Insight

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

Satisfying the Scottish Government with the bomb-proof cladding for Glasgow’s redeveloped Queen Street Station sounds like a challenge. For TI Dynamic Facades, it was part of a day’s work. “It involved seven-millimetre-thick stone bonded to aluminium honeycomb that was blast tested

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

In the latest instalment of the CIOB Column, Jocelyne Fleming expresses disappointment with the Scottish Government's response to calls for a Skills Action Plan. For the third time in as many months, I am once again writing about the skills shortages in the construction sector. 

In the coastal town of Anstruther, a 1960s bungalow has been retrofitted to blend modern architecture with the tranquillity of its coastal surroundings. Using digital tools, Fife Architects capitalised on the available scenery while simultaneously designing a whole house renovation and extension, pr

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