It’s time to take control of construction waste
We have the technology to radically redesign our approach to waste. The government should act to make sure that we use these digital tools, says Chris Clarke at Scape
Skills England proves Labour is serious about its development and growth ambitions
Keir Starmer’s government has got off to a good start but we need a revolution in the way we attract talent to the industry, says RICS president Tina Paillet
Labour must urgently tackle the skills shortage if it is to meet decarbonisation promises
Only by investing significantly in education and training can the government hope to achieve its net zero targets, says James Fiske of the Building Cost Information Service
Construction industry gossip: As time goes by
The latest chatter around the industry
Partnerships and location are key to success of government’s new towns ambitions
New town developments have had mixed results in the past and there are lessons to be learnt. Four essential factors should be considered if this latest initiative is to work, says Oliver Steele
Take these steps now – and be ready for procurement reform
Contractors need to prepare for the introduction of the Procurement Act in October. Here’s how, says Jane Brighouse
We must retrofit now – there is no time to lose
Australian bank Macquarie now owns 100% of National Gas, raising questions about the direction and desire of industry to retrofit. The new government must take the lead and industry must get off the fence, says Smith Mordak
From Miesian cool to urban discord: Why the new 1 Undershaft scheme misses the mark
As developers push for more floorspace at 1 Undershaft, the historic St Andrew Undershaft church and St Helen’s Piazza face significant disruption, writes Ben Derbyshire
What the principal designer role means for clients and the industry
Almost every project now requires a BRPD and architects must not start design work until they are satisfied the client is aware of their duties under the Building Safety Act, says Tom Jordan, technical director at Bar Gazetas
Will Labour’s proposed planning changes help to deliver more homes?
This week has been dominated by housing policy including a new towns task force and proposals to build more homes in more places including the green belt. Thomas Lane assesses what implications the proposals may have for new housing supply
Labour’s housebuilding dream could be a nightmare to realise
It seems shrewd of the new government to have got housebuilders onside at an early stage, bt is all the talk of large-scale social, affordable and accessible housing provision realistic, asks Richard Steer
Working towards wellbeing in office design
The way that office spaces are planned is changing significantly as the needs of occupiers evolve. Get it right and happiness and productivity improves, says Sam Carey-Smith
Why heritage preservation can be a catalyst for urban regeneration
Sensitive appreciation and preservation of an area’s history is vital to ensure the longevity and resilience of its regeneration, say Mike Cook and Martyn Saunders at Avison Young UK
A tribute to Howard Bernstein, the visionary who saved Manchester
David Rudlin celebrates Howard Bernstein’s strategic foresight and the transformative projects that underscore the enduring impact of his civic leadership
Defining our professional value in the AI era
The debate over the role that artifical intelligence should play in our industry tends to go round and round, but really we need to move it forward – and faster, says Martha Tsigkari of Fosters + Partners
Recusal and the Post Office
When a party to a dispute anticipates losing, it may – as a desperate measure – seek recusal on grounds of judicial bias
The right to request predictable work
Employers need to prepare for new workers’ rights legislation that comes into force this year
There’s a lot to learn: construction law resources on and offline
Tony Bingham highlights a newly published construction law compendium and sets out a range of online resources – many free
The Latham report, 30 years on
Constructing the Team called for a more collaborative industry approach and directly led to the introduction of statutory adjudication. But how well is adjudication working today?
Smash-and-grab claims – and how to avoid them
The contractual time limits on issuing payment and pay less notices are generally pretty tight – be mindful of your obligations or risk becoming liable for payment in full
Cladding remediation liability under the Building Safety Act
The Court of Appeal has clarified the criteria by which the secretary of state should make decisions on liability for cladding remediation, and when developers might reasonably challenge them
