NEWS
TAX ALLOWANCE FOR RELOCATABLE PARTITIONING TO CHANGE IN 2012
According to recent reports the Annual Investment Allowance, which currently offers businesses 100 per cent tax relief on the first £100,000 of qualifying expenditure including relocatable partitioning, will be changed in April to just £25,000. Tax relief for relocatable partitioning
has been allowable since 1958. From April 6, 2010 the terms were updated with the new Annual Investment Allowance (AIA) providing 100 per
cent relief on the first £100,000 of qualifying expenditure and then 20 per cent above. Prime Chartered Accountants for the Association of Interior Specialists (AIS) cited parti- tioning that was intended to be movable qualifies as plant and machinery, and is therefore eligible for this allowance, and not seen as part of the building where no tax relief is available. Malcolm Stamper, SAS International,
commented: “In light of this recent news we would urge businesses to con- sider refurbishment sooner rather than later to benefit from the current terms.” Ensuring that new premises are
flexible enough to allow for changing business requirements is a core consid- eration in today’s commercial environ- ment. Relocatable partitioning is ideal to help create private meeting rooms, a reception area or maximise usable space to incorporate a new or separate depart- ment into an existing floor.
102
CONSTRUCTION FIRMS STILL FEEL DISCONNECTED FROM UTILITIES
Building contractors are struggling through the economic downturn with continued financial losses caused by poor performing utility companies, according to the latest findings from the National Federation of Builders (NFB) in a recent report. The Utilities Survey 2011 found that almost three quarters (73 per cent) of sites run by members of the NFB are still experi- encing problems and delays when seeking new connections to water, gas and electricity networks. The survey results highlight that
attitudes towards working with con- struction companies are not signifi- cantly improved – at a time when the sector needs all the support it can get. Following surveys conducted in
2006 and 2008, the NFB successfully worked with regulators and utilities to develop service level agreements. This latest report, compiled from a site-by- site survey of members conducted in 2011, assesses what, if any, improve- ments were experienced by members. While the headline figure represent-
ing the percentage of sites that experi- enced problems when requesting a con- nection has fallen from 88 per cent in 2008 to 73 per cent in 2011, there are still underlying issues that have
remained more or less unchanged. The survey found:
•Over 70 per cent of contractors want a single team dealing with applications to improve communications
•70 per cent of respondents opposed payment in advance of a service that is not reliable
•A quarter (around 25 per cent) of respondents wanted better service levels through regulation
•Almost half (42 per cent) of respondents called for greater trans- parency of costs. The NFB has made two recommen-
dations. Firstly, that charging in advance for statements of work to be carried out or for design studies stop, and that the practice be brought under the financial penalty regime so that costs incurred by companies continu- ing this practice may be recovered. Secondly, that all costs be broken down to provide a more accurate understand- ing of the true cost of the service. Julia Evans, chief executive of the
NFB, said: “It is disappointing to see that utility providers are still not getting the message. In this tough climate, funds are stretched and unnec- essary delays cost our members dearly.
5
HENLEY HALEBROWN RORRISON ARCHITECTS AWARDED ‘PUBLIC BUILDING ARCHITECT OF THE YEAR’
Henley Halebrown Rorrison Architects (HHRA) – formerly Buschow Henley, were recently awarded the title of ‘Public Building Architect of The Year 2011’ by Building Design Magazine, in a ceremony at Chiswell Street Brewery to mark outstanding achievements in building design across 12 separate sectors. This is the eighth year that the
Awards have run. Unlike most such Awards, which recognise individual buildings, HHbR were judged on three civic projects: the Junction Arts & Civic Centre in Goole, a project that draws together arts and com- merce in the town; Akerman Road Primary Healthcare Centre in South London (for Building Better Health and Lambeth PCT); and 336 Brixton Road, a church meeting and confer- ence centre and offices for 14 charities in a remodeled 1960’s building run by Lambeth ACCORD, again in South London. Simon Henley, director of HHbR
Architects commented: “We are thrilled with this Award,
which recognises our practice’s ability to create functional public buildings with civic presence.”
RIBA AEDAS STEPHEN WILLIAMS SCHOLARSHIP CALL FOR ENTRIES
The prestigious Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Aedas Stephen Williams Scholarship 2012/13 is now open to applications from postgraduate students enrolled at a UK or International RIBA-accred- ited school of architecture. The schol- arship is named after Stephen James Williams, a past Director of Aedas, and will offer one student throughout the academic year mentoring by an Aedas member of staff and a £5,000 grant towards their studies. David Simister, creative director of
Aedas said: “Stephen was a strong advocate for good design and to the thoughtful consideration of the built environment. In offering the scholar- ship, all of us here at Aedas are delighted to be able to continue Stephen’s legacy in a commitment to promoting education and furthering knowledge. We are thrilled that, over
its first three years, the scholarship has witnessed an incredible level of talent and professionalism from the students who applied. We are eagerly awaiting this year’s applicants.” David Gloster, director of educa-
tion at RIBA said: “We are delighted that Aedas continues to support the work of the RIBA in developing access to architecture education for talented and committed students. At a time when students are experiencing unpr- ecedented financial hardship, it is encouraging to know there are pas- sionate partners like Aedas who are genuinely interested in nurturing the future of the profession though men- toring and financial assistance. Their contribution is much appreciated in supporting and extending the RIBA’s programme of education trust funds and awards.”
Junction Arts & Civic Centre in Goole
Akerman Road Primary Healthcare Centre
336 Brixton Road
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