Funders are out in force and looking for opportunities as the commercial property sector in Scotland once again demonstrates its resilience, writes Ian Woods as he analyses trends in various sectors and critiques government policies. This time last year, it would have taken a large amount of br
Insight
Tim Metcalfe, Keepmoat’s regional managing director in Scotland, tells Colin Cardwell why his company's model to balance the needs of investors and provide affordable homes makes moral and business sense. The optics of today’s housebuilding industry are not unmitigatedly positive. After
As part of the Chartered Institute of Building’s (CIOB) continued commitment to help develop the next generation of talented leaders in the construction industry, we were delighted to recently accredit Robert Gordon University’s (RGU) Graduate Apprenticeship in Construction and the Built
Thomas & Adamson partner Hamish Paterson provides his take on new legislation giving Scottish Ministers powers to assess and remediate buildings which have unsafe cladding. In mid-May, the Scottish Parliament voted unanimously to pass new legislation that will speed up the removal of potent
Fraser Lynes, managing director of Cruden Homes, discusses the Scottish housing crises and the limitations of the NPF4. Scotland’s housing system is at a critical juncture. The Scottish Government has acknowledged the nation’s housing emergency and announced its intention to recognise ho
Paul Coulter, managing director at Eden PAM, the local asset manager on behalf of VCM Global Asset Management, argues that properties on the fringe of city centres are proving more popular for businesses to locate their offices. In just half a decade, the workplace has undergone a dramatic transform
Federation of Master Builders Scotland director Gordon Nelson shares news of the organisation's Scotland board election results which were announced at a gathering of members in Glasgow.
Julie Moulsdale from Perceptive Communicators shares how the homebuilding industry can use proactive community engagement to unlock the planning system. We are in the grip of a nationwide housing crisis, yet recent figures reveal that the timescale for average planning application is four times long
The full impact of the Cladding Remediation Bill, which was recently passed in the Scottish Parliament, is still to be felt within the construction sector, write Shona Frame and Ryan McCuaig. The 2017 Grenfell Tower tragedy, which claimed 72 lives, put a sharp focus on the safety of cladding systems
Formal building contracts are a fundamental part of any construction project, specifying the contractual obligations on all parties, avoiding any ambiguities and the need for third-party interventions that can add to project costs and timescales, writes Ian McCann. The Joint Contracts Tribunal
Graeme Binnie, joiner and founder of the West Lothian Woodworking Initiative, is the latest subject of SCN’s Just a Minute feature. How did you get started in the industry?
Alasdair Rankin, managing director of Aitken Turnbull Architects, asks what the cancellation of carbon targets in Scotland means for the construction industry more widely. The Scottish Government has cancelled its commitment to meeting interim net zero targets in 2030, although since that happened,
Muir Group chief executive Martin Smith takes a positive look at housebuilding across the UK amid indications of recovery for the sector. There is no denying that the challenges faced across the housebuilding and wider construction industry over the last few years have been particularly ac
Following the launch yesterday of the Housing & Social Care Accessibility Summit 2024, Dougie Herd, the joint managing director of event headline sponsor Campion Homes, shares his thoughts on the importance of accessible housing and why Campion is supporting the event. As the joint man
Graham Provest: How will the new permitted development rights impact businesses working in Scotland?
Earlier this year, the Scottish Government announced plans to ease permitted development rights (PDRs) for rooftop solar installations. With the new proposals having now come into effect – what does this really mean for the business landscape in Scotland? Graham Provest, Shawton Energy's susta