Opinion

Scotland's Land & Buildings Transaction Tax hits record high as more homes cross tax threshold, writes property expert Dr John Boyle. Rettie has just completed our annual review of Scotland’s property tax (Land & Buildings Transaction Tax, or LBTT). A dry subject, but one most home buy

Kathryn Sykes, structural project engineer at Harley Haddow, argues that it is important to identify how we combat the effects we are having on the environment when making improvements to our homes. As demand for house extensions continue, is building sustainably the everyday person’s first th

Martin McKay, chief executive of Clyde Gateway, looks back over 10 years of regeneration since the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Holmes Miller director Ryan Holmes shares what could be learned from the education sector when it comes to the proposed Scottish Passivhaus equivalent policy for new build housing. Designing buildings to meet the international Passivhaus standard for energy efficiency can cut heating energy use by u

A Scottish appeal court decision on time bar should provide a stark warning for the construction sector, argues Michael Collins. Five years. That’s how long a party has to make a claim for damages under the Scottish law of prescription (time bar). But when, exactly, does that clock s

As PFI assets return to public hands, Greig Fenton from Thomas & Adamson suggests that the most important step in the transfer is to inspect and assess the property to ensure all is in order. However, if any work is required it could be the right time to consider more sustainable options and tac

Mark O'Neill, head of energy consultancy at Hardies Property & Construction Consultants, likens heating a building to filling a sieve. I’m partial to a good analogy. In a literary sense, they serve the purpose of allowing a comparison to be drawn between two unrelated concepts to make a cl

With the consultation on the Scottish equivalent to the Passivhaus standard expected to begin shortly, Kate de Selincourt from the UK Passivhaus Trust shares what it could deliver in terms of health. Scotland has big problems with public health. The life expectancy at birth is the lowest in the

Mark Royse, head of sales at Mecalac Construction Equipment UK, explores the highways sector’s changing regulatory landscape and explains why manufacturers are investing heavily in next-generation product development to set new standards in safety, efficiency and productivity.

Kirsten Belk, a practice development lawyer at Dentons, runs through the new Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill with an eye on its impact for real estate in Scotland. The Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill was passed by the Scottish Parliament on 26 June. Sustainable production and consumption are

Ailsa Ritchie, partner at law firm CMS, provides the following comment on the construction policy note which has introduced a Graduated Pricing Mechanism as an alternative method of determining price score in tender evaluation. Guidance setting out a new method of determining the price score in tend

With the average number of deaths in the building sector now significantly higher than in the pre-pandemic period, Kevin Bridges, partner and head of health and safety at Pinsent Masons, said the focus is now on construction's efforts to improve its safety practices. Construction companies have

To mark Net Zero Week, Procast Group's growth and development manager David Chapman reflects on the firm's work so far with key partners to achieve its net zero goals and what the future has in store. Procast Group is a strong advocate for sustainability, and we invest significantly both internally,

Neil Kelly, partner and head of construction at Morton Fraser MacRoberts, provides some analysis into a case where the Supreme Court ruled that a collateral warranty isn't considered a construction contract eligible for quick resolution under the Housing Grants (Construction & Regeneration)

Zander Muego discusses the complexities of decarbonising the UK's existing housing stock, particularly social housing, in the pursuit of net zero targets while addressing fuel poverty and ensuring wider community benefits. The importance of decarbonisation is becoming increasingly well understo