Watts Bulletin

29/07/2010

Welcome to the July issue of Watts Bulletin. As this issue of the Bulletin goes to press, the new coalition Government has been in power for two months and the reality of the new austerity approach to our public finances is beginning to bite. In this issue we look at the implications of the Emergency Budget and detail the new approach to the schools building programme. We also report on the latest BREEAM assessment method – this time for datacentres – and point readers in the direction of new guidance on managing and eradicating asbestos in buildings.

27/05/2010

Welcome to the May issue of Watts Bulletin. This month the big news is obviously the outcome of the General Election. Following an unedifying period of negotiation, the resulting Conservative-Liberal Coalition has lost no time in establishing itself as a reforming Government that is willing to make swingeing cuts in all areas of the public purse. Initial savings include £170 million reductions in property costs and the fallout will be felt by local authorities – and their consultants and suppliers – across the country. However, there is also some good news, notably for Further Education colleges and Social Housing providers who have been allocated capital funding, for this year at least, as a result of savings made elsewhere.

26/03/2010

Welcome to the March issue of Watts Bulletin. Next month sees the advent of the new Community infrastructure Levy which replaces the existing system of planning obligations in England and Wales. The new charge aims to introduce a fair and more transparent system that will be predictable for developers and will provide much-needed funding for local infrastructure. Have the lengthy consultations that have led up to the introduction of the new regime got it right? There is room for manoeuvre within the legislation and it will be interesting to see how effectively individual local authorities levy and then use the charge.