Opinion

This is the second part of our three-part series which takes a closer look at inflation and other challenges currently facing construction companies, as well as what the industry can do, from a legal point of view, to be best prepared. The series is compiled by Julie Scott-Gilroy, legal director in

Duncan Smith, River Clyde Homes' energy & sustainbility manager, looks at the economic argument for decarbonising our buildings. Over the coming decade, we have to decarbonise heat and make our buildings as efficient as possible to meet our climate change objectives and have any chance of s

Employment law specialist Catriona Aldridge suggests how employers in Scotland’s construction industry could best tackle the issue of ethnicity pay gap reporting. The UK Government’s publication of voluntary guidance for employers on ethnicity pay reporting is a welcome step forward. App

SCN is delighted to introduce a three-part series taking place over the next month that will take a closer look at inflation and other challenges currently facing construction companies as well as what the industry can do to be best prepared. The series is compiled by Julie Scott-Gilroy, legal direc

Caroline Maciver and Lynda Ross from Burness Paull round up the developers that have signed up for the Scottish Safer Buildings Accord and what the commitments entail. Eight large developers have signed letters to Scottish Ministers expressing their support for the Scottish Gover

Gordon Nelson, Scotland director of the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), reflects on the past 30 years as the trade federation looks forward to the 30th Anniversary of FMB Scotland. Whilst the FMB was established in 1941 and has had members based in Scotland since the 1970s (at least as far as I

Graduate architect Quita Hynd shares her final year project which considered whether to retrofit the recently demolished 219-245 Blackness Road tenements in Dundee. One module available for final year 5th year Architecture students, entitled Macro Micro, explored ‘deep retrofit&

Following National Grid's announcement of the largest grid overhaul in generations, Forster Group chair John Forster shares his own commentary on the news. Last week, the International Energy Agency (IEA) reported strong headwinds in favour of investment in renewable energy technologies across the g

Scott Hogan discusses the recent changes to Scotland's business rates regime, with a focus on the devolution of power to alter empty property relief to local authorities, and the varied impact of these changes on commercial property owners and occupiers across different regions. April brought in a w

Ahead of Homes for Scotland's Annual Lunch 2023 this week, chief executive Jane Wood discusses the need to build more homes. Everyone should have a place to call home and as I mark my first year as chief executive at Homes for Scotland, I have been pondering what ‘home’ means.

There is no doubt that launching a Passivhaus equivalent for Scotland will drive up the operational efficiency of homes, but as Mike Stevenson, senior manager strategic markets at NorDan UK argues, we also can’t be passive about embodied carbon. There is no doubt that a proposed Scottish equiv

In light of the upcoming Homes for Scotland awards, architect George Buchanan explores the ways in which demand for architecture has changed in recent years and the importance of designing homes with the resident in mind. The UK has always had a fascination with homes, but in a post-Covid world, our

Fraser Lynes explains why Cruden Homes' age-exclusive development is a new example of a low-carbon-footprint community. When it comes to finding the perfect home, everyone has their own list of essentials, whether that’s a home office, proximity to transport links, space for family get-togethe

Immigration experts Jamie Kerr and Alex McLean provide some practical information on how the construction sector can benefit from the expansion of the Shortage Occupation List. In an attempt to address skills and labour shortages in the construction sector, a new report has recommended a number of c

Brian Gallacher, FCIOB, is the chairman and business development director at Pacific Building, a construction and fit-out business operating across Scotland. He has been a CIOB member for more than 30 years, and a Fellow for more than 20 of them, and says his FCIOB status gives his clients confidenc