Surveying Scotland: Housing, Infrastructure and Flooding Strategy

Scotland is shifting fast. New heat rules for new builds, a transport pipeline moving, a national flood resilience strategy and the grid being rebuilt to carry offshore wind at unprecedented scale. Good projects will move quickly and the best of these will be future-proof. That starts with accurate survey data.

Housing and the Heat Transition

Scottish Government’s recent target to reduce 75% of emissions by 2030 means there are new compliances. This includes the “New Build Heat Standard”, which means any buildings constructed with a direct emissions heating system such as a gas boiler, must meet challenging targets in energy performance and will be encouraged to use zero direct emissions heating (ZDEH). This means architects and designers should plan for low-carbon systems from the first sketch, raising the bar on space planning, utilities and fabric performance.

Where surveys earn their keep:

• Topographic and utility surveys: Map ground levels, drainage and buried services. Plan space for low-temperature heating and sustainable drainage systems (SuDS). Use PAS 128 utility mapping to avoid any clashes, especially on tight streets and estates.
• Measured building surveys: Capture accurate existing plans, elevations and sections. Support refurbishments and regeneration by informing fabric upgrades, ventilation routes and metering points.
• Monitoring surveys: Track movement and settlement after occupation, particularly on brownfield sites. Spot issues early and plan fixes.

Transport Upgrades in Scotland

Scotland’s transport pipeline is now moving too. They are upgrading parts of the A9 to a dual carriageway, with Tomatin to Moy awarded the contract in July 2024, main works have started this year with additional phases already scheduled. Improvements to the A75/A77 corridor remain a strategic priority in Strategic Transport Project Review, alongside many others which are shaping Scotland’s transport investments between now and 2042. Clyde Metro still going through business-case stages, looking to tie new infrastructure areas to mass transit. Ferries and small vessel replacements are also progressing. For transport projects especially, timing is everything. Any delay to the supply chain is not only costly to the budget, but it also means roads could be closed for longer, resulting in upset road users and communities. That’s why you need data that gives you the confidence to make informed decisions fast.

What we deliver:

• PAS 128 utility surveys along corridors to cut reworks.
• Mobile mapping + control networks for long linear assets with minimal traffic disruption.
• Structural monitoring at interfaces (bridges, retaining walls, adjacent properties).
• As-builts that drop straight into GIS/BIM and O&M systems.

And now, with a highly experienced site engineer based in our Glasgow office, we can provide on-the-ground engineering support across Scotland quickly and efficiently. It means setting out, verification, and construction-phase support are available alongside our survey services, giving infrastructure teams a single trusted partner from design to delivery.

Water, Coast and Flood Resilience

Scotland now has a National Flood Resilience Strategy running to 2045, plus coordinated SEPA Flood Risk Management Plans (2022–2028) across all its districts. Expect more blue-green infrastructure, natural flood management and tighter planning around flood risk as a whole. The latest National Planning Framework (NPF4) policies were updated in 2025, clarifying planners and developers must work closely with Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and local councils to get early agreement on drainage and flood measures, and ensure new buildings include Sustainable Drainage Systems. It raises the bar on what evidence is needed before a project gets planning approval. Developers need solidflood modelling, hydrographic data and drainage layouts early in design to prove they meet regulations.

Where we step in:

• Hydrographic surveys for rivers, harbours and reservoirs.
• Drone LiDAR for floodplain and urban catchments.
• Environmental monitoring during works to evidence compliance.
• GIS deliverables that planners and flood teams can actually use.

Clean Energy and Grid Reinforcement

ScotWind totals up to 27.6 GW of leased capacity, with developers now iterating designs and supply-chain plans. Grid reinforcements like SSEN Transmission’s Skye 132 kV project are part of a multi-billion “Pathway to 2030” to move that power. Expect more corridors, substations and marine interfaces needing surveys, permissions and monitoring.

Survey implications:

• Offshore and nearshore: Topographic, bathymetric, UXO and cable landfalls.
• Onshore grid: Route feasibility, land referencing, utilities, structure monitoring, as-builts.
• Ports and freeports: Quayside upgrades, laydown, heavy-lift pads. (Green Freeports in Forth and Inverness/Cromarty are progressing investment plans.)

Shaping the Future of Scotland

Scotland is entering a new phase of growth. From low-carbon housing and major transport upgrades to flood resilience and offshore energy, the scale and pace of change are accelerating. Getting these projects right means starting with accurate, reliable survey data.

Survey Solutions delivers that clarity. We combine national reach with local expertise, backed by strong ESG credentials and digital-first delivery. And with a highly experienced site engineer now based in our Glasgow office, we can support projects across Scotland faster and more efficiently than ever.