Opinion

Ahead of International Women's Day on Sunday, Julie Moulsdale from Perceptive Communicators details the crisis of confidence of women and how this is particularly important to address in construction given the poor representation of females in the sector. In construction we are constantly hearing ab

Alanna Feron is one of the many women at Glasgow-based construction firm City Building taking a leading role in major projects As a mechanical contracts manager, 28-year-old Alanna Feron is responsible for making sure that her team is delivering quality work in a timely and efficient manner. She ov

CMS senior associate Christopher Dickson discusses the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on construction contracts. While the worst effects of the coronavirus outbreak have so far largely been felt in China, the escalating number of confirmed cases reported in Italy over the past few days has cont

Dene Mitchell on the need for hotels to increase fire safety precautions. As Glasgow’s hotel sector grows at an unprecedented rate and in the light of very high-profile hotel fires at Travelodge in Brentford and the Holiday Inn, Walsall in 2019, and Cameron House at Loch Lomond in 2017, more a

Architect Oliver Wilson on the changing residential neighbourhoods being created in Scottish city centres. On moving to Edinburgh as a child, my first impression was that it seemed complete. It was like a drawing where all the elements and perspective fitted together perfectly. I&rsqu

Katherine Metcalfe compares building safety regulations north and south of the border. The UK government announced last month that a new building safety regulator for England, under the auspices of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), will be formed as part of a package of measures to improve high

Morris & Spottiswood’s strategic development director, Viv Sutherland, argues that the Brexit Transition Period is of vital importance to the UK construction sector. Brexit may have slipped down the news agenda for the moment, but the importance of the next few months to the future of the

A construction adjudication enforcement case in North Lanarkshire highlights why the use of 'without prejudice' does not make documents inadmissible in subsequent proceedings, says Harper Macleod senior associate Laura McCorquodale. There is an ongoing misconception that labelling any document 'with

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

Womble Bond Dickinson's partner Jeremy Smith, managing associate Michelle Essen and practice development lawyer Karen Plumbley-Jones highlight further changes to the off-payroll working rules (IR35). Changes to the off-payroll working rules - which will impact on the construction industry by placing

Dentons senior associate, Sarah Alexander, discusses the case of Babcock Marine (Clyde) Ltd v HS Barrier Coatings Ltd [2019] CSOH 110 and its impact on what an adjudicator needs to do if they use other people (like a QS) when preparing their decision. In December 2019, Scottish Construction Now publ

Highlighting the energy strategy behind making Shawfair as sustainable as possible, James Palmer said the project can become an exemplar for others to follow. In 2005 Apple launched the iPod Nano, mobile phones were used for making calls, and Al Gore began working on his documentary, “An Incon

While the build to rent (BTR) pipeline continues to grow in Scotland, Will Scarlett from Scarlett Land and Development said the sector’s viability should not be taken for granted. Scarlett Land and Development (SLD) are tracking 3,727 units in Edinburgh (excluding Mid-Market Rent) and c. 4,000

David Hamilton says his work on the Edinburgh Biomes programme proves that skills are transferable when it comes to project management. I have been on the programme board of a £70 million construction programme since 2018. As a project professional, it has been fascinating to discover the comm

Malcolm Thomson, sales and marketing director of Scotframe, details the need for collective action from the housebuilding industry to tackle climate change. It was Barack Obama who pointed out that the challenges of the 21 st century could not be met without collective action. And few would argue th