Building Briefs - December 1st

• Community to log on to hear about new South Lanarkshire wind farm

As a result of COVID-19 restrictions, three virtual exhibitions for Mill Rig, located 6km east of Darvel in East Ayrshire and 12km south west of Strathaven will take place in December to ensure people can have their say in shaping the project.

The online consultations will take place on December 7 and 8, both at 7pm, as well as December 9 at 2pm - and will be accessible by registering attendance in advance here.

Banks Renewables had some productive early discussions with the community over the summer allowing it to outline early details of the project.

In addition – and further aided by advancements in turbine technology – the developer has been able to reduce the number of turbines proposed from 10 to six, while keeping the amount of energy that will be generated at a similar level. 

The Hamilton-based employer, which is working alongside Wilson Forest Products, wants Mill Rig to deliver significant benefits to the local community, following on from major partnerships at its two other wind farms in South Lanarkshire.

Using the most efficient turbines available Mill Rig will deliver up to 36MW generation capacity – enough to power more than 22,000 homes with green electricity, with a lifespan of 30 years. It will displace more than 18,000 tonnes of CO2 from the UK’s electricity supply grid annually, the equivalent of taking 7000 cars off the road.

Through its Connect2Renewables initiative, Banks Renewables is committing to provide the local community with £5,000 per MW, which could be up to £180,000 a year towards local causes.

The community will benefit from a community benefit fund, which will invest up to £5.4 million into the area over the next 30 years. Banks anticipates £10m of the construction costs to be invested into local businesses, directly supporting 330 jobs.

At its current wind farms in South Lanarkshire, Middle Muir and Kype Muir, Banks has already established partnerships with local community groups and the local authority to ensure a significant positive socio-economic impact.

Likewise, a pledge through Connect2Renewables saw it award contracts wherever possible to local suppliers within 30km. For Kype Muir alone, this commitment has been estimated to boost the local economy by £101million over the lifetime of the development.

• Glencoe Mountain Resort planning reaches new stage

The Glencoe Mountain Resort has lodged plans to replace its fire-stricken base station.

The two-storey building will offer panoramic views across to Buachaille Etive Mor and glimpses up the hill to the ski area from the quieter mezzanine located above the cafe.

Officials will now begin the search for viable tenders to undertake the works, which are expected to commence from April next year.

The plans have been drafted by Anderson Bell + Christie with aims of providing a facility that is both fit for purpose now and adaptable to the future needs of the resort.

• Public Realm Improvement Scheme for Bridge Street Banff moving forward

Plans to breathe new life into Banff’s Bridge Street have taken a step forward after a delay caused by the lockdown this Spring. 

The project has been re-advertised on Public Contracts Scotland to select a contractor to undertake the works.
 
The Bridge Street Public Realm Improvement Scheme being led by the council’s Delivery Team will link up strategic projects and key areas of the town.

Its overarching vision is to make it an attractive environment for small shops and businesses as well as re-instating the key link between Old Market Place and the Town Centre. 

This is being encouraged by placing an emphasis on pedestrian movement rather than functioning purely as an area to park or as a through-route for vehicles. 

The project recently received a £709,030 share of the £3.28 million awarded to Aberdeenshire Council through the Scottish Government’s Town Centre Regeneration Fund which is aimed at driving local economic activity and stimulating and supporting economic improvements.

• Kingdom and Campion spread festive cheer in Alloa

Kingdom Housing Association and its contractor Campion Homes have made a joint donation of £1,000 to Alloa charity The Gate for the purchase of foodbank supplies to support local families in need this Christmas.

Kingdom is working in partnership with Clackmannanshire Council and Campion Homes to deliver an ambitious 60-unit development in the town centre location at Primrose Street, Alloa.

Recognising the unique challenges facing many families within Alloa and the wider Clackmannanshire area as a result of the pandemic, Kingdom has taken a proactive approach with its community benefit activity.

The Primrose Street development is being funded through Scottish Government Allia Grant, Kingdom Housing Association and Clackmannanshire Council.

The development will provide 60 units comprising one and two-bedroom flats and will be aimed at older tenants. It will have mobility scooter charging points, lifts, specially designed garden space to encourage outdoor activities and be designed to compliment dementia sufferer’s needs.

The development is due to be completed in Spring 2022.

• Highland Council agrees next steps for Isle of Skye and Raasay investment plan

Members of the Highland Council’s Isle of Skye and Raasay Committee have approved the next phase in the local authority’s approach to engagement on the Skye and Raasay Investment Plan.

The preparation of this place-based investment plan for the area seeks to ensure that public sector agencies, businesses, community interest groups and the wider community work together to agree a joined-up investment plan which supports economic recovery and addresses the unique challenges Skye and Raasay face.

Members also agreed a proposal to refer a final draft of the plan to a future meeting for approval.

A simple four-step approach to engagement is proposed including: re-affirming/checking the priorities and outcomes for the area; consider the projects in terms of their benefits, cost, value for money, cross-over and interdependencies with other projects; identifying funding options for delivery and addressing budget gaps; identify responsibilities and timescales for deliver in the short, medium and long term.

The proposed engagement events will be carried out in two stages during December and early January. The first event will involve lead partners, agencies, Development Trusts, project leads and key community representatives.

The second event would broaden the audience to include the wider public and any other interested parties. All events will be held online. Interactive mapping may be used to engage the audience and act as a forum for collating feedback.

The Highland Council and Highlands and Islands Enterprise will lead the process and seek assistance from Architecture and Design Scotland and Scottish Futures Trust to provide independent facilitation at the engagement sessions.

These organisations will also add value in terms of place making, design and feasibility and in identifying the funding opportunities, actions and responsibilities for delivery.

Councillor John Finlayson, chair of Highland Council’s Education Committee, also welcomed the engagement approaches outlined and was keen to mention how the plan will also look to support the development of education facilities on the island and in particular new schools for Broadford and Dunvegan.

The investment plan will be finalised at the start of 2021 and a final draft is intended to be presented to the Area Committee on 1 March 2021 for approval.

• Three community asset transfers approved for Highland communities

Three Highland communities are to benefit from the decisions of the Highland Council’s communities and place committee as community asset transfers have been approved for Corpach and Spean Bridge in Lochaber and Lochinver in Sutherland.

In Lochaber, the transfers agreed are for the sale of Community Centre car park in Corpach to Kilmallie Community Centre for £7,500; and a decision was homologated to include another car park in the extent of land be transferred at Spean Bridge Community Centre to Spean Bridge Community Centre SCIO (Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation).

Councillors also agreed to the sale of Lochinver Mission Centre in Sutherland to Assynt Development Trust for £1.

Community Asset Transfer requests can be made under the Community Empowerment Act and all three approved by Highland councillors are subject to terms of transfer.