What’s new in building: Super sewer, Top Gear invite & graffiti

BLOG from Howard Chapman, Editor of Buildingtalk

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Hot topics in construction

We begin this week by asking is Londons £4.2bn Super Sewer really money well spent or just money down the drain?

We also look at how energy efficiency upgrades are impacting costs with a video about the Mitsubishi HQ, plus an ABC+D Magazine case study about one of the lowest energy consuming public buildings in the UK.

More Features & Blogs

• designing fire safety for prisons
• why lack of facilities for disabled people means loss of dignity and business, as Blackpools Pleasure Beach discovered
• invite to a beer festival at the UKs biggest building show
• how opportunities to compete on the Top Gear race track is building better relationships at Reynaer
• joined-up thinking as Alumasc Water Management Solutions (AWMS) provides customers with integrated solutions in water management

Latest industry economic news

As the world economy has an attack of the jitters, led by downward corrections on the China market, here is a reassuring reminder that UK construction numbers are still good:

• latest ONS report new house building up 15% year on year
• CPA forecasts strong growth for construction – up 13.2% by 2017
• BarbourABI report Infrastructure contracts up 90% year on year in July
• bosses at Persimmon Homes are to get an eye-watering £600m share payout from record profits

Skills shortage

• FMB report that two thirds of building companies turn down work because of skills shortage
• CITB say 224,000 builders and other workers needed in next 5 years

Video of the Week

Mitsubishi demonstrates how to reduce energy use in your building

More project & product news

• SchlŸter underwall heating offers alternative to tower rails and radiators
• Over 30 Brick Award nominees utilise Wienerberger products
• NARM report on how rooflights can offer energy savings and carbon reductions
• Powered Now new survey explores Tradesmen and homeowner relationships
• Conservation approval for REHAU Heritage vertical sliders
• Toolstations 200th branch opens as major growth continues

And finally

On the comedy front via Twitter @buildingtalk here are links to the funniest joke at the Edinburgh Fringe and my favourite graffiti quip

..and is this the best LEGO build repair or can you do better?

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