Opinion

Scottish Construction Summit programme co-ordinator Paul McDevitt calls for immediate action to secure the future of the Scottish construction sector in the face of a recruitment cliff edge. Scotland’s construction industry is facing one of the most pressing challenges in its modern history &m

Gemma Monaghan, head of R&D tax at Azets, cautions Scottish construction firms to understand new legislation governing 'contracted out' research and development, as HMRC intensifies scrutiny of claims and contractual language. The contracted-out legislation update has been welcomed as a sensible

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

Cruden Homes MD Fraser Lynes highlights one of Glasgow's more ambitious regeneration stories, King's View, and shares what this tells us about the housing challenges faced today. Over the past 15 years, the south side of Glasgow has witnessed one of the city’s most ambitious regeneration stori

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

Jamie Gregory, associate director and certified Passivhaus designer at AHR, shares insights from the architecture and building consultancy practice’s recent Passivhaus projects for Scotland's upcoming Passivhaus Equivalent policy. The Scottish Government’s Passivhaus Equivalent policy is

Susan Jackson, joint managing director of Campion Homes, discusses the important role that SME housebuilders will play in tackling the housing crisis. The housing emergency has rightly returned to the heart of Scotland’s political conversation. With the appointment of Màiri McAllan as c

Paul Hilton looks at how the property market is evolving into a hybrid model, combining the efficiency of digital tools with the invaluable reassurance and personalised guidance of face-to-face expert advice. Over the past decade, the property market has been transformed by digital innovation. From

Gary Ferris, business development director, Scotland & Northern Ireland at Close Brothers, explores how rent control policies are undermining investor confidence, stalling new housing supply, and deepening Scotland’s housing crisis. Scotland’s housebuilding industry stands at a criti

Ahead of the Scottish Construction Summit in Glasgow on Wednesday, Ian Hughes, engagement director, Scotland for event sponsor the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), shares his thoughts on one of the Summit's four key themes: Recruitment & Retention. There are big opportunities in both

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.

Hazel Davies, sales and marketing director for Cruden, and Female Leaders in Construction (FLIC) advisory board member, shares why gender balanced leadership matters in construction. As a mother of two school-aged daughters, I often think about the example I set for them. It’s too early to tel

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