News:
> Home / News / Industry News Update / News Archive / October 2005 - News from the UK /
Other News: Business - Finance - Environment - Community - Press Releases
Welcome to the Benfield ATT News Site
Up-to-the-minute news from around the UK...updated as the news breaks!
Construction - Environment - Responsible Business - Economic Information
News: Timber Frame, Construction & Property News
Self builders could triple new homes, conference told
(7 October 2005, NewsWales)
If sufficient building plots were made available Britain could see a doubling or tripling of the present 20,000 or so 'self builder' projects undertaken in the in the country every year, leading environmentalist Professor Benfield said at a Greener Homes and Buildings conference and exhibition at Machynlleth, Powys.
>> Read full story
Holland rejects EU buildings energy law
(7 October 2005, EDIE)
The Dutch government has sparked surprise and anger by reneging on new EU buildings energy efficiency rules and calling for their renegotiation.
One in six homes in the UK is timber frame
(3 October 2005, BuildingTalk)
The only way to meet the demand for cost-effective, low-maintenance housing is to switch to timber frame says UK Timber Frame Association According to figures released by the UK Timber Frame Association (UKTFA) in June 2005, over 420,000 units were sold in 2004, generating a 17.9% increase in the demand for timber frame units. At present, one in six homes in the UK is timber frame.
Planners and developers join forces to look at climate change
(1 October 2005, EDIE)
Climate change and its likely influence on the planning system will be under the spotlight at a key conference later this year.
>> View website
Business - Finance - Environment - Community - Benfield ATT News
News: Environment, Climate & Attitudes
The future of the Earth: Is this the end of the world?
(16 October 2005, The Independent)
Is this the end of the world? The earth shakes in Asia and a generation of children is lost. The wind flails America and a city is destroyed. A giant wave rises in the Indian Ocean and whole islands are drowned along with swathes of coastland. The sea is turning to acid, the air is choking us, the polar ice caps are melting. Famine, pestilence and plague used to be dread words from the Bible; now they are reasons for compassion fatigue. Bird flu threatens to sweep across the globe, killing millions of people.
Blair appoints Treasury mandarin as climate tsar
(13 October 2005, The Independent p11)
A report by Andy Smith reveals that Tony Blair has appointed one of the most senior civil servants as climate change tsar. Sir Nicholas Stern, currently second permanent secretary at the Treasury, will report directing to Mr Blair on the economic implications of cutting greenhouse gases. His first task will be to carry out a major review of the economics of climate change. He appealed yesterday for scientists, businesses, environmental groups and others to send in their evidence by 9 December.
Opposition parties demand action on climate change
(12 October 2005, The Independent p6)
Britain’s main opposition parties are uniting today to call for a tough new policy for tackling climate change. The pact between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats has been prompted by evidence of rapid climate change advances. The two parties believe the situation is so serious that party politics should be set aside and want the three parties to unite on a common position on global warming and tackling CO2 omissions.
Parliament accused of hypocrisy over environment
(10 October 2005, EDIE)
The Houses of Parliament have been slammed for failing to reduce their environmental impact.
Wood recycling surges but tonnes still wasted by the million
(5 October 2005, EDIE)
The recycling of wood has almost doubled in the past decade but the vast majority is still going to waste.
Fly population set to explode as Britain warms
(4 October 2005, EDIE)
Forget flippant talk of vineyards and sunbathing, what climate change really means for the UK is a plague of flies.
Welsh Assembly puts environmental house in order
(3 October 2005, EDIE)
A forum hoping to put Welsh public bodies at the front edge of sustainable development has been launched this week.
Blair makes renewables lobby nervous
A few short months ago the future looked bright for UK renewables as Tony Blair pushed the global importance of tackling climate change in the build up to the high profile G8 gathering. Now there are mutterings in environmental circles that Blair had abandoned his visionary support for renewable energy and is leaning towards the American model and relying more on 'new technologies' as the solution to cutting carbon emissions.
News: Society, Community & Responsible Business
A psychological contract for today's workforce
(17 October 2005, The Financial Times p14)
This article by Stefan Stern looks at the broad issues of how employees reward staff, focussing on questions such as: What obligations does an employer owe its employees? What should employees be delivering in return? And how should employees be rewarded in the broadest sense of the word? He gives the example of Delphi, a Michigan based auto parts manufacturer who are scrutinising a number of staff benefits.
Ethnic minorities lead capital's business boom
(13 October 2005, The Independent p9)
Most young entrepreneurs starting businesses in London are from ethnic minorities although they account for less than a third of the capital's population, writes Michael Harrison. Research for the London Development Agency shows that more than half of new businesses in London are launched by young people from other parts of the UK or overseas.
War and Greenpeace
(12 October 2005, The Independent - Life & Culture p38)
John Castel, a veteran Greenpeace campaigner writes in the Independent about Greenpeace’s loss of pulling power with governments and corporations. He argues that while Greenpeace is today an environmental organisation, is it not an ecological one and is not equip to tackle the world’s escalating environmental problems.
Shell offers environmental springboard for products
(11 October 2005, The Daily Telegraph Business p8)
Lord Oxburgh, former chairman of Shell believes that high oil prices mean that it now makes economic sense to develop environmentally friendly products and technologies, such as solar power. However few small firms believe they can take advantage of the opportunity. To encourage more companies to grasp the opportunity the oil giant is offering up to ÂŁ40,000 to help bring a qualifying business idea to market.
Large companies 'targeted' for legal action
(10 October 2005, Financial Times p6)
Bob Sherwood writes that bigger companies are becoming "targets" for damaging group action legal claims, according to research that shows almost half of British businesses expect to face more litigation in 2006. The larger an organisation is, the more likely it is to face product liability, personal injury, intellectual property or regulatory claims, according to a survey commissioned by Fulbright & Jaworski, an international law firm and litigation specialist.
Big business urged to combat climate change
A two-day conference has brought out business' big guns and Government leaders to stress the vital role of the private sector in tackling climate change.
News: Finance & Economy
Simpler, lower, fairer: Brown's tax demand from business
(3 October 2005, Financial Times p17)
Vanessa Houlder writes that with corporate tax rates being lowered in many countries, British companies want more certainty and a lower burden of legislation. Businesses are issuing an increasing number of complaints that the UK tax system is getting more complicated and onerous. At the same time, tax rates are being cut across Europe as countries try to stimulate growth and attract investment.
Feature Article of the Month - Builder & Engineer Magazine; Timber Frame Supplement
Seasonal, 2005
Expert Viewpoint: Dr Michael Benfield
Dr Michael Benfield is one of the leading Timber Frame Construction Experts. He spoke to Builder & Engineer about how the Construction of more Timber-based buildings will help meet the ambitious carbon emission targets set by the Government...
View Website...
