Opinion

One year on from the devastating explosion which rocked Beirut, Arcadis engineer Joe Bilan is still trying to process what happened and his experiences in the city. On 4 August 2020, 2700 tonnes of ammonium nitrate exploded in Beirut, causing the deaths of over 200 people, injuring over 6000 an

Mike Harrison of HarrisonStevens outlines the changes happening to repurpose brownfield sites, canal towpaths and overgrown and unloved scrubland as more people are being encouraged to ditch the car and enjoy the benefits of active travel. The canal towpaths and redundant railway lines that pass thr

Advocate and former Labour MP Mark Lazarowicz examines the new SNP-Green deal and assess how radical an impact its commitments could have on the natural environment in Scotland. The ‘co-operation agreement’ between the SNP Scottish Government and the Scottish Green Party includes, as one

Filip Stefanovic, head of engineering at Ecocoast, discusses the construction industry's obligation to protect the water in the area of construction, and how this can be done.  As with all industries, the construction sector is responsible for its fair share of greenhouse gas emissions, ac

Nick Waugh, commercial director at Buccleuch Property, which is jointly developing Shawfair, argues that new towns are best placed to adapt to residents' changing needs.

In the fifth in the Scottish Land Commission's ‘Land &’ blog series, senior policy officer David Stewart explores why land for housing matters for much more than homes – it has an impact on the economy, the environment, and the wellbeing of everyone in Scotland. Land for housin

Having previously identified the high risk of financial crime in the construction sector, solicitor Ramsay Hall is now joined by colleague Paul Marshall to provide an update on recent developments. In previous updates, we identified the high risk of financial crime in the construction

Construction legal expert Chris Horsley provides an insight into the measures suggested by the Scottish Government which contracting authorities may take in order to try to mitigate the current market pressures on resources. The ongoing squeeze on construction material supplies has been he

Regeneration companies like Clyde Gateway will be key to turning 'think globally, act locally' aspirations into action after COP26, writes Martin McKay. COP26 delegates will be welcomed upon arrival by People Make Glasgow Greener, and when they depart Scotland, it will mark the precise moment t

The Association for Project Safety president Jonathan Moulam has welcomed the establishment of a new building safety regulator but warned that the UK Government’s Building Safety Bill doesn’t go far enough to make the construction industry completely safe. No one can take excep

With students across Scotland receiving their exam results today, Martin O'Donnell from the Akela Group reveals how the construction sector can become more youth-friendly. Today, exam results are unveiled in Scotland after over a year of disruption to education in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

John Rodger, partner and property specialist at accountants Chiene + Tait, discusses the potential consequences of the new Residential Property Developer Tax (RPDT). As the inquiry into the 2017 Grenfell fire continues, so too do financial repercussions from the tragedy which left 72 people dead.

Jamie Mulligan shares his journey into construction and discusses how the trainee development programme at AS Homes was crucial to helping him realise his career ambitions. He also sheds light on the major skills shortage facing the construction sector and the importance of encouraging young people

Alistair McAlinden and Stuart Dougal from Interpath Advisory in Scotland look at how the current spike in raw material prices and labour shortages is having an impact across the sector – and in particular, how it will shape the way in which contracts will need to be negotiated or ren

In an exclusive piece for Scottish Construction Now, construction and engineering dispute resolution specialist Sandra Cassels covers how businesses can minimise disputes that arise through supply chain disruption in this Covid-hit landscape. For over a year now, we have see