Key stakeholders’ perspectives towards UK new-build housing defects

Purpose: Research on housing defects has limited its enquiry to the classifications of defects, potential impact of defects, and their detection and remediation during construction and the builder’s liability period, without considering the warranty period. This paper aims to better understand which impacts of defects are perceived as important by the key stakeholders involved in their detection and remediation over the construction, builder’s liability and insurer’s warranty periods. Design/methodology/approach: The questionnaire survey approach was used. The questionnaire distribution list was drawn from the UK’s largest warranty provider and approved inspector’s records. The questionnaire was distributed to 2003 people, receiving 292 responses, a response rate of 15%. Findings: This research challenges the assertion that the house building industry (i.e. house builders, building inspectors and warranty providers) is predominantly cost focused and finds that the potential impact of defects on home occupants are their primary concern. In contrast, the home occupants’ appear solely focused on the disruption defects caused on their daily lives and perceive a lack customer focus in the house building industry. Originality/value: This study provides empirical evidence of the contrasting view of the house building industry and home occupants with respect to the prioritisation of the impacts of defects. Further, this research offers house builders an alternative approach to determine which defects should be targeted for reduction purposes which may lead to improved levels of customer satisfaction

The European construction social partners: gender equality in theory and practice

This article explores the social partners' role in the gender equality agenda in construction at skilled operative level. It draws on a survey of the European construction social partners that investigated the presence of women in skilled trades and the policies, collective agreements and practices that play a role in women's integration. The responses indicate that the construction industry still displays inertia and conservatism, and that the social partners corroborate rather than counter this. They express a 'discourse' of gender equality, but this does not automatically lead to equal opportunity policies or programmes. The social partners have the platform to make inroads and to change the industry from within, but need further encouragement to put this on their agenda

Safety on piling sites

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:3421.307957(CITB-Pub-GE--708) / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

'Reforms by stealth': Indian economic policy, big business and the promise of the Shastri years, 1964-1966

South Asia252205-23