Opinion

The Supreme Court just reminded contractors everywhere to check their contracts before ripping them up, says Liam McKay. We’re all familiar with the saying that “two wrongs don’t make a right,” and this month that wise adage came through in a ruling from the Supreme Court tha

AI is shifting construction from reactive problem‑solving to predictive accountability, forcing the industry to rethink risk, responsibility and contractual duties as data‑driven foresight becomes impossible to ignore, argues Mark Macaulay. Artificial intelligence (AI) is already reshaping how c

Everyone is talking about it – but is AI really having an impact on how business is done in real estate? Scott Ritchie takes a look. I recently took part in a round table of developers, operators, funders, and industry bodies to discuss whether its effects were being felt in Scotland and the r

Patrick Munro and Jacqueline Cook take a look at changes to the planning and compulsory purchase regimes in Scotland that are on the horizon in 2026, highlighting the key issues for developers, funders, decision-makers and interested parties below as Scottish planning reforms continue apace. There a

In 2014, Edinburgh’s controversial new tram system finally opened to the public and the highly scrutinised Edinburgh Tram Inquiry got underway, writes Steven Stewart. By 2023, a second phase of the tramline had been completed and the inquiry by Lord Hardie concluded. In recent months, City of

Jonny Seddon, a partner in MFMac’s Infrastructure & Capital Projects team, shares some insight from the recent Interlaw Global Meeting in Edinburgh, which sparked discussion around how developers and investors are navigating uncertainty in the Scottish real estate market. After years of po

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.