Building the millennium

With the approach of a new millennium, one thing can confidently be predicted: constant change is here to stay. Some of the strategic trends that will mark construction in the twenty first century are already clear: the environment; the application of information technology to site operations; changing procurement procedures; and the return of the mega project.

We are pleased to bring these trends to our readers in this special report, Construction 2000. If there is one overall comment to be made, it is this: Expectations of change are steadily rising. Inevitably the degree of hype is increasing exponentially, too.

The successful construction business, therefore, will be the discerning construction business. The one that resists the temptation to say that change will never come, but does not allow itself to be tossed to and fro by all the possible permutations.

To this end, with Construction 2000 we aim to give readers a down to earth, practical briefing on the topics that matter now and will grow in importance in the future.

We begin on the opposite page with a look at the impact of environmental concerns on business strategy. John Bootland of the Construction Industry Environmental Forum concludes that the ostrich stance to environmental legislation can prove a costly mistake. On pages 30/31 we look at the growing importance clients are placing on the benchmarking of construction programmes in contractors' tenders.

Tony Ciorra of Cyril Sweett discusses the analysis methods QSs are using and highlights the fact that aware contractors can manipulate their bids to press home their advantage.

The impact of information technology is something not even the most technophobic construction worker will be able to hide in the new millennium. Contract Journal is proud to present a working exhibit of tomorrow's technology in action today at SED. On pages 32/33 we preview the Site 2000 exhibit, which has been devised with the help of major industry players such as BAA, Laing, Balfour Beatty and Bovis.

An example of fine tolerance construction fit for the twenty first century is reviewed on pages 34/35. The Cardiff barrage could be the precursor for a number of renewable energy projects and is setting demanding challenges for contracting jv Balfour Beatty/Costain. Bidding for PFI projects is already changing the culture of construction.

The negotiating of funding packages is also helping to hone the industry's commercial skills. James le Couillard of Price Waterhouse reviews the trend-setting finance deals on the first round of DBFO roads. Finally, no review of the future would be complete without a scare story. If the impact of the Millennium Bug on computer equipment fails to frighten businessmen, it is perhaps because they have not yet grasped the significance of it. Our briefing on page 38 aims to set matters straight.