Opinion

Burness Paull's Kathleen McAnea looks at the implications of the current shortage in construction materials and offers suggestions for companies who may be impacted. In March there was much industry chatter about the materials shortage in construction and the impact on housebuilders.

Andrew Tolmie and Stefanie Johnston outline the current legal landscape in Scotland regarding who pays the remedial works necessary to bring residential buildings into line with new fire safety standards. On 14th June 2017, a fire broke out in the 24-storey Grenfell Tower block in west London, causi

Lucy Black from Construction Scotland Innovation Centre believes that 5G has the potential to support and accelerate efficiencies in the construction industry. Recently, the Construction Scotland Innovation Centre held an on-line event that looked at the potential impact of 5G on construction,

Kevin Reid, chief executive of the Cruden Group, looks at meeting the challenges of using more green energy and sustainable building in new homes. Later this year the delayed UN Climate Change Conference, COP26, will take place in Glasgow and it will come at a time when the pandemic has focused atte

Housebuilders have a responsibility to ensure new-build homes are future-proofed, which is challenging given the rapid evolution of digital connectivity. Queensberry Properties’ sales and marketing director, Hazel Davies, takes a closer look at the ‘Internet of Things’ and the exci

Will Rudd (Glasgow) managing director MJ O’Shaughnessy details the conservation expertise required to regenerate the historic Advocate’s Close site in Edinburgh. Edinburgh is coming alive again as lockdown eases and people can visit once more. It is a city that thrives on

Paul Reilly, director in the Glasgow office of DM Hall Chartered Surveyors, says the residential property market in the West End of Glasgow is losing none of its allure, with quick sales and rising prices. The west end of Glasgow is, in normal times, variously described as busy, buzzing, vibrant and

Speaking exclusively to SCN, Lesley McLeod at the Association for Project Safety focuses on mental health issues in the construction industry.  Construction focuses on physical accidents and injuries – and of course, there is still a lot to do. But it needs to focus on mental health and w

As workers begin to return to the workplace, Alasdair Rankin, MD at Aitken Turnbull Architects, pens this exclusive blog for SCN which asks what next for the 'normal' office? For many, the return to the office can’t come soon enough. Well over a year of lockdown and staff unable

Paul Hillard, managing director of Irvine Housing Association, reveals why better homes are needed to tackle Scotland's housing crisis. Our housing system in Scotland is in crisis.

Dispute resolution specialist Ian Timlin outlines nine things to be considered if faced with contractor insolvency. As a result of the pandemic, we have seen, and advised on, numerous instances where main contractors have downed tools or closed sites. In some cases, this has been a tempora

Shirley Evatt at Will Rudd Davidson, who is the lead engineer on the project to transform the old Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh into the university's new Edinburgh Futures Institute, discusses the challenges of the project as well as her views on women in engineering. Two centuries ago, very few

Heat networks have not been widely adopted in the UK due to a lack of regulation and resulting lack of consumer confidence. They also require significant upfront capital costs. As Scotland is the first nation within the UK to bring out legislation in this area, Sarah-Jane McArthur and Sara

As the government continues to push the construction industry to move more of the building process off-site and into factories, Roddy Cormack, construction specialist at law firm Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie LLP, explores a conundrum which must be solved if the industry is to thrive in this area

Effective marketing materials are essential for buyers to make the biggest purchase of their lives, ideally combining digital and real-world resources. Queensberry Properties’ sales and marketing director, Hazel Davies, explores the latest initiatives. Compared to many industries, the house bu