News

UK-wide housing association Home Group has secured a £350 million bond issue to fund the development of new homes. Priced at an effective fixed rate of 3.24%, the 24-year bond is one of the lowest overall rates achieved in recent comparable housing association transactions.

Affordable housing developer Swan Group has had planning consent granted for a 35-unit development at Avon House in Cumbernauld Town Centre. Initially divided into one bedroom flats providing bedroom, kitchen, bathroom and living space, Avon House was later changed to offices but has been left unuse

Balfour Beatty has partnered with Leeds Beckett University, White Frog Publishing and Coventry University to create a new, automated solution to tackle challenges faced by the construction industry in adopting Building Information Modelling (BIM) technology. BIM is an intelligent 3D model-based

Homes for Scotland (HFS) has announced the shortlist for its annual home building industry awards as the organisation prepares to celebrate the sector’s achievements. HFS said the entries showcase the high quality work that the industry produces and the innovative practices it engages in

A dispute about a demolished housing development in Midlothian has shown how a claim against consultants can be time barred before it is even known that there is a claim to be pursued. Is it time to change the law? The Scottish Government already has. It has passed the Prescription (Scotland) Act 20

An annual industry survey has once again placed Persimmon among the UK’s worst major housebuilders but there was better news for Barratt Scotland, Mactaggart & Mickel and Miller Homes. The nationwide survey from by the Home Builders Federation (HBF) awarded Persimmon just three stars out o

Scottish Procurement Alliance (SPA) is hosting its first wave regional Pre Tender Workshops to discuss two of its upcoming frameworks. The workshops will bring together local authorities, RSLs and current SPA partners from across the country so SPA can ensure its Whole House Refurbishment and Improv

A cycling Olympic gold medallist has been given a hero’s welcome after he returned to work following a whirlwind week in the Middle East. Twenty-year-old Glaswegian Ruairidh Brown finished top of the podium representing Great Britain in the 10K Time Trial at the Special Olympics World Games in

Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA) has launched its new grounds maintenance team after deciding to bring the works in-house. The Association, which has extensive areas of land throughout Argyll and Bute located and neighbouring its 5,100 properties, said the move will help deliver its strat

A worker in Australia who claims his ex-supervisor repeatedly broke wind at him has appealed against a court ruling that found he was not bullied. David Hingst, 56, sought a $1.8 million (£970,000) suit against his former employer last year saying his colleague, Greg Short, would “lift h

Graham Prothero is to take over as chief executive at Galliford Try after Peter Truscott left the company for a rival housebuilder. Graham, who joined Galliford Try as group finance director in 2013, succeeds Peter Truscott with immediate effect.

CALA Homes (West) has completed the acquisition of a brownfield site in Bishopbriggs and announced it is set to invest £150 million into East Dunbartonshire as part of a major long-term commitment. The Bishopbriggs development will deliver 135 new homes, including 34 affordable, on a 19-acre s

Scottish businesses involved in the construction sector could face substantial cash flow issues under new VAT rules due to be introduced this year. HMRC has updated the draft legislation for its new VAT domestic reverse charge regime for the construction industry, which requires the recipient rather

Holmes Miller Architects has lodged plans on behalf of Expresso Property for a waterfront office block at Glasgow's Pacific Quay. Offering around 60.000sq/ft of accommodation across four floors, the block will also incorporate a lower ground floor providing 30 car parking spaces and cycle storage.

Revised architect’s impressions of a planned £6.5 million Heritage Centre and distillery in Moray have been unveiled. The Cabrach Trust facility at the Inverharroch Farm aims to celebrate the heritage of the remote rural area, which was at the centre of illicit whisky-making in the 18th