Building Briefs - 2nd November

The number of empty council properties in Aberdeen has been halved in the past year.

The number of void properties available for re-let declined from 399 to 211 (47 per cent) between October 2015 and October 2016, a new report by Martin Smith, the council’s area housing manager, states.

In July 2016, the number of empty properties was 177 – the lowest void figure since August 2012.

The average number of days to re-let void properties has declined from 104.6 days during 2015/16 to 56.8 days.

Due to the faster letting process, the council is losing “considerably less rent” due to the voids with their rate reducing from 1.66 per cent in 2015/16 to the current rate at 1 per cent.

Mr Smith wrote: “Having now cleared a significant backlog of long term voids from October and into April, we are confident that the improving trend will be sustained towards our 42.1-day target.”

Dumfries learning centre final plans tabled

Final plans have been submitted for the development of a specialist educational centre in Dumfries, which will be a key part of a multi-million pound schools modernisation programme in the town.

The proposals submitted for planning consent are to be the focus of a public exhibition at the Dumfries Ice Bowl.

The building - to be known as the Bridge - is earmarked to be built within the King George V sports complex off the Glasgow Road.

The centre is part of the £66m first phase of the Dumfries learning town project which also includes the development of a new north west schools campus and the re-development of St Joseph’s College.

The Bridge will offer specialist higher academic and vocational studies and will incorporate a support service for pupils with behavioural issues.

It will also provide learning opportunities for the wider community.

The plans put forward seeking approval for the Bridge will be on public display at the Dumfries Ice Bowl from 10:00 until 20:00 on Tuesday.

Plans for 91 Aberdeen homes on former school site

Aberdeen City Council has revealed plans for a major housing development on land once occupied by a primary school.

The proposals for the former Craighill Primary School in Kincorth is for 91 homes as part of a wider project taken forward by the council to build more affordable homes.

The plans are also part of the local authority’s Strategic Infrastructure Plan (SIP) to build 2,030 homes by 2017.

Other sites due to be developed as part of the SIP are the former Bucksburn Farm, St Machar Primary School, the former Aberdon Care Home, the former Tillydrone Primary School and Kincorth Academy.

In a planning statement it notes that it is important for the project to continue to meet housing demands.

It reads: “Currently the economy in Aberdeen has been feeling the effects of the sharp and prolonged fall in the price of oil since the 2014 peak. This has resulted in a reduction in rents and house prices.

“However, the cost of housing in Aberdeen remains high and unaffordable to large numbers of people. It is important to continue with these projects to ensure a stable housing market for the future that can respond to the needs of the economy.”

The application has been submitted by NORR architects on behalf of Aberdeen City Council. The development will be a mix of houses, flats, open space and accompanying infrastructure.

Healthy Working Lives Award for Clark Contracts

The Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives has awarded its Bronze Award to Clark Contracts.

The programme supports employers and employees to develop health promotion in the workplace. The first step is achieving the ‘Bronze Award’ and to do so, organisations must raise awareness of occupational health, safety and wellbeing topics identified by employees.

This includes staging a series of health, safety and wellbeing campaigns and activities and a mental health awareness activity.

Clark Contracts joined the scheme in November 2015 and its initiatives include the provision of free fresh fruit in both its Paisley and Edinburgh Offices, the formation of a running and cycling club, a series of nutrition workshops and arranging for a local deli to visit its Head Office to sell healthy produce during lunchtime.

The Paisley based construction company also worked in collaboration with Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership (RHSCP) to deliver Mental Health Awareness seminars in July.

The seminars were delivered by Audrey Hall and Margaret Toal of RHSCP, who led discussions on the definition of mental health, along with the associated problems, whilst highlighting mental health issues can affect everyone and are not necessarily negative.

Clark Contracts is now looking towards achieving the Silver Award, with a target of achieving this in Summer 2017.

Glasgow tops list of cities where buying is cheaper than renting

Glasgow has topped property website Zoopla‘s list of UK cities where it’s cheaper to buy a house than to rent.

Buying a home is now more cost-effective than renting in nearly two thirds (60 per cent) of British cities, according to Zoopla’s research into the monthly cost of renting a two-bedroom home compared to servicing a mortgage in Britain’s 50 biggest cities.

The proportion of cities that offer better value for money for homeowners has seen a 25 per cent increase since April, when the data was last analysed.

In Glasgow, mortgage repayments are currently 28 per cent cheaper than rental payments. Mortgage payers here part with an average of £450 per month, while renters fork out an average of £596 – a difference of £146, or 28 per cent.

However, across all of Britain’s 50 biggest cities, renters still pay an average of £40 less per month than owners. The current average monthly rent for a two-bedroom home is £714, which comes in lower than the average monthly mortgage repayment cost of £754. This assumes a 90 per cent LTV mortgage and the average asking price of a two-bedroom home in these cities being £150,796.

Zoopla spokesperson Lawrence Hall said: “Buying a property is a costly process, but once you get past the initial fees, it can – as our data shows – prove a more economical option on a monthly basis.

“Although large parts of Britain remain unaffordable for those looking to take their first steps onto or another step up the property ladder, these latest figures tell an encouraging story.

“Whereas back in April it was cheaper to service a monthly mortgage than pay a rental fee in just under half of Britain’s biggest cities, buyers are now offered better value in nearly two thirds of these locations.”