Building Briefs – July 30th

MSP marks start of new £3m Ayr affordable housing development

John Scott MSP helped cut the first sod at a new development which will provide 28 high quality amenity and general needs homes for rent in Ayr.

The development from Hanover (Scotland) Housing Association is a partnership project with South Ayrshire Council.

The building’s design makes best use of passive solar gain technologies meeting all 2010 regulation requirements and exceeding 2010 energy efficiency requirements. The total cost of the development is £3,052,000 and this has been funded through a mixture of grant funding (£1,680,000) and private finance (£1,372,000). The development is scheduled to be completed by June 2016.

Tenants invited to have their say on Crombie affordable housing plans

Members of the public are being given the chance to discuss a proposal for new affordable housing at Main Road in Crombie.

A drop-in event for people to view and comment on the proposal will take place on Monday 17th August in Crombie Community Centre between 4.30pm and 7.30pm.

The proposal is for 15 affordable properties to be built on the site of the former Crombie Primary School; a mix of one, two, three and four-bed bungalows and houses.

If progressed, this project may become part of Fife Council’s wider affordable housing programme to increase the number of affordable homes for rent across the county. It is one of a number of proposals being considered to meet the council’s commitment to deliver 2700 new affordable homes by 2017.

Crombie Residents’ Association is also considering the potential for a community project, which includes the use of the former Crombie Primary School, as part of a separate proposal.

Improvement works to begin on A71

East Ayrshire Council has announced it will carry out roadworks to the A71 between Drumclog and Strahaven.

Extensive resurfacing works near Caldermill will take place from 3 August until 9 August.

The eastbound diversion route will be via the A71 to Hurlford, A76 towards Cumnock, A70 towards Muirkirk then the B743 towards Strathaven, with the westbound diversion vice versa.

In addition, Ayrshire Roads Alliance, on behalf of East Ayrshire Council, will also be undertaking resurfacing works on the A71 between Darvel and Drumclog from 3 August to 7 August.

The road will not be closed during these works, but will have Temporary Traffic Lights throughout and occasional convoy working.

New bus interchange facility opens in Dyce

A new bus interchange facility has been opened at the railway station in Dyce.

The £426,000 development, designed and built by Aberdeen City Council, includes a dedicated bus access road, turning circle, connecting paths, bus waiting facilities, cycle racks and landscaping.

Other features include a new bus-only access road and turning circle to the west of the railway line on land owned by Aberdeen International Airport between Foinavon Close and the railway station.

In addition, the new facility will allow bus services to access the station with ease, providing a direct bus link from Dyce Railway Station to Aberdeen International Airport, the heliports and the industrial estates across Dyce.

The interchange facility was funded by a regional transport partnership for Aberdeen City and Shire Nestrans.

No hearing before ministerial decision on Strathmartine Hospital

There will be no hearing into a planned multi-million-pound housing project at the former Strathmartine Hospital, it has emerged.

A developer’s proposal to turn the B-listed main building into 24 flats, with 198 new homes in its grounds, was called in after a special Angus Council meeting gave its approval.

However Dundee City Council objected to Heathfield Ltd’s development near its border, on the grounds that the number of new-build homes was “excessive and not justifiable”.

The application was then “called in” by Scottish Ministers, with a reporter due to conduct a hearing involving the developer, both councils, and interested locals.

However the Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals has announced the reporter now has enough information to report to Ministers directly.

High hopes for £4m Dalgety Bay retail complex plans

A £4 million Fife retail and leisure complex could be completed in time for Christmas next year.

Breathing new life into the Donibristle industrial estate area of Dalgety Bay, the development will create 100 new jobs when it is completed.

Anchoring the site will be a 16,850 sq ft Aldi foodstore, a family restaurant and pub, drive-through coffee shop and commercial unit.

With outline planning permission already secured, the plans will form a new gateway to the Fife town which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

SMG director William McAlister said that the scheme would make a significant contribution to the area, providing both much needed facilities and a significant number of jobs.

Building is child’s play for Persimmon

Persimmon Homes East Scotland has donated funds to help a Midlothian nursery school to develop its facilities for budding young artists and builders.

Lawfield Nursery is among the local groups to be given a cash boost by the housebuilder as part of its year-long initiative to support local communities.

The firm, which is building at its Dewar Park development in Gorebridge, was particularly impressed by the nursery’s dedication to create a new learning environment for the children.

Staff and parents at the nursery have been actively fundraising to transform the outdoor area into a learning environment, which will include a builders shed, sand pit and an arts and crafts corner.

The donation of £800 is part of Persimmon’s Community Champions project, which will see a ringfenced fund pot of £24,000 donated to local groups and charities over the next 12 months throughout its region.

Two groups will now be chosen every month to receive a match-funding donation and organisations are being encouraged to apply by completing an online form at www.persimmonhomes.com/charity.

This month, a donation was also made to Productive Parents, a group who work with the local community in Falkirk to enhance the lives of children in the area.