Opinion

Francesca Macmillan and Andrew McNaughton from Womble Bond Dickinson delve into the implications of the Building Safety Act on Scotland, highlighting four significant changes of particular relevance. Watching from Scotland, we have seen significant changes to building safety in England under the Bui

Sheriff Reid's determination in the fatal accident inquiry into the death of Shea Ryan has been published and makes various recommendations to the HSE that may have an impact on the construction industry going forward should these be implemented. DAC Beachcroft partner Karen Railton highlights the k

Despite the construction industry recording fewer deaths than in 2023/24, the sector’s persistently high numbers highlight the ongoing danger it presents, write construction lawyers Vikki Watt and Stacey Fox.

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

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

The growing popularity of self-builds and owner-managed conversions and renovations, perhaps fuelled by the popularity of Grand Designs and other such programmes, puts an additional potential responsibility on conveyancers when acting for purchasers of such properties and this is becoming a growing

Construction dispute resolution specialist Kirsti Olson outlines the significance of the Infrastructure and Projects Authority's newly published 'PFI Expiry Asset Condition Playbook' for the construction and infrastructure sectors. The Infrastructure and Projects Authority's (IPA) "PFI Expiry Asset

Scottish building and fire safety regulations are set to change significantly in light of the Grenfell Tower fire inquiry, writes Katherine Metcalfe. The Scottish Government’s acceptance of all recommendations from the public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire signals further significant cha

Liam McKay, a Glasgow-based senior solicitor in Anderson Strathern’s Contentious Construction team, explains why the Scottish construction sector may be less affected by a ruling south of the Border. A recent decision by the High Court of England and Wales regarding construction contracts may

Lindsays partner Louise Norris shares her belief that the success of Scotland's property sector would be accelerated by an increase in female participation. The opportunities for women in Scotland’s property industry have never been greater - whether they be in construction, engineering or pro

CMS partner Shona Frame outlines key legal and legislative issues that are likely to impact the construction sector over 2025.  In the year ahead, significant legal and legislative measures covering a range of areas including environmental sustainability, health and safety, financing and employ

Brodies' legal director Jamie Dunne and solicitor Emma Hill highlight a CMA probe into possible bid-rigging in relation to a school improvement fund and discuss what it could mean for construction businesses.

Organisations that can deliver green construction stand to benefit from increasing consumer demand, argues Julia Maguire​, partner and head of energy at Pinsent Masons. The UK construction industry is navigating its way through the energy transition as it shifts towards a more sustainable, lower c

CMS partner Caroline Maciver highlights what the Scottish Government has in store for 2025 in terms of cladding remediation. As this year comes to a close, Scotland’s housing minister Paul McLennan has given some indications of what to expect next year in respect of cladding remediation.

Very few in Scotland’s real estate sector are currently satisfied with the existing planning system. The question then is how best to alleviate the issues that currently challenge the public and private sector parties with an interest in this key industry. Lee Murphy, a planning consultan