The Foreman

Humphrey Littelton's love of tenders

2008-05-15T14:13:55Z

With all of this po-faced talk about bid-rigging over the past couple of weeks, I see it as my duty to provide you with the lighter perspective. So I thought I would furnish you with a tendering-themed joke by the late Humphrey Littelton, presenter of Radio 4's I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue, and "purveyor of blue chip filth to Middle England"....

]]> Talking about his fictional score keeper Samantha's encounter with a builder, Littelton once said: "She was pleased to see his tender won, but was startled when it suddenly grew to twice its size."

Celebrity chef takes on Olympic Games...and wins

2008-05-15T14:11:06Z

As those living in the world of celebrities often find, no one gets between a diva and their day job.

]]> So it comes as no surprise to learn that celebrities have managed to affect the construction of some London 2012 Olympic projects.

Volker Stevin has suspended some of the piling work associated with the lock system it is creating at Prescott Channel - to cater for TV chef Gordon Ramsay. The site is in shouting distance of the foul-mouthed star's filming location at 3 Mills Studios, so all loud piling work must be stopped when the director yells action.

The boys on site also had the dubious honour of stumbling across Amy Winehouse near the site. Enough to make you want to take the day off.

Its official...this industry is full of SHIFT

2008-05-15T13:58:18Z

Working in the construction industry, I love a good acronym. EPCs, PVs, BREEAM, NHBC, NVQ...bring it on. So I was delighted to hear that some bright spark has come up with another one this week: SHIFT. Apparently this is a sustainability rating for UK housing associations and stands for Sustainable Homes Index for Tomorrow. Never in the history of acronyms has the word 'for' been so important. It could nearly all have been so different. Still, perhaps it wouldn't have been so wide of the mark, given all the different sustainability ratings there are floating around these days. Another one? Oh...SHIFT. And while we're on the subject, here are some other unfortunate acronyms from around the world: Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (LAME) Business Owners Group (BOG) Canadian Reform Alliance Party (CRAP) South Union Lake Trolley (SLUT) American Nihilist Underground Society (Er).

How to avoid Wembley-style stadium disasters - by lawyers

2008-05-08T09:05:43Z

They've been called bottom feeders and ambulance chasers, but who knew lawyers were also masters of surprise? Not me.

]]> Sports-mad law firm Wedlake Bell startled me last week by holding a seminar for builders on how to avoid Wembley-style stadium disasters.

I would have thought that the legal eagles would have been smacking their lips quietly at the thought of more legal dispute action, instead of telling people how to avoid it.

Abramovich, Holloway White Allom and football rivalries

2008-05-08T09:02:09Z

When news broke last week that moneybags Abramovich had bought a pad in west London for £80m and was planning to transform it into a £150m palace I immediately thought that Holloway White Allom (HWA) would be a shoo-in for the job. But it seems that I'm jumping the gun.

]]> The Mayfair residential refurb specialist is currently working on six private houses in the same area where the value of each upgrade runs to more than £5m, but no deal with Mr Chelsea has been struck. Yes, London's top classical architect has already been called in, but there is no tender list as yet.

HWA boss Bob Cole and his team are working for a range of overseas clients. Perhaps if Bob is keen to win the work, he could do worse than try and bump into Abramovich at the Champions League Final in Moscow at the end of the month.

And even if he doesn't win the job it won't be a wasted trip - Bob supports Manchester United.

UK and US relations sour at the Olympics

2008-05-08T08:57:17Z

News has reached me of a breakdown in Anglo-American relations at Olympic delivery partner CLM. Word from my man inside is that the Brits at Laing O'Rourke and Mace are getting fed up with the largesse of their stateside partners from CH2M Hill.

]]> Most of the Yanks are being put up in swanky hotels or hired St John's Wood terraces. My source said: "It's getting a bit much - they are demanding the best of everything when all this bad press is swirling around about the budget."

Tempers have also flared about computer systems. My man said: "They are trying to impose US design software, which isn't compatible with any UK contractors." Have a nice day...

No to the white stuff

2008-05-01T15:42:52Z

Hot off the press from the Highways Term and Maintenance Association (HTMA) is news that it is calling for a "a blanket ban approach on the misuse of alcohol and drugs within the highways maintenance industry".

