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This summer hots up with some burning issues in Urban Realm

July 11 2014

This summer hots up with some burning issues in Urban Realm
It may just be the summer sun but there is a noticeable confidence in the air as recession recedes from view, but what sort of economic, political and professional landscape has the turmoil left behind?

The answer, depressingly, seems to be much the same as the world as it was at the onset of the financial crisis in 2007-08. As our procurement investigation attests, anyone hoping for fundamental reform or a new way of doing things will be sorely disappointed.

It’s not all bad news however as the jobs market is finally gaining some traction, as we detail in our recruitment focus. The likelihood of procuring good design may not have risen then, but at least you’re more likely to find yourself in work.

Optimism abounds in Glasgow too with much of the dilapidated East End given a much-needed facelift in time for the starting gun of the Commonwealth Games - although the abortive decision to dovetail the demolition of a housing estate with the opening ceremony has left a sour taste for many.

It is a cruel twist of fate too that such a devastating fire, in this of all years, should hit the Glasgow School of Art. We wish it a speedy return to glory.

If our problems at home seem intractable however then spare a thought for Israel & Palestine, which sit at the heart of a region racked by civil war and Islamic extremism. We dig behind the RIBA’s decision to condemn settlement building.

Read about these issues and more in the summer edition of Urban Realm, grab it hot off the press!

3 Comments

Edward Harkins
#1 Posted by Edward Harkins on 11 Jul 2014 at 12:53 PM
Maybe a lot of heat but how much else from now on in? Including: sever bottlenecks in materials & skills already eroding the sustainability of any 'recovery' without high inflation; significantly less secure employment market; worsening extremes of income & wealth inequality; more people working harder for less on so-called self-employment; the onslaught of welfare cuts that will perversely have a contra Keynes stimulus effect; faltering progress on the renewables, adaptation & pollution fronts; impact of public expenditure cuts that we are only beginning to see the full impact of ... Little wonder that there are twitter hashtags for #whoserecovery and #whatrecovery
alan dunlop
#2 Posted by alan dunlop on 12 Jul 2014 at 12:08 PM
Quite fascinating piece by Urban Realm on PQQ's, procurement and Clyde Gateway. Deserves to be much wider read. Congratulations.
flinton
#3 Posted by flinton on 15 Jul 2014 at 09:07 AM
Yes Alan, it is a good piece I hope the RIAS have had a read of this article - perhaps they would like to respond in some way ?

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