Opinion

With the Home Office ramping up compliance activity and the government proposing to extend right to work checks to contractors and the self-employed, Carolyn Bowie, a partner and head of BTO’s Immigration law practice, offers practical advice to construction firms facing a growing compliance c

Brian Hutcheson, partner in Dentons’ Glasgow office and chair of the Investment Property Forum in Scotland, comments on the implications of the Housing (Scotland) Bill once Royal Assent is received and highlights some practical considerations for those operating in the sector. The Housing (Sco

Ross McDowall urges Scottish businesses to familiarise themselves with new environmental rules ahead of a looming deadline. Businesses that currently hold environmental consents for water, waste and industrial activities in Scotland should check if they will need new or amended environmental authori

The Scottish Government declared a housing emergency in May 2024, acknowledging that Scotland lacked sufficient housing supply to meet demand. This was partly self-inflicted, with the government cutting its affordable housing building supply programme and imposing rent controls without exemption, wh

Eleni Diamantopoulou and Calum Raine from Womble Bond Dickinson delve into Scotland's ambitious plans to enhance energy performance standards in housebuilding, aiming to create a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future.

Liam McKay, a senior solicitor from Anderson Strathern's Contentious Construction team, provides a deep dive into a new ruling concerning the operation of time bar related to collateral warranties, and potential implications for buyers/tenants of commercial properties, and those involved in the cons

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