Insight

The Construction Industry Training Board’s CEO, Tim Balcon, unveils what he thinks the year ahead looks like for the homebuilding industry.  The homebuilding challenge will continue to put the construction sector under pressure in 2025 and will need wholescale, ongoing collaboration cross

When retrofitting listed buildings, Thomas & Adamson director Hamish Paterson suggests that the main concern is finding the balance between modern sustainability goals and protecting history and heritage in our towns and cities. Decarbonisation of the built environment is a complex challenge, wi

Federation of Master Builders Scotland director Gordon Nelson looks back at the big issues of 2024 and ahead to the 2025 Master Builder Awards.  As we approach the end of the year, I have reflected on what the key issues have been for FMB members across Scotland. The sources being from the many

Still trading and independent after more than 80 years in business, Cruden Group has bucked a trend for many SMEs. Fraser Lynes, managing director of Cruden Homes, speaks to Colin Cardwell about how the company is still adapting to meet today's challenges. Recent months have been both busy and encou

Very few in Scotland’s real estate sector are currently satisfied with the existing planning system. The question then is how best to alleviate the issues that currently challenge the public and private sector parties with an interest in this key industry. Lee Murphy, a planning consultan

Construction work on a new building for The University of Edinburgh at the growing health innovation district of Edinburgh BioQuarter, housing the world-class Usher Institute and partners, is now complete.

Jocelyne Fleming, policy & public affairs lead for Scotland at the CIOB shares refreshed insights from the social housing sector one year on from an original research report. Last year I had the opportunity to work with housing association representatives to identify challenges they face in the

Paul McDevitt outlines the attributes of an effective leader. An effective leader possesses a combination of skills, qualities, and behaviours that enable them to guide and inspire their team towards a common purpose. 

Councillor James Dalgleish, planning convener at the City of Edinburgh Council, writes about a bold and ambitious plan agreed last week by councillors to make better use of land in the capital. Edinburgh’s population is growing fast and so a major highlight of City Plan 2030 is setting aside e

Muir Group executive chairman John Muir argues that the recent cut to interest rates is a welcome boost for Scotland's housebuilders. It is no surprise that the Bank of England’s decision to cut interest rates will have been welcomed by homebuilders up and down the country. With it comes more

Global design studio Hassell has completed the final phase of the Adam Smith Building, the new 11,500 sqm flagship site of the University of Glasgow’s Business School.

Thomas & Adamson's Greig Fenton highlights the critical role of Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) in the journey towards net zero for housing stock. The journey to net zero can seem a large, ominous, and expensive undertaking for housing providers. Some 2.9 million homes are owned by housin

At a time of housing emergencies across the country, Scottish structural engineer Alan Ferns argues that demolishing RAAC-affected homes is not the only answer. It sometimes feels that, in the opaque realm of official decision-making, the temptation to use a sledgehammer to crack a nut is just too h

The newly restored Edinburgh Futures Institute (EFI) has transformed Edinburgh’s historic Quartermile site, once the Royal Infirmary, into a modern landmark blending history, innovation, and sustainability.

Laura Baron, head of sustainability at Purcell, emphasises the need for a mindset shift to prioritise sensitive retrofit in preserving existing and historic buildings. Joining other industry leaders, Laura will spotlight the importance of policy-driven change and upskilling at all levels to drive su