Bracewell

30/10/2026

Scotland doesn't have a housing ambition problem. It has a delivery problem.

With 35,368 affordable homes completed towards Scotland’s target of 110,000 by 2032, the latest SPICe briefing highlights the scale of the challenge facing the housing sector.

While the Scottish Government’s commitment to increased investment and longer-term funding certainty is welcome, funding alone will not deliver the homes Scotland needs.

In his latest thought leadership article, Bracewell Senior Partner David Keith explores the importance of creating a stronger pipeline of deliverable projects, addressing barriers earlier and improving collaboration across the sector.

He also considers the potential role of the proposed More Homes Scotland agency and how standardisation, coordinated design and simplified commissioning could help accelerate delivery without compromising quality or placemaking.

The challenge now is turning housing ambition into homes on the ground.

Read David's full article for his perspective on what needs to change to make that happen:

Scotland has the ambition to build more homes. Explore what’s holding back delivery and what needs to change to turn housing targets into reality.

29/10/2026

A significant milestone for our longstanding client Bayne's the Family Bakers, with planning approval secured for the major expansion of its Orwell Bakery production and distribution hub in Lochore, Fife.

Bracewell has been pleased to provide the architectural design for the project, which will substantially increase capacity at the site and provide the infrastructure needed to support Bayne’s ambitious plans for continued growth across Scotland.

The proposals include an expanded bakery hall, enlarged dispatch facilities, new centralised storage and improved staff facilities. Sustainability has also been considered throughout the design, including a highly insulated building envelope, natural ventilation and daylighting, additional solar PV and sustainable drainage measures.

The investment forms part of Bayne’s long-term strategy to grow its network from 71 to around 140 shops, creating approximately 15 additional jobs at Lochore and potentially 300 new roles across Scotland as the retail estate expands.

For a family business that has been operating from Lochore since 1954, this is a major investment in its home base and an exciting next chapter in its continued growth.

Congratulations to the Bayne’s team and everyone involved in reaching this important milestone. We look forward to seeing the plans progress to the next stage.

23/10/2026

We are pleased to confirm that Bracewell has been appointed to the Professional Services Four-year Architectural Framework led by Langstane Housing Association

The four-year framework will provide opportunities to support Langstane Housing Association, Albyn Housing Society Limited (Housing Association), Castlehill Housing Association, Grampian Housing Association and Angus Housing Association Ltd with architectural services across their future programmes.

We are particularly pleased with the outcome of the competitive tender process. Bracewell achieved a perfect 100/100 overall score, comprising 50/50 for quality and 50/50 for price, ranking first amongst the successful bidders. Our quality submission also achieved full marks across every assessed area, including experience, project management, performance and communications, resources, and Health & Safety.

The appointment builds on Bracewell's extensive experience of delivering affordable housing across Scotland, from individual developments through to long-term programmes and frameworks. It also provides another opportunity to bring together our architecture, masterplanning and energy expertise to help housing providers deliver high-quality, sustainable and affordable homes.

We are looking forward to working with the participating Associations over the next four years and supporting their ambitions for new and existing homes and communities.

A huge thank you to everyone involved in preparing the submission and to Langstane Housing Association and its framework partners for placing their confidence in Bracewell.

19/10/2026

Great to see Highland Housing Alliance (HHA) take handover of 41 new two-bedroom mid-market rent apartments at Bynack More, Aviemore, delivered by our client Tulloch Homes.

Bracewell is proud to have been involved in the design and planning of Bynack More, and it is particularly rewarding to see these homes completed and ready for residents.

Importantly, eight of the new apartments have been prioritised for blue-light workers, helping key public service staff access good-quality housing in the community they serve.

The handover is another milestone in the partnership between HHA and Tulloch Homes, which has now delivered more than 200 mid-market rent homes across Aviemore, Inverness, Conon Bridge and Kirkhill since 2024.

In communities such as Aviemore, increasing the supply of well-designed, fairly priced homes for rental is about more than housing numbers. It helps retain people, support local employers and services, and strengthen the long-term sustainability of Highland communities.

Congratulations to HHA, Tulloch Homes and everyone involved in bringing another 41 much-needed homes through to completion.

16/10/2026

Great news from Castlebay, where planning approval has been granted for Bracewell’s proposals to upgrade and extend Bùth Bharraigh, an important community-owned facility serving the Isle of Barra.

Bùth Bharraigh has an inspiring story. Having occupied the former Co-op building since 2013 and faced uncertainty over its future, the community social enterprise successfully secured ownership of the building in 2023.

