News feedResearch and Features
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Reflecting on BSF, looking forward to PSBP
May, 2012
With the announcement of the first wave of schools to be rebuilt under the Priority School Building Programme (PSBP) expected imminently, it is perhaps an appropriate time to look back on the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme and consider what lessons can be learnt and applied to PSBP.
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Design and Build procurement in the context of BIM and the Government Construction Strategy
May, 2012
Building Information Modelling (BIM) is not new. However, since the publication of the UK Government Construction Strategy in May 2011, and the associated promise to deliver all Government projects in ‘Lightweight’ BIM on its projects by 2016, BIM has gone viral.
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International Construction Intelligence - Q1 2012
April, 2012
This United Kingdom iteration of International Construction Intelligence presents data and intelligence about international costs and related trends for the construction industry. Our construction industry experts examine trends in carbon cap and trade, the performance of construction markets worldwide, and the impact of exchange rates on construction.
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ONS construction figures
April, 2012
The latest ONS construction figures may provide false comfort. While the statistics currently indicate that fragile stability is being maintained, I fear a return to year-on-year sector decreases come the early summer. That said, there are some noticeable bright spots.
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Integrating employment and education
April, 2012
Education Secretary Michael Gove caused a stir this week with the announcement that he intends to give universities a greater role in designing A-levels in the near future, but we in the construction industry would like to see the importance of employers recognised in this debate.
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Brownfield land: From liability to asset
March, 2012
The government has published the final draft of the long-awaited National Planning Policy Framework. The framework aims to simplify over 1000 pages of planning guidance into just 50 pages and to outline a ‘presumption in favour of sustainable development’ that will apply across England.
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The Budget – two cheers, just...
March, 2012
George Osborne’s 2012 budget focussed more on taxation than specific measures to strengthen and grow the economy. This has led many commentators to consider that more can be read into what was not said, rather than identifying the proposals which might assist our struggling construction industry.
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Why are construction accident figures so high?
March, 2012
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) latest worker accident and fatality statistics show that construction remains a high risk industry, despite downward movements in injury and illness numbers.
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Embodied carbon: why it’s important, and why I was asked to measure it
March, 2012
Ecobuild 2012 sees the RICS present their draft standards and guidelines for the measurement of embodied carbon.
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Whole Life Carbon - tools for competitive advantage
March, 2012
A sustainable built environment focuses not only on operational carbon, but also on the reduction of embodied carbon – the impact of CO2 emissions generated during the manufacture, transport and construction of building materials, together with end of life emissions.
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Driving costs downwards in an uncertain climate
March, 2012
Are you determined to find ways to work tighter budgets to your organisation’s advantage? Through inspired thinking, vigilant planning and creative teamwork, Faithful+Gould delivers the ideas that allow our clients to realise their objectives.
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Embodied carbon - a Q&A with Sean Lockie
March, 2012
Emilie Moore of our London Marketing team sat down with Sean to understand what embodied carbon is and why it has become such a hot topic these days.
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The Green Deal – just how green a deal is it?
February, 2012
With the Green Deal being the government’s flagship eco policy, a lot is riding on both the policy’s currently public consultation, and its wider uptake from householders and businesses.
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Will the private sector run with Project Bank Accounts?
February, 2012
Project Bank Accounts could change the culture of an industry that has long struggled with prolonged payment cycles and payment disputes.
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Construction Inflation Report February 2012
February, 2012
2011 was a delicate year for the UK as the economy lost momentum in the second half, with doubt currently shrouding prospects for 2012 amid warnings that the UK may see a return to recession early this year, hindering the government’s intention to simultaneously cut debt and promote economic growth.
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Construction and the economy – an update
February, 2012
In early 2010 we commented on the likely effects of the Government’s fiscal policy and the turbulence in the Eurozone on the UK construction industry. At that time the Government was pinning its hopes on the effects of quantitative easing together with a reduced rate of VAT.
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The RICS Building Information Modelling conference
February, 2012
On February 9 2012, the RICS Building Information Modelling conference will bring together quantity surveyors, project managers, and others from the construction sector to discuss Building Information Modelling (BIM).
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Cost of BREEAM in Schools
February, 2012
In 2008 Faithful+Gould undertook research with the BRE Trust to establish the costs of complying with BREEAM in schools. The research was used to help set DCFS (Department for Children, Schools and Families) funding models for programmes such as the Building Schools for the Future. So is the research still relevant?
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Rail Industry - Unlocking the Potential
January, 2012
Rail projects continue to be strong performers in the UK, Europe and the US, although sector growth remains subject to challenges in the current economic uncertainty.
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New Part L regs ramp up retrofit costs
January, 2012
The cost of complying with the revised Part L of the Building Regulations (the energy and carbon part) might be more than first expected according to a new RICS paper.
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Building a Sustainable Estates Strategy in the Financial Services Sector
December, 2011
For the financial services sector, sustainability used to be a ‘nice to have’. However, as environmental regulations have become ever more prominent due to local, national and international policy agendas, it is now undoubtedly a ‘got to have’.
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Planning for Zero Carbon Homes
December, 2011
The 2011 Budget announced a number of changes which form part of the United Kingdom government's ambitions for an eco-friendly and low carbon economy, and "to be the greenest government ever.”
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NHS Estates
November, 2011
The NHS’s recent primary care focus has highlighted GP commissioning and the resulting structural, financial and cultural changes. But where does this leave the NHS property portfolio?
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Inaccuracy issues in embodied carbon assessments
November, 2011
As energy prices shoot upwards, buildings need to be operated in a low carbon manner. A sustainable built environment focuses not only on operational carbon, but also on the reduction of embodied carbon – the impact of CO2 emissions generated during the manufacture, transport and construction of building materials, together with end of life emissions.
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Counting the cost of heritage assets
November, 2011
The heritage sector has faced difficult times during recession, including public expenditure cuts, uncertainty about future levels of funding, and reductions in resource at national heritage bodies such as English Heritage and Natural England.