Opinion

Against a backdrop of continued uncertainty due to the ongoing impact of the coronavirus pandemic, and as the UK continues its journey as the first ever nation to exit the European Union, collaboration will continue to be key as the construction industry prepares itself for months of delay and disru

Sarah Alexander, senior associate at Dentons, discusses the intricacies of the NEC3 subcontract. With fewer than 10 reported decisions from the Court of Session on the interpretation of NEC3, any guidance from the court is welcomed with open arms. This is particularly so while the NEC suite of contr

Sarah Stewart from Burness Paull considers the Scottish Government's Heat Networks Bill and its impact on the housing and heating industries. District heating, also known as a heat network, is a distribution system of insulated pipes that takes heat from a central source and delivers it to a number

The new process virtual mediation for construction companies may not be as effective and is also less secure unless certain measures are put in place, warns Ian Timlin. Organisations that are looking to use mediation as a way to resolve a dispute without the need for costly litigation need to be awa

Lauren Hazlie, property solicitor at Jones Whyte, details the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the housing market by discussing the extension to the Additional Dwelling Supplement Tax reclaim period. In Scotland, Additional Dwelling Supplement (ADS) Tax must be paid by a buyer on the purchase o

Scotland’s construction industry will face a potential domino effect of insolvencies without some form of government intervention, warns solicitor Roddy Cormack. The construction industry is facing a real uphill struggle. Although some restrictions are lifting, further increasing the work

Now is the time to consider the role of Modern Methods of Construction in the future of the construction sector, says partner Ian Atkinson and solicitor Ryan Lavers at law firm Womble Bond Dickinson. The construction sector is fundamentally important to the UK economy. Often cited as the barome

Coronavirus has caused significant delay to numerous projects across the UK. But what if it is critical that a project still completes by a specified date such as a school or student accommodation? As steps are made to move out of lockdown, parties may seek to accelerate works. What is an accel

Ailsa Thomson breaks down the Scottish Government's policy to empower communities and ensure people benefit more fairly from Scotland's land. As part of the Scottish Government's policy to empower communities and ensure people benefit more fairly from Scotland's land, on 26 April 2020 the right to b

The climate emergency has risen to the top of the UK’s political agenda in recent years, with green issues set to become one of the biggest political hot potatoes of the decade. Last year, the UK legislated for net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. This was recommended by the Committee on

Trainee solicitor at Jones Whyte Law, Lauren Hazlie, provides information on high rise cladding and what people should be aware of when looking to buy or sell a property which has inappropriate cladding. Over the past couple of decades, a number of high rise buildings in the UK have been built with

Surveyor Tom Laurie talks about the many, but perhaps little known, exceptions that exist for Home Reports. Home Reports, now a wholly accepted part of Scotland’s residential property landscape, celebrated their tenth anniversary late last year. But, remarkably enough, there remains a signific

Agreements between businesses and individuals occur on a daily basis, but what does it take to make them legally binding? Peter Begbie explains. A written contract is a common – and often most advisable – way of legally formalising an agreement. However, it is also possible to establish

Given a number of Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) accusations against key suppliers to the construction sector, Jamie Dunne from law firm Brodies has looked into the issue in more detail. The Competition and Markets Authority has recently accused six key suppliers to the construction sector

The recently published judgment of O’Farrell J in Swansea Stadium Management Co. Ltd v Swansea City and County Council ([2018] EWHC 2192 (TCC)) provides guidance on limitations of time clauses contained in collateral warranties and acts as a reminder that collateral warranties are ca