Brits should consider performing home improvement tasks themselves rather than calling in tradesmen, an expert has said. Interior designer and television presenter Julia Kendell stated there could be a “fear factor” preventing people from undertaking these DIY operations, especially those that require working outside. While many people are becoming involved Continue Reading
The growth of Green Building Councils
The growth in the number of Green Building Councils (GBCs) and the impact this is having on the construction industry cannot be overlooked. As the UK Green Building Council celebrates its 5th birthday, Paul King talks to Skanska about the reason behind this growth and explains why the green agenda Continue Reading
Place Hacked – London’s Shard Security Breach
Last week urban explorers shared London’s latest and greatest aerial view, from atop of The Shard in London Bridge. Pictures of the explorers scaling the unfinished 310-metre skyscraper emerged in the press after being posted on the Place Hacking Urban Exploration blog. It raised serious questions about the security of Continue Reading
How Asbestos Has Affected the Construction Industry in the UK
According to the Health and Safety Executive, asbestos “is the single greatest cause of work-related deaths in the UK.” Because asbestos was used in a number of building materials, the construction industry was one of the hardest hit when the number of asbestos-related illnesses grew. These serious illnesses include asbestosis Continue Reading
Construction Company Learns Cherry Picker Safety the Hard Way
Galliford Try Construction pays the price for poor planning and lack of supervision A construction company has been prosecuted after a cherry picker operator was catapulted 4m into the path of a moving bus on London’s Euston Road. Two workers from Galliford Try Construction Limited were working on an apartment Continue Reading
A £30m fund for self builders has been announced
A £30m fund for self builders has been announced by housing minister Grant Shapps At the same time Kevin McCloud, presenter of Channel 4’s Grand Designs and an architecture specialist, has been appointed by the self-build industry to support the national surge of interest in people looking to design and Continue Reading
McCloud recruited for self-build push
Government has pledged to double the size of the self-build industry and enlisted TV celebrity Kevin McCloud to promote Custom Build in the same week the Building Societies Association (BSA) publishes a toolkit offering advice on mortgage finance to sector newcomers. The BSA reports that while one in 10 new Continue Reading
Rics research reveals rise in construction activity levels
Activity levels among building firms have begun to improve, the most recent Construction Market Survey from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) has revealed. Eight per cent more respondents to the research claimed their workloads rose rather than declined during the first quarter of 2012, which is a significant Continue Reading
Efficiency ‘to become even more important’
Energy efficiency is likely to become more and more important in the construction of new houses in the immediate future, an expert has indicated. Granada Secondary Glazing head of sales Ian Hall said it might take a few years before the general public realises what the government is trying to Continue Reading
CIOB calls for smarter regulation
The Chartered Institute of Building has called for smarter regulation in response to the Government’s proposed changes to the Building Regulations. Chris Blythe Chief Executive at the CIOB said, “Smarter regulation is not about diluting protection, but about making life easier for businesses who are stifled from over regulation. Building Continue Reading