Building Briefs – February 5th

• Queensberry Properties welcomes a ‘bonnie start’ at the mill

In addition, two forward reservations were taken on unreleased plots.

The new development, located on Newhaven Road in Edinburgh and adjacent to the Water of Leith, includes 36 properties for sale in a mix of one, two and three-bedroom layouts in no less than 16 styles.

The exterior architecture has been carefully considered to create an environment that reflects both the tranquil riverside environment and the industrial heritage of the site.

• Derelict West Lothian pub site to be bought for school expansion

West Lothian Council has backed plans to buy a derelict former pub site in Blackridge as part of a school facilities upgrade.

The council’s executive signalled the go-ahead for the purchase of the 0.34-acre site opposite the village primary school.

It will be converted to a parking area and drop-off point for the school as the area expands to accommodate new nursery provision beside the existing primary building.

• Restaurant plan approved for listed Stirling building

A vacant B-listed building in the heart of Stirling is closer to finally being put to use after lying empty for more than two decades.

Stirling Council planners have granted conditional approval for the property at 24 King Street, formerly council and bank offices, to be turned into a restaurant/bar on the ground floor plus six flats above.

Manaw Ltd applied for a change of use of the building, which features on the Scottish Government’s Buildings At Risk Register.

Agents for new owners Manaw Ltd, McEachern Architects, had said in submissions with the change of use application: “We believe to save this building we need to have a commercially viable redevelopment of the site. The former proposed use as a hotel is not suitable.”

• Significant bedrock removal works to commence at Portlethen cemetery

A programme of significant bedrock removal work is to be undertaken at Portlethen cemetery in the next few weeks.

In recent years, work to excavate new lairs has become increasingly difficult, mostly due to very large boulders, and in some cases bedrock, under the soil.

This has meant that specialist equipment has been required, at significant cost and causing the ground on the site to become damaged and look unsightly.

Geophysical surveys and test digs were undertaken in a bid to determine how much bedrock was under the site of the cemetery earmarked for a new lair.

Owing to the significant volumes uncovered, specialist heavy equipment is being brought in later this month to begin clearing the cemetery of bedrock.

This work will be undertaken during daylight hours only, but owing to the scale of the problem a firm timeframe cannot be established at the present time.

• Stirling Council accelerates roadworks action

Stirling Council will embark on an extensive programme of road improvement works across the region in the coming months.

The local authority has accelerated a number of projects from next year to target key location across the road network.

Roads maintenance teams are fully engaged in these works and have enlisted support from Falkirk Council to increase capacity to deliver these projects this year.