Today it provides an impressive range of services for islanders and visitors, including visitor information, an outlet for local producers, a refillery, bicycle hire, laundry facilities and hot-desking.

Our proposals will help secure the building’s next chapter, including a comprehensive upgrade of the existing fabric to improve thermal performance, durability and appearance, alongside a new extension providing additional toilet facilities and improvements to accessibility throughout.

The design will also give the building a more welcoming presence within Castlebay while retaining the community identity that makes Bùth Bharraigh such an important local resource.

Projects like this demonstrate the value of investing in existing community buildings and giving them the resilience to continue serving Scotland’s island communities for many years to come.

A great milestone for the project and we look forward to seeing the plans progress towards delivery.

If you'd like to support the next stage of the development project you can do so here: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/bth-renovation

13/10/2026

Plans have been submitted to Argyll & Bute Council for 24 affordable homes at Salen on the Isle of Mull, designed by Bracewell for West Highland Housing Association in partnership with TSL Contractors.

The proposals include one-bedroom cottage flats and two and three-bedroom family homes, helping meet local housing needs and supporting people to remain within their island community.

Shaped by the site’s topography and surrounding landscape, the design reflects Salen’s architectural character through white render, weatherboarding and dark roof finishes.

High levels of insulation and airtightness, alongside high-performance windows and doors, will help reduce energy demand and running costs. The proposals also aim to achieve Building Standards Section 7 Active Silver, Aspects 1 and 2.

Natural regeneration, biodiversity measures and a SuDS attenuation pond combine drainage provision with new wetland habitat.

We look forward to working with our partners and the wider project team as the proposals progress through planning.

Get in touch with our team to discuss how our architecture, masterplanning and energy expertise could support your project.

Bracewell.co

08/10/2026

Great to see Beatlie Road in Winchburgh featured by McTaggart Construction, a project designed by Bracewell for Wheatley Group.

The completed development provides 81 new homes, including 52 for social rent and 29 for mid-market rent, with a varied mix of cottage flats, bungalows and family homes ranging from one to five bedrooms.

The design responds to the wider Winchburgh masterplan while creating its own strong identity through a coherent palette of materials and architectural details. The development also achieved Gold Regulation 7, Secured by Design accreditation and compliance with Housing for Varying Needs requirements.

Delivered on a challenging brownfield site, the project required close collaboration between Wheatley Group, McTaggart Construction, Bracewell and the wider project team, responding to ground conditions, utilities, planning requirements and phased handovers throughout construction.

It's rewarding to see the completed development now providing high-quality, affordable homes and contributing to the continued growth of Winchburgh.

05/10/2026

Every building begins with an idea. Architecture gives it form.

For World Architecture Day, we’re sharing the sketches for some of our housing projects along with our 60-unit dementia-friendly housing project in Alloa to celebrate the creativity and expertise behind the places we design.

Sketching allows us to test possibilities, explore form and establish how a building could sit within its surroundings. Developing those ideas means balancing ambition with the practical demands of each project, from the site and brief to the detail that makes it work.

It’s a process of exploration, collaboration and careful refinement, and one that continues to inspire our team.

Get in touch with our team to explore how we can help bring your ideas to life.

Bracewell.co

02/10/2026

Great to see the new indoor football facility at Galaxy Sports Little Kerse now complete and already being put through its paces.

From the initial groundworks and er****on of the impressive long-span structure through to the completed covered pitch, it has been rewarding to see the project take shape and become a fantastic new addition to the existing sports facilities.

Bracewell was pleased to contribute its architectural expertise to the project. The new facility gives players, clubs, young people and the wider community more opportunities to take part in sport, whatever the Scottish weather brings.

Projects like this also demonstrate the wider value of investment in community sports infrastructure, encouraging participation, health and wellbeing while creating facilities that can make a lasting difference locally.

We wish Galaxy Sports every success with the new facility.

Shaping Scotland since 1925
Architecture | Masterplanning | Energy
Bracewell.co

30/09/2026

Bracewell’s Stephen Lynas, Business Development Manager, and Mark Hamilton, Strategic Design + Masterplan Lead, will be attending the RTPI Scotland Conference this Friday at the Strathclyde Conference Centre in Glasgow..

With this year’s theme, ‘The Future is Engaging: People, Places and the Planning Profession’, we look forward to exploring how meaningful engagement can empower communities, strengthen proposals and inform the way we plan and design Scotland’s places.

It will be a great opportunity to share perspectives and connect with colleagues across the profession. If you’re attending, do come and say hello.

Shaping Scotland since 1925
Architecture | Masterplanning | Energy
Bracewell.co