Insight

In an exclusive for Scottish Construction Now, Scott Brewster, managing director of sustainable resource management company Brewster Brothers, argues that the forthcoming Scottish Aggregates Tax can be used alongside other fiscal levers and environmental policies in order to boost sustainability and

John Forster, founder & chair of Forster Group, shares how renewable energy sources, like solar, will be key to helping construction sustainably scale up operations to meet current needs. As we enter 2026, the construction sector stands at the centre of the UK’s most urgent social and econ

In 2024, Dr Scott McGibbon was awarded CIOB’s inaugural Paul Dockerill Award. For the CIOB's January column for Scottish Construction Now, he updates us on the progress of his research and campaign to protect more people from the dangers of silica dust. In 2024, Scottish Construction Now repor

The Supreme Court just reminded contractors everywhere to check their contracts before ripping them up, says Liam McKay. We’re all familiar with the saying that “two wrongs don’t make a right,” and this month that wise adage came through in a ruling from the Supreme Court tha

Zander Muego, director of Thomas & Adamson – part of Egis Group, shares his expert insights on the key trends likely to shape the construction sector in 2026. The construction sector has entered 2026 with a heightened sense of caution. Growth in the UK construction market is projected to r

AI is shifting construction from reactive problem‑solving to predictive accountability, forcing the industry to rethink risk, responsibility and contractual duties as data‑driven foresight becomes impossible to ignore, argues Mark Macaulay. Artificial intelligence (AI) is already reshaping how c

Everyone is talking about it – but is AI really having an impact on how business is done in real estate? Scott Ritchie takes a look. I recently took part in a round table of developers, operators, funders, and industry bodies to discuss whether its effects were being felt in Scotland and the r

Patrick Munro and Jacqueline Cook take a look at changes to the planning and compulsory purchase regimes in Scotland that are on the horizon in 2026, highlighting the key issues for developers, funders, decision-makers and interested parties below as Scottish planning reforms continue apace. There a

The first phase of a new housing development at the former Victoria Infirmary Hospital site in Glasgow has now been completed.

In 2014, Edinburgh’s controversial new tram system finally opened to the public and the highly scrutinised Edinburgh Tram Inquiry got underway, writes Steven Stewart. By 2023, a second phase of the tramline had been completed and the inquiry by Lord Hardie concluded. In recent months, City of

Charles Hargreaves, deputy director compliance – heat networks at Ofgem, highlights what it takes to prepare for compliance when the regulation of heat networks begins this month.

As he steps up to the role of chief executive officer at Cruden, Fraser Lynes outlines the potential impact the business can deliver in 2026 following its recent investment from BGF. Scotland stands at a pivotal moment in its housing journey. The need for high-quality, energy-efficient homes has nev

Thomas & Adamson director John McGuire argues that while recent policy shifts have dented confidence in the build‑to‑rent sector, Scotland now has a crucial window to reset the market. Scotland’s housing market is entering a pivotal phase as the 2025 Housing (Scotland) Bill seeks

2025 has been another busy and often demanding year for Scotland’s built environment sector, writes Jocelyne Fleming, CIOB’s policy lead in Scotland. Throughout discussions this year, the CIOB in Scotland has tried to make one point clear: none of the issues we face sit neatly on their o

Paul Mitchell, operations director at the Scottish Building Federation (SBF), outlines how the current climate of uncertainty is undermining Scotland’s building industry. Construction is the engine room of the Scottish economy, contributing 7.4% of total output whilst directly employing 190,00