Uncertainty is undermining Scotland’s building industry

By Paul Mitchell, operations director at the Scottish Building Federation (SBF) CONSTRUCTION is the engine room of the Scottish economy, contributing 7.4% of total output...

Addressing the Scottish housing crisis: a call for pragmatic solutions

By Fraser Lynes, MD of Cruden Homes SCOTLAND'S housing system is at a critical juncture. The Scottish Government has acknowledged the nation’s housing emergency and...

Quality placemaking has ‘critical’ role in supporting successful return of town and city centres

By Dave Kelman, project director of Crosswind Developments. Crosswind’s proposal to re-develop a 45 ha site in West Edinburgh into a mixed-use development is...

Brexit and bark beetle: what they mean for 2020 timber supply

Excess stock brought in ahead of the original Brexit deadline, uncertainty around the UK’s exit from the European Union, and challenges posed by bark...

Housebuilders who embrace ‘fabric first’ will reap the benefits

By Malcolm Thomson, sales director, Scotframe The rising cost of running a home set against a backdrop of economic uncertainty is an ever-growing issue. In...

Digital construction: enabling sustainability

Matt Wiseman, global digital innovation manager at Altrad RMD Kwikform explains how digital engineering tools are creating more sustainable construction processes while helping to...
Worker using a laptop

The massive challenge for construction as PFI agreements come to an end

As public sector organisations prepare to inherit assets built under long-term contracts such as PFI, they face a challenge - fragmented and inconsistent maintenance...

Brexit impact will be unclear for some time

By Shona Frame, partner and construction legal specialist at law firm CMS WHAT does Brexit mean for the future of Scottish construction? This really is...

The future of offices

By Dave Kelman, project director for Crosswind Developments While we can’t predict with any real certainty what our offices will look like in the future,...

Strengthening the supply chain

The industry has weathered tough times and we are now seeing more emphasis on collaborative working. Gavin Hamblett, Pre-Construction Director at Prater, explains we...

All about timing for collateral warranty

By Keith Emmerson, senior solicitor, dispute resolution (specialising in construction) at Gillespie Macandrew COLLATERAL warranties are an integral part of the construction contract landscape, filling...
Green roof

Soaking up the storm: how green roofs can help combat urban flooding

By Mark Harris, head of sustainability at Sika AS cities grow and climate change accelerates, flooding has become one of the most urgent issues facing...
Kawneer UK curtain wall facade

Designing curtain wall façades to accommodate building movement

By Gary Ledger, technical director at Kawneer UK THE interaction between a building’s façade and its structure is frequently ignored in the design phase but...

Ventilation fund grants for small businesses are ‘simply the wrong answer’

By Gregor Stewart, director at Stewart Temperature Solutions, based in Ayr THERE is no doubt we should applaud the fact that, in the wake of...
Billy Kirkwood, Scottish Building Federation

Construction’s apprenticeship concerns: rising costs threaten skills pipeline

Ahead of the increase in the National Minimum Wage, Scottish Building Federation director Billy Kirkwood voices his fears about the effect on craft apprentices EARLIER...

Pace of hub South West’s activity set to accelerate further

By Dr Willie Mackie, chair of hub South West Scotland In any large organisation, it is easy to become engrossed in the detail, but every...

Digging boom: critical need for asset searches

Richard Broome, MD at LSBUD, an online safe digging resource, discusses the surge in asset searches across the Covid-period and examines why the construction...

Commercial property sector witnesses fierce resilience

By Anna Reed, data director at EG FROM the new 220,000 sq. ft headquarters of Scottish Power to the flagship St Vincent Plaza development, the...

How to guard your property from flood damage

By Stuart McGinlay, structural waterproofing specialist at Wise Basement Systems WINTER has firmly descended on Scotland, and professionals in construction should expect and prepare for...

The workplace revolution – work less, play harder?

By Andy Hadden, founder and director of The Lighthouse Business Centres and founder and CEO of Wavegarden Scotland What do you really want from your...