Opinion

A council planning officer who has been reading SCN's articles on Scotland’s Broken Planning System has blown the whistle on the technological barriers facing local authority planning departments.

Rearo MD Graham Mercer argues that the commissioning of some landmark commercial projects could provide a lifeline to developers and contractors affected by a recent decline in housebuilding activity. The construction industry has always been a reliable indicator of the performance of the wider econ

Ahead of a panel discussion event next week, Rachel Munro, examines why for housebuilders, planners and local authorities, heat networks promise to increasingly be a hot topic in the months and years to come. It need not be overstated that Scotland doesn’t have the best weather and despit

Continuing this week's focus on Scotland’s Broken Planning System, Allan Rae, land director at Kirkwood Homes, sums up what SCN has heard from many survey respondents by highlighting a lack of resources, the implementation of NPF4 and planning staff working from home. Local authority staf

Following the release of SCN's survey results on planning delays and the resulting impact on companies in Scotland's construction sector, an architecture practice has reached out to SCN in confidence to share its experience.

As a publication of record and analysis, Scottish Construction Now is not given to publishing editorials or pontificating but the overwhelming results of our readers’ survey on the state of Scotland’s planning system are so devastating that we are compelled to speak out. Of the 135 busin

Jo Gilroy, group director of sustainability at Balfour Beatty, discusses the benefits and pitfalls of introducing hydrogen solutions on site at the company’s zero carbon construction site at the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh. It’s been a few months since we last updated on our progre

For today's Scottish Housing Day, Cruden Group MD Steven Simpson talks about the challenges facing the housebuilding industry and the way that Cruden is taking a new approach and adapting its strategy for long-term success. As we mark Scottish Housing Day, it gives the chance to reflect on the

Kieran Sexton, commercial director at AS Homes (Scotland) and Briar Homes Ltd, highlights the importance of embracing work experience in the construction sector. Scottish Housing Day takes place next week, with the theme of "celebrating housing as a career". I have been commercial director at Scotti

With several industry awards on the horizon for the built environment, communications specialist Stuart Young shares insights on how to make the best of entering for such accolades. Industry awards, no matter your sector, can be a bit like Marmite – you either love them or hate them. As s

Gilson Gray legal director Gregor Duthie shares his thoughts on the Register of Controlling Interests in Land and what it means for overseas investors and trusts that hold Scottish property. Greater transparency over the ownership of property in Scotland – and the UK, for that matter – h

In the recent case of Tilbury Douglas Construction Limited v Ove Arup & Partners Scotland Limited CA117/21 [2023] CSOH 53 the issue of prescription was revisited by Lord Harrower at a preliminary proof, writes Karen Cornwell. By way of background, the ongoing case involves the development of a f

Rearo managing director Graham Mercer explores the current skills gap in Scottish construction and the need for a co-ordinated approach to developing homegrown skills. As labour-intensive sectors, UK construction and manufacturing depend more than most on the constant and reliable replenishment

Peterhead-based surveyor Steven Dale reflects on the noted increase in battery storage at properties with solar panels. Sometimes there are straws in the wind which can make you reassess the way the future of a particular technology or trend is likely to shape up. I have come across some of them rec

Accredited employment law specialist Laura Salmond suggests that the Flexible Working Bill will likely see more employees become aware of the right to make flexible working requests, and that the volume of these requests will increase. On 29 July 2023, the Employment Relations (Flexible Working