Humanising hospitals
By Christoph Ackermann, principal at Building Design Partnership (BDP).
WHAT is a hospital’s primary purpose? To offer a diagnosis for disease. To treat the sick...
Addressing Scotland’s town centre retail challenge
By Andrew Woodrow, planning associate with Barton Willmore
I have fond memories of shopping in the 80s and early 90s. Visiting the Wimpy restaurant on...
Recognising what it takes to make a great development
By Steven Simpson, MD, Cruden Homes East
AFTER the shut-downs, materials shortages and lack of skilled workers that have challenged the housebuilding industry over the...
Demolishing RAAC-affected homes may not be the only answer
By Alan Ferns, director – structural engineering at Dougall Baillie Associates
It sometimes feels that, in the opaque realm of official decision-making, the temptation to...
Why property tax reforms south of the border matter for Scotland
By Ben Finnie, property sales director at Gilson Gray
The ongoing debate over property tax reform in England and Wales continues to make headlines. With...
Putting sustainability into practice with road bridges
Steve Duthie, associate director at Altrad RMD Kwikform, says the future of temporary works’ solutions for road bridge construction lies in sustainable products and...
Creating a challenge culture to deliver positive impact
By Martin Stevens, managing director and co-founder of HarrisonStevens
AS an organisation with challenge engrained in our business culture, we are used to taking ourselves...
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...
IR35 reforms will impact construction firms
By Alison Woods, partner and employment law specialist at law firm CMS
IN just under a year the Government’s IR35 payroll reforms will come into...
Unsafe cladding in Scotland: a brief guide to the new proposals
By Michael Collins, senior associate, BTO Solicitors
SINCE the Grenfell fire in June 2017, the UK and Scottish Governments have introduced a number of reforms...
Thinking inside the (sand) box could help solve water industry challenges
By Stephen Slessor, CEO of Scottish clean water technology company RSE
IT will come as no surprise that the UK’s water industry is struggling. A...
Six considerations for planning a construction site office
Thomas Bradley from Mobile Mini explains what factors businesses need to take into consideration when planning a construction site office
NOW that most construction sites...
The importance of surface water management
In January, the UK faced significant storms that caused road closures, disrupted rail services, and led to widespread flooding. Terry Wilkinson, specialist design and...
Planning a way forward
The Scottish Government recently set out proposals for “revamping” the nation’s planning system, which build on recommendations of an independent review carried out last...
West Lothian commercial property market ready to respond to hard knocks
Graeme Pollock is director and head of West Lothian agency at the Livingston commercial department of DM Hall Chartered Surveyors
WHILE commercial property investment volumes...
RAAC and ruin: the crumbly concrete crisis
By Michael Collins, senior associate, BTO Solicitors
Reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete, or 'RAAC', has been hitting the headlines over the last few weeks. However, RAAC...
Demystifying the rules regarding recruiting construction workers from overseas
By Mark Templeton, director at Anderson Strathern
In his spring statement, chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced that five construction occupations were to be added to the...
Dealing with Giant Hogweed or Japanese Knotweed on construction sites
By Keith Gallacher, director of Complete Weed Control Scotland
CONSTRUCTION sites throughout the UK are blighted regularly by invasive non-native weeds and other plants which,...
Flexible office space isn’t just for start-ups
By Guy Marsden, director at Highbridge Properties PLC
BY now, almost everyone will be familiar with the benefits of flexible working, where the traditional 9-5...
Planned changes to EPCs are welcome but leave some questions unanswered
By Calum Allmond, a director and head of architectural and energy services at DM Hall Chartered Surveyors.
SCOTTISH Government plans to reform Energy Performance Certificates...
