Walter Menteth

Tax is outdated making refurbishing old buildings to reduce emissions and the delivery of better quality construction too expensive

Abstract The construction of new buildings in the UK emits 48 megatonnes of CO₂ each year – equavalent to Scotland’s entire net emissions. The materials, transportation and construction processes for new buildings are all carbon intensive. Existing buildings already embody significant CO₂ emissions which makes it all the more important to upgrade and refurbish – rather than…

TheFulcrum.eu – Expanded and Relaunched

TheFulcrum.eu the first international portal for architecture commissions covering all European countries has now been relaunched. It remains free to all but with its new and expanded form it now covers thirty-nine European Countries. TheFulcrum.eu offers greater access and insights into public procurement and competition culture in Europe, contributing to improving construction culture across the…

VAT reform would promote CO2 emissions reductions, more sustainable building & cost nothing – so why the delay?

1t C02_Olafur Eliasson

A Project Compass response to the Climate and Biodiversity Emergency objectives defined in Architects Declare. Revised & updated from a Walter Menteth article 1st published in AJ: Sustainability in Practice. 28th February 2014) [i] Government for too long has been missing an enormous opportunity to incentivise investment in sustainable construction: VAT reform. This means redressing…

Competition Culture in Europe: Voices

This publication comprises a series of essays by distinguished architects, competition organisers, scholars and commentators in 22 chapters on architectural competitions.

The temporary House of Commons & restoration of the Palace of Westminster

Palace of Westminster

What was the question this proposed temporary Parliamentary chamber and the restoration of the Palace of Westminster endeavours to answer? Is it reinstating and refurbishing Barry’s 165+ year old Palace of Westminster which is now clearly no longer fit for purpose, too small and inadequate, in need of reform, and in a country desperately needing…

Survey Results on UK Government Framework Agreements 2018

Results from the survey to discover if SMEs found the widely adopted Framework Agreement a simple and rewarding process for winning new business from government are now reported below and available HERE. The survey has been run on behalf of the Frameworks Working Group, a part of the independent SME Advisory Panel advising on central…

Architects face insurance wake-up call post-Grenfell

As Professional Indemnity (PI) insurance costs rise following Grenfell fire, Project Compass Director Russell Curtis joins calls from the profession for the shift to Integrated Project Insurance (IPI). “Now more than ever it’s surely time to consider alternatives,” .. “Integrated project insurance (IPI) is beginning to gain momentum among some enlightened clients as this leads…

Northern Ireland is now open to fixed fee tenders

In N. Ireland methodologies on the procurement of design, where lowest price is no longer the determining factor have now been agreed between the Central Procurement Directorate (CPD), the RSUA & the construction sector (announced Sept. 2018). This halts the race to the bottom. Under the pilot all construction services contracts to be awarded by…

No Brexit deal – Accessing Procurement Notices

If there is no Brexit deal significant questions need answering about how all UK public contracts covering services, works and supplies, will be published, accessed, completed and remain transparent for public clients and commerce. Government announced on 13 September 2018 that if there is no deal a new UK e-notification replacement system will be made…

Competition Culture in Europe: Voices

Competition Culture in Europe: Voices is a publication from Project Compass on architectural competitions, with a series of essays by 17 distinguished architects, competition organisers, scholars and commentators in 22 chapters, covering 11 countries. The case studies, project data, discussions and interpretive glossary, that together include reflections on historic, contemporary and future competitions and their practices, opportunities and potential, in Europe and beyond,…