Opinion

Kevin Reid, chief executive of the Cruden Group, looks at meeting the challenges of using more green energy and sustainable building in new homes. Later this year the delayed UN Climate Change Conference, COP26, will take place in Glasgow and it will come at a time when the pandemic has focused atte

Housebuilders have a responsibility to ensure new-build homes are future-proofed, which is challenging given the rapid evolution of digital connectivity. Queensberry Properties’ sales and marketing director, Hazel Davies, takes a closer look at the ‘Internet of Things’ and the exci

Will Rudd (Glasgow) managing director MJ O’Shaughnessy details the conservation expertise required to regenerate the historic Advocate’s Close site in Edinburgh. Edinburgh is coming alive again as lockdown eases and people can visit once more. It is a city that thrives on

Paul Reilly, director in the Glasgow office of DM Hall Chartered Surveyors, says the residential property market in the West End of Glasgow is losing none of its allure, with quick sales and rising prices. The west end of Glasgow is, in normal times, variously described as busy, buzzing, vibrant and

Speaking exclusively to SCN, Lesley McLeod at the Association for Project Safety focuses on mental health issues in the construction industry.  Construction focuses on physical accidents and injuries – and of course, there is still a lot to do. But it needs to focus on mental health and w

As workers begin to return to the workplace, Alasdair Rankin, MD at Aitken Turnbull Architects, pens this exclusive blog for SCN which asks what next for the 'normal' office? For many, the return to the office can’t come soon enough. Well over a year of lockdown and staff unable

Paul Hillard, managing director of Irvine Housing Association, reveals why better homes are needed to tackle Scotland's housing crisis. Our housing system in Scotland is in crisis.

Dispute resolution specialist Ian Timlin outlines nine things to be considered if faced with contractor insolvency. As a result of the pandemic, we have seen, and advised on, numerous instances where main contractors have downed tools or closed sites. In some cases, this has been a tempora

Shirley Evatt at Will Rudd Davidson, who is the lead engineer on the project to transform the old Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh into the university's new Edinburgh Futures Institute, discusses the challenges of the project as well as her views on women in engineering. Two centuries ago, very few

Heat networks have not been widely adopted in the UK due to a lack of regulation and resulting lack of consumer confidence. They also require significant upfront capital costs. As Scotland is the first nation within the UK to bring out legislation in this area, Sarah-Jane McArthur and Sara

As the government continues to push the construction industry to move more of the building process off-site and into factories, Roddy Cormack, construction specialist at law firm Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie LLP, explores a conundrum which must be solved if the industry is to thrive in this area

Effective marketing materials are essential for buyers to make the biggest purchase of their lives, ideally combining digital and real-world resources. Queensberry Properties’ sales and marketing director, Hazel Davies, explores the latest initiatives. Compared to many industries, the house bu

To mark World Earth Day today, Neil Bancroft details his work with HarrisonStevens on Wavegarden and the Custom House Quay project in Glasgow.

Following the launch of a Police Scotland campaign aimed at tackling modern slavery concerns within the construction sector, Ramsay Hall outlines what modern slavery actually involves and what can be done when there's concern about its presence in the supply chain. Exploitation of people c

As it continues to grow its track record of contributions to Scotland’s renewables mission, the offshore wind sector is currently making all the right headlines, writes Kelly Hardman. Amid the positive news, however, anyone with knowledge of sustainable business success will tell you it p