Insight Hub

• 16 March 2022
• | Chris Devlin

Scotland 2045 – how the NPF4 vision will affect the retail sector

On 10 November 2021, the Scottish Government published the long-awaited consultation draft of its Fourth National Planning Framework (“NPF4”). The ministerial foreword makes it clear that the overall approach is to assist in achieving “net zero sustainable development by 2045”. This is therefore one of the most significant publications in national planning policy terms as it sets out the Scottish Government’s vision for the next quarter century

• 14 March 2022
• | Musab Hemsi
• | Craig McCracken

Hospitality update – all tips to be paid to employees in full

The UK government has announced a proposed new law requiring employers to pass all tips to their workers. It is estimated that this reform will benefit around one million workers in the UK, including many who are earning national minimum wage and rely on tipping to top up their income. Estimates suggest that 80% of tips are now made on card and there are concerns that the move to a cash free economy has led to unfair tipping practices among...

• 14 March 2022
• | Linsey Barclay-Smith
• | Adèle Nicol

Assignation – how much leeway does a landlord have?

A recent Court of Session decision has considered the circumstances in which it will be reasonable for a landlord to refuse consent to an assignation of a lease.

• 10 March 2022
• | Christina Abbott

Divorce and separation – what’s the difference?

For those who are newly separated or going through a divorce, the start of the year can be an especially difficult time. January is a busy time for people separating after the stress of the Christmas period, followed by February with the pressure of Valentine’s Day, which can be a final straw for some. So, if you are going through this process, know you are not alone and that we’re here to help guide you through.

• 4 March 2022

Employment Law challenges for the construction sector in 2022

In the past, the construction sector hasn’t had to tackle the concept of flexible working.

• 2 March 2022
• | Rory Knox

A trend with the potential to revolutionise UK’s high streets

The covid-19 pandemic, the rise of online shopping and changing consumer habits have forced many retailers to reorganise their portfolio, with several opting to reduce their physical footprint on the high street. As they do so, landlords are left not only with empty units, they are also facing irrecoverable business rates and service charges. As well as the problems being faced by landlords, empty units on the high street have an adverse effect o

• 28 February 2022

Anderson Strathern appoints former Deloitte partner Mike McGregor as Non-executive Director

• 25 February 2022
• | Sarah Phillips

Top tips for managing a coronavirus outbreak in the workplace

Most of the coronavirus restrictions imposed towards the end of December 2021 to stem the spread of the Omicron variant were eased in January, although baseline Covid restrictions remain in Scotland. As we continue to make our way towards restriction-free living for the first time in two years, the return to office working has accelerated and with it the risk of future coronavirus outbreaks. So what should employers do now to be prepared for

• 17 February 2022
• | Alison Pryde

Taxing Scotland’s land – our most valuable asset

The Scottish Government’s commitment to land reform and its desire to create a more diverse pattern of land ownership in Scotland has been a key policy objective during its time in Government. Its current priorities for land reform were published in September 2021 and emphasised the Government’s desire to create a more diverse pattern of land ownership and tenure with a significantly higher proportion of land owned by the communities in Scotland

• 17 February 2022
• | Catherine Macdonald

Vacant and derelict land in Scotland

It is estimated that there is almost 11,000 hectares of vacant and derelict land within urban communities in Scotland. These sites comprise unused land, as well as land and buildings that have fallen into disrepair and require remediation before any further development or regeneration can take place.

• 17 February 2022
• | Linsey Barclay-Smith
• | Chris Devlin

Environmental considerations when dealing with rural properties

The environment and tackling environmental issues are at the forefront of climate change discourse, which has gained significant traction in recent years across all sectors. The rural and agricultural sector is no exception to this, with landowners and businesses alike increasingly thinking about how they can diversify, optimise operations, and develop new technologies to reduce their impact on the environment. 

• 16 February 2022
• | Jennifer Thom
• |

Access rights… nothing is ever straightforward!

Very often rural property is not directly accessed from a publicly adopted road. Access may need to be taken over roads, or tracks are owned by a third party. If you are buying rural land, ideally a seller will have a clear servitude right of pedestrian and vehicular access to that land over the road or track owned by the third party specified in their title to the land.