Edinburgh building news 2025, Lothian architecture images, Scottish architects, Modern Scotland property design

Edinburgh Building News 2025: Architecture

post updated 26 March 2025

26 March 2025

Homes for Scotland welcomes GDP quantification of planning reform in Spring Statement

Sector body Homes for Scotland (HFS), whose members deliver the majority of new homes across all tenures, has welcomed today’s confirmation by the Chancellor and Office of Budget Responsibility that planning reform being undertaken in England would add £6.8bn to real GDP in 2029-30 and £15.1bn within ten years.

Kevin Murphy, HFS Director of Planning, said:

“It is positive to see the level of ambition set out by the UK Government in the Chancellor’s Spring Statement today, reaffirming its intent to accelerate new housing delivery in conjunction with reform of its respective planning system. In doing so, the Chancellor has accurately acknowledged the significant economic benefits that new home building can bring, not just across local communities but nationally, in addition to the wide-ranging social benefits such as improved health and education outcomes.

“At the forefront of English planning reform, sits the national objective to deliver 1.3 million new homes by the end of the current Parliament, with the re-introduction of mandatory housing targets across Local Authorities.

“HFS has consistently advocated that this level of ambition be reflected by the Scottish Government, and has called for the adoption of an all-tenure home building target of at least 25,000 homes to be delivered annually to ensure that new housing delivery is recognised throughout Scottish Government Directorates as central to achieving the First Minister’s priorities for Scotland of eradicating child poverty, growing the economy, tackling the climate emergency and reforming public services.

“Issuing a clear call to deliver an all-tenure target of at least 25,000 new homes each year in Scotland would give clear strategic direction and intent between national and local policymakers to prioritise new housing delivery. Returning to pre-recession levels of home building in Scotland would generate £3.7bn in total economic output to the Scottish economy and support 87,000 high quality jobs each year.

“In the last two days, statistics have highlighted that new housing starts and completions have declined for the third consecutive year whilst planning processing times for new housing remain far above the statutory timescales in Scotland. In the context of the ongoing housing emergency, these statistics must be a clear call to action for the Scottish Government to implement similar levels of radical reform.”

19 March 2025

Homes For Scotland Announces 2025 Awards Shortlist

Sector body Homes for Scotland (HFS) has announced the shortlist for its 2025 awards programme. As well as recognising best practice and showcasing the critical contribution its varied membership makes to Scotland’s social wellbeing and economic growth, this year’s awards have extra resonance for the organisation as it also marks its 25th anniversary.

Renowned as the most credible awards in their field, the details of those companies making the judges’ first cut can be found here.

The theme for the 2025 awards programme is “Customers, Community and Commitment”, with the independent judging panel considering these elements as important as the integration of increasingly onerous policy and regulatory change.

In keeping with the rigour and robustness which distinguishes the programme from others, site visits to all those shortlisted in the Development of the Year categories alongside separate senior management interviews to determine who will take headline Home Builder of the Year awards will be undertaken. A vote by the HFS membership will determine who will be crowned the organisation’s prestigious Supporting Member of the Year.

Winners will be revealed at the Homes for Scotland Annual Lunch (sponsored by Burness Paull) at the EICC on Friday 30 May at which over 800 senior sector representatives and guests are already confirmed to attend what remains the date in the Scottish home building industry calendar.
HFS Chief Executive Jane Wood said:

“By the time the winners of this year’s awards are announced, it will have been more than 12 months since the national housing emergency was declared and it has never been harder to build the homes of all tenures required to meet the housing needs of all those living in Scotland. It is therefore more important then ever to recognise the great work that is being delivered in the face of enormous challenge, applaud the sector’s resilience in doing so and support its ambitions to ensure everyone has a safe, sustainable place to call home”

Chair of the independent judging panel Sarah Stanger, Senior Advisor at the Housing Growth Partnership and former Sales & Marketing Director at CALA Homes, said:

“With this now my fourth year of involvement in the awards, I have seen firsthand the importance and prestige which home builders attach to them so it is an honour to now be taking on the role of Chair, especially during Homes for Scotland’s 25th anniversary year.

“Members are clearly recognising this special year with a 61% increase in the number of entries. Given the high level of the submissions, this has made the job of judging even more challenging but the whole panel is relishing the process and looking forward to getting out to sites and meeting those who are so obviously dedicated to delivering high quality places right across the country.”

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The independent judging panel comprises:

– Sarah Stanger (Chair)
Senior Advisor, Housing Growth Partnership
Former Sales and Marketing Director, CALA

– Karen Armstrong
Former Sales and Marketing Director, Taylor Wimpey

Joanne Casey
Director of Westscot Living HA, Former Director, Mactaggart & Mickel Homes / Managing Director Mactaggart & Mickel Homes England

– John Cassie
Former Regional Chairman, Persimmon Homes

– Alan Gracie
National Housing Development Manager, Lloyds Banking Group

– Mike Guthrie
Partner, Burness Paull

– Philip Hogg
Director, Consumer Code for Home Builders
Former Sales & Marketing Director, CALA / Chief Executive, Homes for Scotland

– Diarmaid Lawlor
Associate Director – Place, Housing & Economic Investment, Scottish Futures Trust

– Paul Lawson
Chair 2025, Scottish Young Planners’ Network

– Steven Malone
Principal Architect, Architecture & Design Scotland

– Colin Rae
Senior Advisor, Housing Growth Partnership
Non-Executive Director, Springfield Properties
Former Group Executive Development Director, Places for People / Board Member, Homes for Scotland

– Stefan Szymoszwskyj
NHBC Director Scotland

18 March 2025

Final phase of Edinburgh Home Demonstrator

The development of 75 affordable, ‘net-zero ready’ homes at Granton Station View, led by the City of Edinburgh Council, has reached its final phase now that rigorous testing is underway to validate performance standards.

Edinburgh Home Demonstrator Granton

18 March 2025

St Andrews West masterplan news

Award-winning architecture and design practice Studio LBA has been appointed for the next residential phase of the St Andrews West masterplan development, following successful progress of the first residential phase, which is due for completion November 2026.

St Andrews West masterplan

5 March 2025

Bracewell Stirling Consulting Stirling Offices News

As it prepares to celebrate 100 years in business, Bracewell Stirling Consulting (BSC), one of Scotland’s longest-established architectural practices, has announced it has relocated its head office to new, state-of-the-art premises in Stirling. The new office, which will cover Central Scotland, is located at Scion House, Stirling University Innovation Park, replacing the original premises in Tillicoultry:

Bracewell Stirling Consulting Offices

13 February 2025

Unlock Scotland’s Past

photograph courtesy of Historic Environment Scotland (HES)

Explore millions of records online as Historic Environment Scotland (HES) unveils new website to access its collections, archives, images and information:

trove.scot Historic Environment Scotland digital portal

12 February 2025
Megan Veronesi appointed Interim Director of Edinburgh World Heritage

photo courtesy EWH

Edinburgh World Heritage recently announced Megan Veronesi’s appointment as Interim Director. Megan steps into the role previously held by Christina Sinclair, who leaves the organisation after four years as Director:

Edinburgh World Heritage Interim Director News

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