A New Homes Ombudsman will address issues such as sloppy brickwork
Government to crackdown on shoddy housebuilders
CM 25/02
Very pleased about the government setting up a new independent ombudsman to protect homebuyers who are faced with shoddy building work in their new homes.
Ron
Will this really work, will it be enforceable and most of all will the homeowners be satisfied?
Making the works right after the event isn’t the point, preventing poor workmanship in the first place is surely the issue to be tackled.
Tim Barrett
It is long overdue to hold these ‘cowboys’ to account!
Mike Mogul
Until we hit them where it hurts (the bank) there will be no solution due to the ever-increasing numbers of quick builds required.
As with all commercial/industrial builds, we need to bring in a 5% retention for 12 months post-handover. That makes it so simple – if they don’t fix the problem, we use your retention to pay others to rectify at the builder’s expense.
That needs no new department, no overpaid consultancies, just a simple change to the contract that the government keeps 5% of every new build until they are satisfied that there are no outstanding issues.
Jim Stratford
Warning over rising joint venture disputes
CM 25/02
A couple of projects that I have been involved with in the past which were run using JVs actually ran pretty smoothly.
The main reason was that the JVs formed were set up as bottlenecks between the partner companies and the project site. This enabled the projects to proceed in normal fashion without disputes between the companies as the JV management had to reach decisions that were mutually agreed and then carried out by the project teams.
Andy
In my view most successful JVs need to have equal share in the project and develop a common objective and project brand which all staff fall under.
Significant team-building is needed at the start of the project at both team and sponsor level, with clear rules established and agreed in writing as to how JV disputes are resolved to the mutual benefit of the project.
The project will succeed or fail based on the behaviours of the sponsor’s team and senior JV project managers.
Bryan Jones
Fine after fall ends teen’s construction career
CM 02/03
Good to see that the HSE are still functioning despite their cuts. I would like to think that some of this young man’s compensation came from the pockets of the directors.
After all, this is where the money ends up from the savings made by not using quality site supervision, signage or adequate PPE.
I hope that more future, random checks will be carried out now.
Peter Hackwell
After working on commercial sites for 20 plus years where health and safety CDM is pretty much adhered to, I have recently worked on domestic projects, ie local builders building extensions and loft conversions.
I am shocked by the complete lack of health and safety and policing of health and safety in this domestic field. It’s an absolute joke.
Tom
Insurer calls for thermal cameras to spot hot works fires
CM 24/02
Okay, it is another procedure but if the insurance company offered a discount for this then it is a no-brainer.
The assistant site manager can take these images of all areas where hot work permits were issued to on that day before the site closes.
Obviously if works end earlier in the day then images can be taken at that time.
Mark
Thames super sewer hits halfway mark
CM 21/02
Interesting. Should help prevent flooding as well as allow for urban growth. Nice to see it happening somewhere in the UK. But investment only in London again?
Owen Jordan
