Insight

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

Last week, Sheelagh Cooley, real estate partner and head of the Edinburgh office at Shoosmiths, delivered the keynote speech at the Scotland Investor and Developer Breakfast as part of the UK Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF, Leeds, 20-22 May). She shared her market insights

May's instalment of the CIOB Column sees Jocelyne Fleming call for construction to take inspiration from offshore wind and establish a Skills Action Plan. In the 2025–26 Programme for Government (PfG), the Scottish Government has committed to working with partners across the public and private

Outlining frustrations with the planning system in Scotland, Liz Hamilton from AS Homes and Briar Homes calls for an ambitious national housing target that filters down into local delivery frameworks and for the next local development plans to allocate enough deliverable land. One year ago, Scotland

Laura Sefton, an energy specialist lawyer from CMS, highlights the challenges facing the housing sector over the decarbonisation of heat from buildings, explains why we’re seeing an evolving regulatory environment and examines the legal and regulatory implications of these changes. Scotland&rs

Moxon Architects and IB Miebach have completed an innovative, sustainable timber and concrete composite bridge for the town of Baiersbronn in southern Germany. Baiersbronn Bridge strengthens connections within the town’s central area, while enhancing the landscape along the scenic Murg River.

From rising construction costs to global geopolitical risks, Scotland’s real estate market faces no shortage of challenges. But for Chris Dougray, head of development at CBRE Scotland, adversity also brings opportunity. Chris Dougray is both generous with his time and eclectic in his interests