]]> Er, ok. Call me an old stick-in-the-mud but I would have thought that most drugs and alcohol use wasn't exactly encouraged as it was. I was aware that you come across a lot of white lines in the highways maintenance industry, but I had no idea it was that bad.

How wrong I was.

Considerate Constructors Awards produce inspiration

2008-05-01T15:32:34Z

Getting one up on the competition is always nice.

]]> And often that can mean stealing an idea or two now and then. So it was no surprise to notice some of the attendees at this year's Considerate Constructors awards came armed with pens and paper. It seems that the savvier members of the audience recorded their "inspiration" when the announcer read out the citations for gold award winners.

So soon every site in the country will probably have its own community newsletter and rugby team.

I can hardly wait.

Sustainability? It's the beer talking

2008-05-01T15:28:32Z

Like beer? Then save energy. Or so goes the analogy by Jacobs sustainability guru Tim Rogers.

]]> In efforts to convince his wife to turn lights off around the home, Rogers says he explains: "You wouldn't buy a beer and pour it on the floor. So why would you pay to power a light when you are not in the room using it?"

Ah, Tim. Maybe when you're drunk?

Architect Eric Parry's lock-in

2008-05-01T14:59:29Z

About a year ago, CJ ran a big feature on the £36m restoration of St Martin-in-the-Fields in London, by Costain and Stonewest.

]]> Last week I thought I'd pop along to see how things are progressing. And it's all very impressive. Architect Eric Parry led a tour giving us lots of artsy babble about the use of natural light and acoustics as fitout workers crashed about around us.

So far so good, but then we went into the underground St Martin's hall, where an over-enthusiastic PR lady closed a handle-less door, locking us all in.

Thanks to the excellent sound-proofing Eric Parry and co were reduced to flailing their arms at a couple of Polish subcontractors in a bid to be freed from outside.

A group of journalists, PR people and journalists all trapped in a room with no means of escape? Needless to say, the subbies took their time letting us out...

Mad Dave's digger madness

2008-05-01T09:06:13Z

I present 'Mad Dave'. Construction's answer to the Darwin Awards. In these videos you can see where the self-styled Mad Dave gets his name from, as he lies down and lets a digger run over him, before backflipping into a pile of insulation.

And you wonder why the HSE worries about housebuilders and refurb contractors. Idiot.

The 5 most expensive houses in Britain

2008-04-29T15:25:05Z

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has announed plans to build what will be the most expensive house in Britain, which when completed will be worth a cool £150m.

Which got me thinking - what are the current top 5 most expensive houses in Britain?

Well, according to a 2007 survey by Forbes, they are as follows.

]]> 1. Updown Court, Windlesham. Value: £70m. The residence, built by Rhymer Investments, incorporates 103 rooms including a bowling alley and a 50 seat cinema.

2. Toprak Mansions, Hampstead. Value: £50m. Built by Turkish Entrepreneur Halis Toprak, the lavish property is located in one of the most sought after locations in North London.

3. Old Swan House, Chelsea. Value: £32m. Overlooking the River Thames, the property built by Richard Norman Shaw boasts a swimming pool complex and a 20-person dining room.

4. Holland Park Mansion, West London. Value: £28m. The property has over 14,000 square feet of living space.

5. Compton Castle Estate, Compton Pauncefoot, Somerset. Value: £22m. Built by the Gilbert Family, this heritage castle houses 12 bedrooms and even has its own helicopter pad.

Builder's revenge on client who wouldn't pay - VIDEO

2008-04-23T14:19:39Z

You may have seen the headlines this week involving builder Nigel Gray's way of getting revenge on a client who wouldn't pay a £22,000 bill.

]]> Instead of taking it lying down, he sent a couple of lads from his firm round and demolished his handiwork - a porch and conservatory - instead.

Nice one.

Still, imagine how different this country would look if all contractors took builder Nigel's attitude to payment disputes. I'm not sure Wembley would still be standing for a start...

How bricklayers get distracted - VIDEO

2008-04-17T09:27:47Z

I always thought bricklayers were hard-working lads, but it seems they sometimes get distracted on site too.

There are some tools that are best not used in this trade...

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Truck accidentally demolishes chimney - VIDEO

2008-04-16T14:18:30Z

If the wrecking ball isn't to hand, demolition contractors might fancy using this method of knocking stuff down.

Unconventional but effective - though I imagine there was a hell of a lot of mess to clean up afterwards...

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