Building Briefs - June 2nd

• Cairngorm masterplan sets out 25-year vision for mountain estate

The 3,500-acre estate (1,418 hectares) includes footpaths and trails offering access to wild areas that provide habitat for rare mountain flora and fauna, in addition to the well-known snowsports centre and funicular railway.

The development agency has prepared the Cairngorm Estate Masterplan following widespread consultation that included local community and business groups, sporting and nature conservation organisations, and public bodies with an interest in the mountain estate.

In addition, more than 2,100 people took up a public invitation to complete detailed online questionnaires and submit views directly to HIE.

The outcome is an overarching vision for the estate as: ‘a world-class mountain environment where nature thrives and people of all ages and abilities enjoy access to outdoor sport, recreation and education opportunities in every season of the year’.

The masterplan will act as a framework to help inform future development plans and support delivery of a suite of strategies that focus on 10 inter-related topics.

Early priorities for HIE itself over the next two years include stabilising the present operating company, Cairngorm Mountain (Scotland) Ltd and reviewing options for future ownership and operating models.

Other areas of focus within the same timescale include ecology; sustainable transport; creating a plan for mountain biking; relocating the snow factory and electrifying snow cannons, and facilities development, including options for a new chairlift in Coire Cas.

• Hunter Portfolio in Hillington Park sold

Real estate advisor CBRE has completed the purchase of the Hunter Portfolio in Hillington Park, Glasgow on behalf of HKIP for in excess of £6 million.

The portfolio comprises five office buildings totalling 91,858 sq ft and covers a range of occupancy styles, including traditional open plan offices, single-storey pavilions and serviced offices. The existing tenants include Scottish Ministers, GE Energy, Schenker, Beeks Financial, IQA Operations Group and FES FM.

CBRE acted for HKIP in the transaction whilst Ryden represented the vendor Frasers Property.

• Dundee play area and environmental improvement works

More than £200,000 worth of improvement works to play areas, parks & green spaces throughout Dundee could get underway in the next few weeks.

Proposals to further the health and safety measures at five of the city’s play areas will be put to Councillors to approve the installation of soft closing gates at Whorterbank, Finlathen Park, Camperdown Park, Stobsmuir Park and Victoria Park.

Councillors will also be asked to support enhancements to the city’s parks and green spaces to make them safer and more attractive for the public, with plans for path & fencing works, signage and new planting being outlined.

If approved, the sites benefiting from the works would be Lochee Park, Magdalen Green, Camperdown Park, Dudhope Park, Broughty Ferry Local Nature Reserve, Victoria Park, Pitkerro Grove, Baxter Park and Castle Green. 

It is also proposed that nearly £60,000 worth of infrastructure works take place at city cemeteries to install concrete plinths, replace water stations, install road kerbs and create hardstanding material bays.

The neighbourhood services committee will consider the environmental improvements at its next meeting on June 7.

• John Swinney MSP opens ‘smart’ housing development in Blair Atholl

Perthshire North MSP and the new cabinet secretary for covid recovery John Swinney officially opened Atholl Estates’ new Watermill Development, a community of eight new homes that showcase some of the latest eco-friendly living.

The culmination of a six-year collaborative project between Atholl Estates and the Scottish Government through the Rural Affordable Housing Fund, the two-bedroom cottages have been designed to be highly energy efficient and low maintenance. 

Heating in the new homes is supplied via ‘smart’ electrical radiators that sense when there is spare energy on the national grid which can be used at a low tariff. While low maintenance both inside and out makes the homes durable and easily managed, both for tenants and the estate, over the long term.

Ideal for senior citizens, five of the homes have already been let to estate tenants currently living at Blair Atholl and the surrounding areas and Mr Swinney will meet them on his visit. 

The houses were designed by James Denholm Partnership and built by Osprey Construction. 

• Consultation on Inshes junction design options now live

People are invited to have their say in an online consultation on designs proposals aimed at improving the Inshes junction and its surrounding transport corridor in Inverness.

The area included in the ‘corridor’ includes the eastern approach to the Inshes roundabout on the B9006 across the A9 flyover; access to Inshes retail park; Sir Walter Scott Drive (north and south) of Inshes roundabout and the B9006 Old Perth Road to the Fluke Junction - fronting Raigmore Hospital.

Members of Highland Council’s cty of Inverness area committee have agreed that the cuncil will proceed with public consultation on options to improve Inshes Junction and the surrounding transport corridor.

Due to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, an interactive website will provide all relevant information and provide the opportunity for people to comment on the proposals. The consultation is available at this link.

• Holiday homes plan for the Ailsa Craig

Three old cottages on Ailsa Craig could be refurbished to create holiday homes for the owner’s family if plans get the go-ahead.

It is understood Bobby Sandhu, who bought the lighthouse keepers’ cottages many years ago, has applied for permission to make repairs and alterations to the B-listed buildings.

The cottages sit beside the automated lighthouse that dates back to 1886.

Proposed work on the historic buildings would include installing new doors, windows and insulation of the houses.

Plans include new kitchens and bathrooms being fitted.

• Caledonia’s new Dundee development enhanced with artwork

A professional sculptor has been enlisted to create decorative artworks to reflect the industrial past and enhance the environment for residents and local community at a newly completed Caledonia Housing Association development in Dundee.

The Association is starting to welcome tenants to new affordable homes at its Maxwelltown Development in the Hilltown area of the city. The new homes are part of a regeneration of the area to provide affordable, high quality homes. 

Caledonia’s development at Maxwelltown has provided 57 new homes, consisting of one and two-bedroom flats, two, three and four-bed houses all for affordable rent. The development includes 19 two, three and four-bedroom houses for low cost home ownership via a shared equity scheme, which sold out shortly after release.

An interesting element of the development is the inclusion of public artwork by professional sculptor Ailsa Magnus. She has created designs for bespoke door numbers and a series of decorative panels which will adorn the boundary wall along Alexander Street. Ailsa’s designs reflect the existing architecture and textures she observed in the local area.

Caledonia Housing Association is helping to transform the Hilltown area by providing good quality homes with a further project starting at Rosebank later in the year.