Opinion – Page 543
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Comment
Conspiracy theory
Stephen Ratcliffe, chief executive of the Construction Confederation, suggests that my article on the ailing CSCS scheme amounts to an outlandish conspiracy theory (20 May, page 17).
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Comment
Standard bearer
I find it difficult to understand why Alan Thomas (Letters, 29 April, page 39) doesn’t think the BRE certification scheme could work for modern methods of construction, particularly as he quotes Peter Hewlett’s paper detailing the methodology of the British Board of Agrément’s approval scheme.
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Comment
When the wind doesn’t blow
You have asked for opinions on starting a new nuclear power station program (20 May, page 13).
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Comment
English: a construction skill
Your feature on immigration from the new entrants to the European Union (20 May, pages 26-29) chimes with the findings of the RICS’ UK construction industry survey earlier this year.
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CommentFlexibility is your friend
Flexible working and construction aren’t natural stablemates. Job-sharing or part-time professionals are by and large an anathema, and paid leave for new fathers and mothers is often no more than the statutory minimum.
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Comment
Domestic dispute
Mr Cartwright was an adjudicator in respect of a dispute between Miss Lydia Fay and Colonial Preservation & Construction Ltd regarding a JCT Building Contract. He had been appointed by the RICS and had issued his terms and conditions to the parties. He apportioned his fee on a 50/50 ...
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CommentSome strings attached
As the plan to build sustainable communities on public land begins to take shape, we should make social inclusion a condition for funding and planning permission
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CommentWhere did Multiplex go wrong?
We’re used to drama at Wembley but last week’s events are right up there with white horses and Russian linesmen.
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Comment
Pulling a fast one
It took just 22 days for Mr Justice Jackson to enforce the adjudicator’s decision in the Devonport case. So if the courts can work that fast, why adjudicate at all?
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Comment
Target the individual
Your leader and the article on the impending corporate manslaughter bill suggest that the measures are welcomed by the industry (20 May, page14).
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Comment
A load of crystal balls
To make clients responsible for the health, safety and welfare of the principal contractor, its subcontractors and their employees – does this branch out to include visitors and the general public? – during the construction phase of the works is flawed. Are the CDM regulators going to provide crystal balls ...
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Comment
Happy returns
It is good to see that Willmott Dixon has increased its pre-tax profit to more than £10m (13 May, page 22). You quote Rick Willmott saying this 2.5% margin is “as good as you’ll get in construction”. But why is this the case?
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Comment
Plumbers’ plight
The skills shortage in the construction industry is a crisis with far-reaching implications (13 May, page 14).
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Comment
Bunch of lightweights
Well, what a surprise – the unfortunate people living in flats separated by lightweight floors at Greenwich Millennium Village can hear their neighbours!
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Comment
A clarification
With regard to the article on Greenwich Millennium Village, Powerwall Systems Ltd did not design the building with the problem.
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Comment
How to follow an impressive debut
May I ask what steps are being taken to ensure the Redrow Debut homes remain affordable for future buyers (20 May, page 21).
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Comment
The final word …
As aired in your letters pages (13 May, pages 38-39) Mr Danieli could have had the right of adjudication against his two non-paying customers had anyone told him of the standard form of building contract for a home owner/occupier as published by the JCT in 1999, priced £9.99 and available ...
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CommentWonders & blunders
Architect Raymond Young cheers a happy melding of old and new in Dundee, and boos a much less happy one in Edinburgh