Insight

Construction Scotland Innovation Centre (CSIC) CEO Stephen Good outlines five themes that will define construction in 2021, ranging from greater collaboration in the industry to the need for enhanced supply chain resilience. It would be safe to say that any predictions made about the past 12 mo

Following the publication of the Scottish Government's Climate Change Plan update, communities secretary Aileen Campbell reflects on progress so far, and opportunities to build a greener future as part of Housing to 2040 plans. Housing policy has a vital role to play in achieving many

Shawfair LLP director Nick Waugh on the importance of community engagement when building a new town. This year has taught us many things – most of them character-forming as my mother was fond of saying - but one genuinely good thing to have emerged from this pandemic is the curative power

As Grade A office stock reaches an all time low, Andy Cunningham from CBRE considers why we need to take stock and consider the workplaces of the future. A recent report published by CBRE, shows that Grade A office supply in Glasgow has now reached a critically low level and, with just one more mode

Leo Shand explains how the use of a 3D model has helped collaborate on the new Virgin Hotel in Edinburgh. The new Virgin Hotel in Edinburgh is a flagship project that involves the redevelopment of three existing Grade A-listed buildings and a new build to create a 5-star hotel with 225 bedrooms. The

Minister for local government, housing & planning Kevin Stewart reflects on a big week in the world of planning in Scotland. There is an especially busy and exciting period ahead for Scotland’s planning system.

We often think of flight to the suburbs as a modern phenomenon, but a conflict has raged for centuries between urban and suburban living. Cruden Homes’ sales and marketing director, Hazel Davies, explores this eternal dilemma. Travel out of any British city and you’re likely to find new

Sarah Alexander, senior associate at Dentons, discusses the intricacies of the NEC3 subcontract. With fewer than 10 reported decisions from the Court of Session on the interpretation of NEC3, any guidance from the court is welcomed with open arms. This is particularly so while the NEC suite of contr

In discussing conservation engineering and the work structural engineers do to repair, protect and conserve our building heritage, Gillian Ogilvie talks specifically about her own work at The Usher Hall in Edinburgh. Conservation engineering is about repairing and preserving what is there. Howe

The construction industry is confronted with historic challenges, as well as great opportunities in meeting the target of net zero, including a projected need for up to 300,000 new jobs. As last week marked the first Green Jobs Taskforce meeting, CITB’s sustainability and innovation lead, Rich

Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity CEO Bill Hill reacts to the recent suicide figures published by the Office for National Statistics. As well as the word unprecedented, we are now hearing the words mental health every day. That’s good because it means people are talking about the i

Scottish Futures Trust's Paul Devine responds to the Scottish Land Commission's report which highlighted that 11,000 hectares of land lies vacant or derelict.

Solicitor Ramsay Hall outlines the cost of fraud to the construction industry and reveals how businesses can minimise risk. Fraud has been estimated to cost the construction sector £8 million a year. The impact of COVID-19 suggests that cost will rise significantly. The consequences for constr

Neil McKay highlights the importance of social housing and building communities as a key factor in helping Scotland recover from the COVID recession. A new report released by housing and social research charities demonstrates that not only could the construction of affordable and social housing help

As we begin the year-long countdown to COP26, Lindsey Mitchell takes a look at how the education building sector can play its role in sustainable design. Scotland has ambitious environmental goals. It is five years since the Paris agreement. The race to zero emissions is a driver for new types