The most‑read story of the year concerned the appointment of a provisional liquidator to wind up East Kilbride‑based Principal Building, the lead subsidiary of Edison Group.

Stuart Robb of Robb Advisory was appointed in late 2024 following a winding‑up order from Kilmarnock Sheriff Court. The company — formerly GDC Design before its 2023 acquisition — had operated across project management, interior fit‑out and property maintenance. Its collapse prompted significant industry interest, reflecting wider anxieties about financial resilience across the sector.

Also dominating readership was the escalating dispute between Mactaggart & Mickel Homes and South Ayrshire Council over nearly £6 million in alleged unused Section 75 education contributions. The housebuilder claimed that, despite contributing around £9m over 15 years to support school infrastructure linked to its Greenan development, a substantial portion remained unspent.

Mark Farmer warns of ‘vicious circle’ at Scottish Construction Summit

Rounding out the top three was Mark Farmer’s candid address at the Scottish Construction Summit 2025. The author of Modernise or Die delivered a stark assessment of the sector’s ongoing dysfunction across recruitment, sustainability, digitalisation and commercial models.

Farmer warned that workload volatility continues to trap the industry in a “vicious circle” of boom‑and‑bust, urging systemic reform to unlock productivity and stability. His remarks resonated widely with SCN readers, reflecting the appetite for frank, strategic discussion amid a challenging market.

Other stories to catch the eye included:

Crime & Compliance

• Serial embezzlement case shocks machinery firm — Bookkeeper Natalie Taylor was jailed for four and a half years after stealing £90,000, her fifth known offence.
• Coatbridge roofer hit with Enforcement Order — SPM Roofing and Rendering Ltd and its director were prohibited from multiple unlawful practices following a surge in complaints.

Local government & planning

• Olympia closure investigation clears maintenance failings — An independent probe found Dundee’s second Olympia shutdown could not have been foreseen.
• Highland Council cracks down on misleading land plot sales — Enforcement action ramped up amid concerns over small, infrastructure‑poor plots marketed with unrealistic development claims.

Industry & manufacturing

• Scotframe to end Inverurie manufacturing — The timber frame specialist announced plans to consolidate operations in Cumbernauld and withdraw its Valutherm+ system by end‑2025.

Major projects

• Edinburgh’s Dunard Centre delayed after contractor change — The capital’s first new concert hall in over a century hit pause as IMPACT Scotland sought a new main contractor. Balfour Beatty picked up the contract later in the year.
• Asbestos‑contaminated soil discovered at Ardrossan Community Campus — Remediation works were triggered after traces of asbestos were found during excavation for a new swimming pool.