Opinion – Page 533
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Comment
Pay your way
Mr Derek Vago engaged Wimbledon Construction to build an extension and refurbish his house in London. Disputes arose and they were referred to adjudication. The adjudicator awarded the contractor £122,923.34 inclusive of VAT. Mr Vago refused to pay, and commenced arbitration.
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Comment
Industrial perversity
Graduates are generally a motivated, intelligent and enthusiastic bunch, so why does the construction industry make it so difficult for them to join?
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CommentHow to make a stand
Suzanne Reeves kicks off an occasional series on the contracts behind major projects with a look at the JCT contract used for the Oval’s new stand
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CommentThe unspeakable truth
One reason that specifications are so immensely long is because they are elaborate preparations for a fight. And the ironic thing is, they don’t even do that very well
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Comment
Recycling centre is rubbish
I was astonished to read in Specifier (9 September) that one of the North London Waste and Recycling Centres is described as “an absolute Rolls-Royce of a job”.
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Comment
Watching the defectives
Regarding your piece on defects in new homes (9 September): the research undertaken within the School of the Built & Natural Environment, at Glasgow Caledonian University, is based on more than 100,000 pieces of data relating to defects in a broad range of house types, constructed by more than 200 ...
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Comment
Why retentions must go
I read your article “Blood and money” (2 September) with great interest.
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Comment
Recruitment faces dire future
Your article outlining the current recruitment problems in Essex (9 September, page 110) failed to mention three other developments that will “make high demands upon the local construction industry”. These are the Thames and Haven Gateways projects, both of which provide for thousands of homes and huge industrial and commercial ...
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Comment
We’re not using CDM right
Any attempt to get the industry to recognise the financial and other benefits to be gained from improved logistics is to be applauded.
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Comment
Partners in crime
I sit and wonder whether Egan’s theory of partnering “twice as much for half the price” will ever be as famous as Einstein’s formula for the relationship between mass and energy, E=mc2. Partnering is the new “in thing” and at least 50% of local authorities are attempting to do it. ...
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CommentWe have the results
PFI needs a thorough examination. It’s certainly not on its deathbed, but it clearly isn’t working as it should, and if not treated soon, it may soon be in serious trouble.
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Comment
What’s in a name?
The respondent had built up a funeral directors business under the name of “Richard T Adlem Funeral Director”. In 1993 the respondent sold the business to a Mr Beckwith, who continued to use the name “Richard T Adlem Funeral Director”. In 2000 Mr Beckwith sold the business and goodwill to ...
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CommentOwn goal in extra time
Rather like referees, contract administrators aren’t infallible. So what can you do if one of them wrongly awards your contractor an extension of time?
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Comment
Courts U Like
The Technology and Construction Court is about to reinvent itself as a customer-friendly dispute resolution service – as long as litigants follow the rules
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CommentReviewing the review
Michael Latham offers a behind-the-scenes guide to the review of the Construction Act – and ponders whether it will make a real difference to payment terms
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Comment
The end of ageism
Prudent employers will be reviewing their procedures after the government announced a series of measures to tackle age discrimination in the workplace
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CommentIdentity crisis
The role of the M&E engineer has been changing since Roman times. But in our energy-conscious era, that change is going to happen quicker than ever.
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Comment
Stop sobbing, subbies …
I think subcontractors complain too much about retentions. From experience, I think the subcontractor is often its own worst enemy.