Building Briefs – December 10th

• Newly revamped care home welcomes first residents

Vera Weisfeld OBE, and her family, accompanied her husband to Bothwell Castle Care Home in Bothwell and the retail trailblazers were met by Jackie Weston, director of care, Katherine Bain, home manager, and staff from Bothwell Castle Care.

Privately owned, more than £10 million has been invested into the purpose built care home which will create over 100 full and part-time jobs and provide nursing, residential, dementia and respite care.

Built by Simply Construction headed up by Gary Sharp and Christopher O’Brien, the care home features an environment in keeping with a boutique hotel and is presented over three floors set within beautiful landscaped gardens. All 75 private rooms are exquisitely furnished and feature a wet room, and eight rooms include private garden floor terraces.

• Members of carbon neutral transition commission revealed

The first members of Scotland’s Just Transition Commission have been announced, alongside publication of the body’s remit.

The Commission will look at how to maximise the social and economic opportunities offered by moving to a carbon neutral economy and will be chaired by Professor Jim Skea.

Charlie Hartley is a member of 2050 Climate Group which engages, educates and empowers Scotland’s young people to take action on climate change.

Professor Karen Turner is founding director of the University of Strathclyde’s Centre for Energy Policy. The Centre conducts internationally leading research on the public policy challenges of decarbonising our economy. Her work focuses on understanding how a just transition may be delivered, and addresses key questions about distributional effects, employment and GDP.

Tom Shields is CEO of Spring Rise, a consultancy providing support to chemical processing, waste recycling and renewable energy industries.

Additional members will be appointed in the coming weeks. The intention is for the Commission to include representation from industry, business, trades unions, and environmental groups as well as academic experts.

• Renewables break 100% threshold for electricity demand

Wind output in November broke through the 100% threshold for the first time, with 109% of total Scottish electricity demand being met from renewables, enough to power nearly 6 million homes.

Another milestone is that for 20 out of the 30 days, wind production outstripped demand.

Gina Hanrahan, head of policy at WWF Scotland, said: “Wind power breaking through the magic 100 per cent threshold is truly momentous. For months output has flirted around the 97 per cent mark, so it’s fantastic to reach this milestone.

“It’s also worth noting that 20 out of 30 days wind production outstripped demand.

“Most of this is onshore wind, which we know is popular, cheap and effective. But the UK Government needs to allow it to compete with other technologies, by unlocking market access for onshore wind if it’s to realise its full potential.”

• New Invergarven School gets the official seal of approval

The people of Girvan and South Carrick have given the new Invergarven School their seal of approval following a community event to celebrate its success.

South Ayrshire Council officially opened the school on December 7 with children and families among the 70 VIP guests.

Invergarven is a school for primary and secondary children and young people with additional support needs. The new £4 million facility, which replaces the 1870 building on Henrietta Street, was built by CBC in the grounds of Girvan Academy.

The school provides spaces for learning and teaching including a sensory room, life skills kitchen, multi-use hall, a rebound therapy trampoline room, hydrotherapy pool and external areas that support outdoor learning. The new school also increases capacity by around a third with 20 children and young people able to be taught (up from 15 at the old school).

• Torvean Gateway public consultation opens

The Highland Council is planning for a new g to the city in the Torvean area alongside the West Link Road project, which is due to commence in 2019.

Stage 1 of the West Link road was opened in December 2017 and better connects people to this area. Stage 2 of West Link will soon get underway and this is creating great new opportunities at this important gateway to the city.  We want to hear what people have to say about our ideas for the future of this area.

The Draft Torvean Gateway consultation has launched today and sets out bold plans to create a new leisure and recreation destination for the city. It sets the framework for the development of land around Stage 2 of West Link and will guide development of the former Torvean Golf Course to create a great new destination for locals and visitors.

The consultation will run until January 25. The document is available to read and comment on at highland.gov.uk/torvean. A public exhibition will be held on January 10 from 12 noon until 7pm at Charleston Community Complex where officers will be on hand to discuss the plans with the public and answer any questions.