Latest news with #repairCosts
BBC News
05-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
National Glass Centre repair costs are ludicrous, say critics
Campaigners objecting to the closure of the National Glass Centre (NGC) have claimed repair cost estimates for the building are "ludicrous".The University of Sunderland, which plans to close the centre next year, said fixing the site would cost between £14m and £ Nigel Taylor, a former civil engineer and member of Save the National Glass Centre, said the costs published by the university are "very high" and may have deterred "potential benefactors" from providing university said the repair costs were based on "independent advice" and none of the options put forward was affordable given its income is derived from student tuition. The NGC opened in 1998 but the building and land has been owned by the University of Sunderland since 2010.A feasibility study carried out to determine ways to repair the roof suggested two main suggested replacing the existing glass roof with one combining glazing and solid material at an estimated cost of £14mThe other also involved replacement along with additional work on the roof envelope, including its side elevations. The estimated cost for this project was £45m. Mr Taylor said the difference between the lower and higher costs was an "unbelievable spread" and said the true costs should be much lower."I have looked at the £14m estimate in detail and even this does not stand up to scrutiny. The construction costs within that are only £6.5m," he said."The rest is a mix of risk, fees, contingencies and inflation, all of which appear very high to suit the university's narrative."The £14m estimate includes a 10% design and construction risk allowance, a 10% employer risk allowance and a 15% allowance for other project costs, such as IT and audio visual also includes a 16.34% allowance for inflation, which comes to an extra £ report notes an alternative to replacing the roof could be over-cladding it with a "simple secondary roof". While this would prevent light coming through the existing glass roof, it would reduce costs by between £2.5m and £4.5m. 'No support offered' A spokesman for the university said it had invested more than £15m in the NGC over the last decade and the building survey it commissioned in 2022 found a "multimillion-pound investment would be required to address the remedial issues"."The report included risk, VAT, and other project allowances which would be as expected for a project of this scale."The total cost of all the recommended remedial work was, based on independent advice, a minimum £14m and more likely nearer £45m. "The report suggested there may be alternative replacement roofing options which could potentially reduce the total cost by £2.5m - £4.5m."However, none of the options outlined in the building survey report were affordable given that the bulk of the university's income comes from student tuition fees and is spent on its core priority activities of learning, teaching, research, innovation and knowledge exchange."Since the planned closure of the building was announced in 2023, no individual or organisation has come forward to offer any financial support towards refurbishing the building. "The NGC will close on 31 July 2026." Follow BBC Sunderland on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Yahoo
22-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
I'm a Mechanic: 4 High-Maintenance American-Made Cars That Will Drain Your Wallet
When you buy a car made in the U.S., you're often expecting reliability, performance and value. However, not all American-made vehicles live up to that promise, especially when it comes to long-term maintenance. Read Next: Explore More: GOBankingRates spoke to Alan Gelfand, mechanic and owner of German Car Depot, who shared four American-made cars that cost many people thousands in repairs. The Cadillac CTS is a luxury car on the outside, but under the hood, it's a different story. The 'CTS model experiences three main issues that raise its repair costs: timing chain problems, electrical system failures and transmission system issues,' Gelfand said Most of these repairs could cost anywhere between $1,200 and $3,500-plus, depending on the nature of the problem. And since Cadillac is a luxury car, replacement parts and labor can be on the pricier side. Check Out: The 2011-2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee is another high-maintenance American-made car Gelfand has noticed. 'The Jeeps are notorious in the automotive repair world for having a plethora of issues,' Gelfand said. 'These Grand Cherokees in particular experience transmission failures together with electrical problems that affect the Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM) to trigger various electronic system breakdowns.' The Ford Explorer's most expensive problem often comes from the water pump, located within the engine's timing cover. 'Since the pump is located inside the timing cover, it can cause severe engine damage,' Gelfand said. The water pump issue, alongside transmission issues and power steering problems, can lead to pricey repairs between $1,500 and $5,000 in some cases. High-performance vehicles like the Chevrolet Camaro SS and ZL1 trims deliver thrilling driving experiences, but this comes with a cost. These high-performance cars can experience accelerated wear due to the extreme stresses of a high-horsepower operation, even during normal driving conditions. Frequent repairs include 'suspension overhauls, clutch replacements and cooling system issues,' with average repair bills ranging between $1,000 and $4,500-plus, Gelfand said. More From GOBankingRates Here's the Minimum Salary Required To Be Considered Upper Class in 2025 This article originally appeared on I'm a Mechanic: 4 High-Maintenance American-Made Cars That Will Drain Your Wallet
Yahoo
22-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
I'm a Mechanic: 4 High-Maintenance American-Made Cars That Will Drain Your Wallet
When you buy a car made in the U.S., you're often expecting reliability, performance and value. However, not all American-made vehicles live up to that promise, especially when it comes to long-term maintenance. Read Next: Explore More: GOBankingRates spoke to Alan Gelfand, mechanic and owner of German Car Depot, who shared four American-made cars that cost many people thousands in repairs. The Cadillac CTS is a luxury car on the outside, but under the hood, it's a different story. The 'CTS model experiences three main issues that raise its repair costs: timing chain problems, electrical system failures and transmission system issues,' Gelfand said Most of these repairs could cost anywhere between $1,200 and $3,500-plus, depending on the nature of the problem. And since Cadillac is a luxury car, replacement parts and labor can be on the pricier side. Check Out: The 2011-2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee is another high-maintenance American-made car Gelfand has noticed. 'The Jeeps are notorious in the automotive repair world for having a plethora of issues,' Gelfand said. 'These Grand Cherokees in particular experience transmission failures together with electrical problems that affect the Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM) to trigger various electronic system breakdowns.' The Ford Explorer's most expensive problem often comes from the water pump, located within the engine's timing cover. 'Since the pump is located inside the timing cover, it can cause severe engine damage,' Gelfand said. The water pump issue, alongside transmission issues and power steering problems, can lead to pricey repairs between $1,500 and $5,000 in some cases. High-performance vehicles like the Chevrolet Camaro SS and ZL1 trims deliver thrilling driving experiences, but this comes with a cost. These high-performance cars can experience accelerated wear due to the extreme stresses of a high-horsepower operation, even during normal driving conditions. Frequent repairs include 'suspension overhauls, clutch replacements and cooling system issues,' with average repair bills ranging between $1,000 and $4,500-plus, Gelfand said. More From GOBankingRates Here's the Minimum Salary Required To Be Considered Upper Class in 2025 This article originally appeared on I'm a Mechanic: 4 High-Maintenance American-Made Cars That Will Drain Your Wallet
