News

Scotland’s housing crisis is back in the spotlight — this time with empty homes firmly in the crosshairs. Housing Secretary Mairi McAllan has declared that it’s simply “unacceptable” for thousands of properties to sit empty while families struggle to find somewhere to live. More Officers, More Pressure McAllan wants boots on the ground. She’s pledging more funding for local councils to hire empty homes officers — people tasked with hunting down privately owned houses gathering dust and nudging, persuading or pushing owners to bring them back to life. One sentence: Scotland already spends £2 million a year supporting the Scottish…

Heading out on Sunday? Better check your train plans twice. ScotRail has announced significant service disruptions on the busy Glasgow Central–West Calder line — and the knock-on effects could frustrate weekend travellers across Cambuslang, Bellshill and beyond. What’s Actually Happening on Sunday? This Sunday, July 13, the usual train services from Glasgow Central to West Calder will come to a full stop. The reason? Planned engineering works between Holytown and West Calder. To keep passengers moving, ScotRail will roll out all-day replacement buses. These buses won’t just cover the direct route — they’ll wind through multiple towns to pick up…

A single underwater turbine off the Scottish coast is proving that tidal energy can go the distance — and maybe transform the future of clean power if investors take the bait. Six Years Spinning Under the Sea In the icy waters of the Pentland Firth, a narrow channel between the mainland and Stroma Island, four tidal turbines have quietly powered up to 7,000 homes a year. But what’s really making waves is that one of those turbines just crossed six and a half years underwater — spinning away without needing costly, disruptive maintenance. It might not sound thrilling until you…

Scottish households have been warned that the days of taking plentiful water for granted are over, as climate extremes push the nation toward serious shortages. Why Scotland’s “Plenty of Water” Myth Is Cracking It sounds odd at first, doesn’t it? A country famous for its mist, lochs and soggy football pitches now facing a water crunch. But Scottish Water’s chief, Alex Plant, says there’s a big myth that needs busting — that water in Scotland is endless. Turns out, the average Scot uses 40% more water than someone in Yorkshire. Why? Plant says people assume the rain and rivers mean…

Lower bills for Scottish households? Sounds like a no-brainer. But the UK government just closed the door on zonal electricity pricing — and the politics behind that choice are as charged as the grid itself. What Zonal Pricing Would Have Meant For years, Scotland’s abundant wind and hydro power have been a blessing — and a bone of contention. Zonal pricing would’ve set power prices based on local supply and demand. So in theory, Scots living near wind farms would pay less. Makes sense, right? Suppliers like Octopus Energy loved the idea. For rural Scots seeing turbines on every hill,…

From a Suffolk pink thatch to a blue townhouse in London’s Notting Hill, these pastel gems prove Britain’s love for colour hasn’t faded — even as some residents push back on Insta-tourists. A Blue Beauty in London’s Notting Hill Even with the odd local repainting their house black to shoo off influencers, Notting Hill’s rainbow streets remain iconic. This five-storey Victorian stunner, coated in a soft blue with crisp white trims, stands out even here. Inside, it’s got the lot — a kitchen-diner stretching the full length of the lower ground floor and opening onto a private garden. There’s a…

Scotland’s summer tour heats up with a fierce clash against Fiji in Suva this Friday. Both sides have named bold lineups — and a few surprise changes — as they gear up for their 11th face-off in rugby history. Big Debuts and Bold Picks for Scotland Scotland’s selectors have rolled the dice. New face Fergus Burke, who qualifies through his Edinburgh-born grandad, gets his first start at fly-half. It’s a big shout — Burke slots in next to Jamie Dobie at scrum-half, with captaincy duties shifting to flanker Rory Darge. Behind them? A backline built for speed. Darcy Graham, Cameron…

E.ON’s Steven’s Croft biomass plant is stepping up as the backbone of Scotland’s new HyLion network — aiming to put green fuel in the tanks of cargo ships, passenger jets and even racing cars. A New Player in the Green Fuel Game It might sound like something from a science fair — turning waste wood and whisky fumes into clean fuel for the world’s biggest engines. But the HyLion alliance has a plan, and it’s serious. Sitting at the heart of it is Steven’s Croft near Lockerbie. Since 2008, this biomass plant has been chewing through waste wood and recycled…

Consumer Scotland says Ofcom’s latest decision to reform the Royal Mail’s Universal Service Obligation leaves Scottish customers in the lurch. Island communities and low-income households could feel the pinch first. Reliability Down, Prices Up — A Bitter Pill For many in Scotland, reliable post isn’t a luxury — it’s a lifeline. Grace Remmington, Consumer Scotland’s Head of Post, didn’t mince her words when she called out Ofcom’s ruling this week. She pointed out that Scots have already weathered shoddy delivery reliability and soaring stamp prices. Now, they’re being asked to accept even less for more money. Is that fair? Hard…

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is preparing to meet US President Donald Trump in Scotland later this month, marking Trump’s first UK trip since his re-election. The meeting comes on the heels of their new trade deal that slashed US tariffs on British imports. A Surprise Reunion on Scottish Soil They only shook hands five months ago in the Oval Office, but a lot has shifted since then. Starmer, who has pitched himself as a steady pair of hands post-Brexit, now finds himself sharing tea and tartan with Trump — a president known for upending the rule book. Sources close…