All Professional comment articles – Page 16
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ProfessionalHow easy is it for developers to insure timber-framed buildings?
A growing number of developers are exploring the use of timber in construction due to sustainability benefits, aesthetics etc. But how easy is it to insure these buildings?
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Professional
Can BTR work in the suburbs?
With a huge proportion of the population now working from home, the property sector has remained reasonably buoyant. But will dreams of a garden and home office translate into a mass move to the suburbs? And what has happened to the communal space in urban build-to-rent (BTR) schemes?
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Professional
Why its vital to support mental health
From the start of the Distrkt journey, we have put people at the centre of our working culture. One of our earliest initiatives on launching was to prioritise wellbeing, and we encourage our team to go to the gym and break up the working day.
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Professional
An agile approach is needed to meet office workers’ needs
Far from being obsolete, offices will still serve a crucial purpose as active work hubs in a post-Covid world.
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Professional
Adapting arenas for new uses
Across the world, the sports and entertainment industry is facing up to the unprecedented challenges of Covid restrictions. While many venues have sadly lain empty waiting for a vaccine breakthrough, others have had the opportunity to diversify, utilising their arena space for other uses such as testing stations or temporary ...
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Professional
What happened to the stamp duty surcharge on multiple dwellings?
Last November, HMRC updated its guidance on the 3% surcharge for stamp duty land tax, which means that for some investors and developers, the 3% surcharge is no longer due – the standard 1% rate replacing it – in cases where the property is not considered 100% residential. This also ...
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Professional
Ecommerce will reshape homes
One outcome of the Covid pandemic is likely to be a permanent increase in office-based workers working from home. A knock-on effect of homeworking and lockdown has been the continued rise of ecommerce. And while the growth of online shopping pre-dates the pandemic, the trend towards buying online has been ...
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Professional
Assessing the risks of asbestos
Following the initial industry regulation of 1931 that outlawed the use of asbestos, further stringent global regulations have been put in place, as can only be expected for such a harmful substance.
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Professional
What to expect in the office market in the year ahead
A shift to remote working during the Covid pandemic has highlighted the importance of the office for businesses and their employees and its essential role as a hub for collaboration, community and development. So, what can we expect in the office market as we enter 2021?
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Professional
Time for listening and learning
You may have been subjected to or witnessed it: microaggressions. The frequent verbal and nonverbal behaviours that can be derogatory to the point of ostracisation.
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Professional
Occupiers can save energy costs
With government guidance continuing to require everyone who can work effectively from home to do so, some office buildings are consuming energy at a rate similar to weekend levels.
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Professional
Will Covid fallout lead to a rise in disputes for construction industry?
From designers to demolition experts and cost managers to contractors, the effects of Covid have been felt by all and will continue to be felt for a long time.
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Professional
What is the MHCLG’s consultation on change of use legislation?
On 3 December, MHCLG published its open consultation on ‘supporting housing delivery and public service infrastructure’.
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Professional
WFH spurs weekend escapism
Working from home (WFH) because of Covid-19 has transformed the traditional working week. For many, the daily grind of commuting from Monday to Friday has been replaced with remote working.
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Professional
Convergence is key to offices in a post-pandemic world
Office environments should aim to weave together the facilities and atmosphere of myriad spaces and sectors.
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Professional
Challenging the D&I status quo
Research shows that the highest-performing organisations focus on diversity and inclusion. In any company, it is important both to understand and recognise the benefits of having a diverse and inclusive workforce.
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Online
The outlook for the UK’s post-Brexit office market
The coronavirus pandemic has radically changed our way of working, prompting businesses to become increasingly agile and footloose – a change in company culture and working norms that would have seemed simply unimaginable just a year ago.
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Professional
Focusing on what is important
Christmas is a time to give thanks. After a year like no other, it is important that businesses recognise the effort and commitment shown by their staff in difficult circumstances.
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Professional
Can planning system deliver the Ten Point Plan for ‘Green Revolution’?
In November 2020, the government published its ‘Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution’ (TPP).
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Professional
New habits will reshape cities
The impact of Covid on working patterns, the rapidly changing high street and a significant change in planning use class orders have all prompted architects and urban designers to think about our role in reshaping our cities.
