather than for the benefit of our towns and cities; on ...
-
Comment
CSCS is working
As the employers’ side of the CSCS board, Building’s news article on 3 December dismays us (“Unions attack CITB over £5m deficit in CSCS scheme”, page 9). It is worth remembering that the “Qualifying the Workforce” initiative, led by employers with enthusiastic support from the unions, has resulted in more ...
-
Comment
House of cards
I read with some amusement about the power struggle between CSCS and the CITB (26 November, page 24).The views of John Smith more than adequately reflect the real world. Despite the willingness of many legitimate contractors and specialist contractors to apply the scheme, the whole thing will degenerate into even ...
-
Comment
Jobs for the boys
I always read with interest your articles bemoaning the lack of women in the industry. Like Helen Sanders (26 November, page 36), I don’t always agree with this philosophy.Setting my rather cynical opinion aside and working under the assumption that construction does need more women to help fill the skills ...
-
Comment
Costing the ‘black art’
Although Chris Haley may well be right in pushing for greater QS involvement in costing services, he misses a vital point (26 November, page 38). A fundamental reason why the costing of services is so poor is that the “trade” traditionally designs a large part of the services elements in ...
-
Comment
Chiding Charlie
In your article “Whitehall gets a royal warning over fast-track housebuilding” (26 November, page 16), Prince Charles is quoted as saying: “The fast building movement will strangle the world unless we look at diversity above mass production.” Whoever is supplying the prince with information about the design flexibility of homes ...
-
CommentWhat was going on there then?
Two weeks ago, we published this photo from the days when architectural models were hand-carved out of wood and nothing said steely determination quite like a well-appointed pipe. We asked you to provide as much information as you could about what was going on and such was the response that ...
-
Comment
Everyone’s a winner
The Housing Corporation has been given the power to make grants to private housebuilders – but believe it or not, housing associations stand to gain from this as well
-
-
CommentThe theory of black holes
he phrase ‘defined provisional sum’ in the JCT98 contracts may lead employers to believe that they have price certainty. In fact, they have nothing of the sort
-
Comment
The prongs of doom
Time and again adjudications end in failure because the courts detect bias. Here’s another case where a botched job inevitably results in a load of wasted money
-
Comment
Romania revamps its image
Romania aims to join the European Union in 2007 and is trying hard to attract foreign investment – but there are few large black bats still flapping around