Opinion

As the programme director of the inaugural Scottish Construction Summit, Paul McDevitt sets out five reasons why he's really looking forward to this event and why hopefully you will be too. The current model isn’t working and is jeopardising the viability of the whole sector. The UK econo

Scotland’s residential property market has long defied simple categorisation. Unlike other parts of the UK, it is best understood not as a single entity but as a collection of distinct micro-markets, each shaped by its own local dynamics, economic undercurrents, and buyer sentiment, says John

Vanessa Murray, director at The Circle Partnership, warns that behind Scotland’s construction sector's well-documented technical skills shortage lies a deeper, less visible challenge — the loss of female talent and the persistent sidelining of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) as a

Retrofitting social housing is often seen as an overwhelming challenge. In this piece, Shirley Evatt, senior associate at Will Rudd Edinburgh, argues that by working smarter and building on shared experience, we can unlock scalable solutions and make real progress toward net zero goals. I often hear

From water-based paints to good quality tools, there are many ways the painting and decorating sector can make an environmental impact, argues Chris Meechan, managing director of Cali Decor. The move towards sustainability in business is not only driven by altruism on the part of business owners but

Elderpark Housing director of asset management Duncan Smith outlines the technical innovation, financial support and political commitment required to retrofit Glasgow's tenement homes towards a zero-carbon future while, crucially, preserving what makes them special.

Alastair Tibbs reviews Netflix's new documentary on the Grenfell Tower fire. In the early hours of 14 June 2017, the London sky was ignited. What started as a spark from a faulty fridge soon became the blaze that claimed the lives of 72 men, women and children. It was, however, a perfect storm of ne

Aberdeen can meet its net zero goals by refurbishing, not rebuilding, argues Roddy Morrison of CBRE Scotland. As companies sharpen their focus on meeting net zero targets, the demand for energy-efficient, Grade A office space continues to surge.

Michael Palethorpe discusses how the role of housebuilders has evolved beyond construction to include a responsibility for delivering meaningful and lasting social value through targeted community benefit initiatives. There has been an undeniable shift in the role of housebuilders across the UK. Wit

The City of Glasgow is on the cusp of a new era. With the recent publication of the Tall Buildings Design Guide, the city signals a bold and long-overdue commitment to vertical growth, an ambition that reflects Glasgow’s growing confidence on both the European and global stages. At GIA, we are

Jane Wood discusses the critical decline of SME homebuilders in Scotland and calls for urgent reforms to support the sector. In June 2024, Homes for Scotland (HFS) took a bold step to fill a glaring gap in our national housing data. Our landmark report, Scotland’s SME Home Builders 2024: Data

Agricultural protection measures and early stakeholder engagement prove critical for Scotland's renewable energy future, writes David Ure, Thistle Wind Partners’ onshore civil engineer. Successful offshore wind development hinges on far more than turbine technology and marine engineering. Scot

Last week, Sheelagh Cooley, real estate partner and head of the Edinburgh office at Shoosmiths, delivered the keynote speech at the Scotland Investor and Developer Breakfast as part of the UK Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF, Leeds, 20-22 May). She shared her market insights

Outlining frustrations with the planning system in Scotland, Liz Hamilton from AS Homes and Briar Homes calls for an ambitious national housing target that filters down into local delivery frameworks and for the next local development plans to allocate enough deliverable land. One year ago, Scotland

Laura Sefton, an energy specialist lawyer from CMS, highlights the challenges facing the housing sector over the decarbonisation of heat from buildings, explains why we’re seeing an evolving regulatory environment and examines the legal and regulatory implications of these changes. Scotland&rs