Opinion

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

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

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

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

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

As Careers in Construction Month comes to a close, Heather Holbrook, partner at Thomas & Adamson, argues that diverse roles and flexible career pathways need to be highlighted to take advantage of shifting industry perceptions. Construction has never enjoyed the best reputation as a career desti

Ahead of the expected announcement from Chancellor Rachel Reeves that £1.4 billion will be spent to fix 'crumbling schools' in tomorrow's Budget, Isla Jackson, director of the Glasgow office at engineering firm Civic Engineers, outlines how this should play out following Scotland's RAAC crisis

Euan Clark, president of the Scottish Building Federation, warns that the construction industry in Scotland is facing a daunting combination of challenges. Within the Scottish construction industry, we are growing increasingly concerned about the constrictions facing the sector.

Michael Ross, CEO of hub South West Scotland, discusses the need to collaborate if we can deliver the decarbonisation goals in public sector infrastructure. As Scotland faces increasing economic challenges, the need for innovation and collaboration in public sector infrastructure has never been grea

ESPC CEO, Paul Hilton, discusses the rising popularity of this traditional property and asks why more aren’t available to satisfy growing buyer demand. When you imagine the kind of property young buyers want to live in, you’d be forgiven for thinking immediately of glossy city apartments

Edison Group CEO Calum Melville shares his thoughts about the continuing practice of retentions in the UK construction industry, which he argues has been a source of conflict for too long and calls for governments to act. Is there a strategy within the construction industry in Britain to drive contr