Opinion

Dr Sophie Taysom from Keyah Consulting argues that environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors should be embedded within new developments. Scotland’s net zero commitments cannot be achieved without a clear focus on the built environment, which accounts for about 40% of global carbo

Victoria Blair, senior solicitor at Burness Paull, on the benefits of housebuilding and the need for more investment in the sector. On 20th May the housebuilding sector got together for the first time in over two years at the flagship Homes for Scotland lunch. While providing a chance to network and

With a perfect storm of supply chain issues impacting repairs, Caledonia Housing Association's director of assets Andrew Kilpatrick reveals why expertise, approach, and ways of working are as key as the price when selecting a contractor partner. As we embrace post-pandemic life, social landlords as

The delivery of 49 new homes on a former WW1 naval barracks near the Queensferry Crossing will be the biggest challenge undertaken by Lar Housing Trust, chief executive Ann Leslie explains more. Our latest acquisition has a nautical theme to it. And if you’ll forgive the pun, we have now set s

Jamie Dunne, an associate in the Government, Regulation and Competition team at Brodies LLP, and an accredited specialist in public procurement law, highlights changes to the procurement bill, which will have a significant impact on how construction firms go about bidding for public work contra

Lorna Gibson, training director at QTS Group, provides her thoughts on how to engage more women in the rail industry. There's an undeniable skills shortage across the rail sector that’s been growing for years, and a lack of gender inclusivity has further exacerbated the problem. Research

Resurgence in demand as weight of capital chasing the student sector continues to grow, according to Chris Macfarlane, director of Lismore Real Estate Advisors. The Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) market is one of the fastest growing sectors in the UK and is currently witnessing strong de

Pinsent Masons partner Katherine Metcalfe discusses the expansion of the Single Building Assessment programme. The Scottish Government’s cladding remediation programme continues to generate law reform with the announcement yesterday that the Single Building Assessment (SBS) programme

Project manager Hugh Moore highlights the progress being made in the Clyde Gateway area in developing a district heating and cooling grid - a renewable energy project with four other European participants. When I travel to Paris this week for the next meeting of the D2 Grids Steering Committee,

Frances Tait, who works in the construction and engineering team at Womble Bond Dickinson, outlines the combustible cladding legislation changes set to be introduced in Scotland. Everyone's full attention has been on the Building Safety Bill (now the Building Safety Act 2022) receiving Royal Assent

Andrew Kubski, director of development and asset management at WSHA, believes a pioneering housing project in Glasgow can offer insights for other projects wanting to procure and develop to the Passivhaus standard. West of Scotland Housing Association (WSHA) is currently developing the largest

Alice Minick, an associate at Dentons UK and Middle East LLP, believes the Court of Session case Van Oord UK Ltd v Dragados, which overturned an adjudicator's decision on the grounds of a breach of natural justice, provides an interesting opportunity to examine a successful challenge of an

Christoph Ackermann, a principal at BDP, outlines how good design of healthcare buildings can deliver improved wellbeing for all. What is a hospital’s primary purpose? To offer a diagnosis for disease. To treat the sick and injured. Or to provide shelter in a series of buildings for those duri

Andrew Hill, lease advisory partner at Knight Frank Edinburgh, discusses rents within Scotland's commercial property market. The pandemic has been with us for two full financial years – it, therefore, feels like an apt time to look back on how that has affected the rents occupiers can expect t

Detailing analysis in a quarterly report from Landmark Information Group, Richard Hepburn, managing director of Millar & Bryce, delivers a snapshot of the Scottish property market. 2021 was a challenging year for the Scottish property industry, so most of us were cautious in our hopes