Building Briefs – April 21st

New manager takes the reins at Hardies St Andrews

Gary Ovenstone is to begin managing the St Andrews office of Hardies Property & Construction Consultants following the retirement of Jim McArthur, a long standing Partner of the firm for the last 30 years.

Appointed one of eleven new equity partners by Hardies at the start of April, Gary said: “It’s a new era at Hardies, but not only here in St Andrews as we say ‘Happy Semi-Retirement’ to Jim McArthur who is continuing as a Consultant in another part of the business. Whilst we acknowledge his contribution to the development of the firm and thank him for his many years of service, there is a changing of the guard through the whole from too as our new business organisation structure beds in. Following an internal selection process eleven new equity partners to lead the firm forward were identified.”

Forfar housing development recommended for approval

Angus councillors will be asked to approve the building of 300 houses on the outskirts of Forfar.

According to The Courier, the near 18-hectare development by Elite Homes (Tayside) Ltd at Turfbeg will change the shape of the town at its north-western reaches and border the soon-to-begin Forfar Community Campus.

The land is currently used for farming.

Guild Homes, Elite’s project partners, describe the proposed development as being situated in one of the most sought-after parts of Forfar, near to the town centre and close to Forfar Loch Country Park.

In her report to the development standards committee, which meets today, Vivien Smith, head of planning and place, recommends the project’s approval.

Ms Smith states that it would address an identified shortfall in the five-year effective housing land supply in the west Angus housing market area in a way that is broadly compliant to development plan policy.

She said: “Potential impacts associated with the development can be appropriately mitigated and there are no material planning considerations that justify refusal of the application.”

Forfar Community Council expressed opposition to the multi-million-pound project due to concerns they have about local road links.

However, the developers have offered to work with the community in a bid to find solutions.

Associated roads, landscaping and community facilities are all included in the proposals.

Among other objections have been concerns about the size of the development; that it is not needed in Forfar; and that the housing needs for this part of Angus should not be met by Forfar alone.

During consultation, it was identified that the population increase that would follow the construction of 300 homes could present a challenge to school rolls at a time when primary and secondary schools are already close to capacity.

However, education officials indicated this could be offset by a financial contribution from the developers towards the necessary cost of improving the school infrastructure that would ensure capacity demands could be met.

If the planning application is approved, the first houses north of Turfbeg could be finished next year, when the new Forfar Academy is scheduled to be ready within the community campus.

HSS on course to add 50 branches

Tool rental firm HSS Hire has said it is opening new branches at a rate of almost one a week as it steps up growth following its flotation earlier this year.

The company boosted sales by just over a quarter to £284.6 million in the year December 27 after opening 23 branches in the period.

Since then it has opened 13 new sites in the first quarter of the year to leave it on course to add 50 branches this year.

A rise in costs including a £6.6m refinancing charge meant the company reported a full-year loss of £8.5m, compared to a £2.6m profit the year before.

Work gets underway on mixed use Peterculter scheme

William Lippe Architects have begun delivery of a mixed use scheme on behalf of Culter Properties on North Deeside Road, Peterculter, comprising 12 flats and a retail unit.

Occupying a brownfield plot the scheme is intended to complement the town’s geography with a contemporary building employing coloured projecting balconies to the rear, contrasting with a monochromatic public face to the main road.

Work is expected to complete by spring 2016.

Stranoch wind farm public inquiry starts

A public inquiry is set to get under way into plans for a 24-turbine wind farm in south west Scotland.

Dumfries and Galloway Council has already lodged a formal objection to Wind Prospect’s plans on moorland at Stranoch, near New Luce.

Developers say it could produce enough electricity to meet the needs of more than 40,000 homes.

The council has expressed its concerns about the cumulative impact of the scheme on the area.

The public inquiry, at the North West Castle Hotel in Stranraer, is expected to last three days.

It will be conducted by a reporter appointed by the Scottish government.

BWE Partnership to build 9.5MW solar park near Arbroath

Construction work on a commercial-scale solar park in Angus will start at the end of this year, according to developers.

Aberdeen-based BWE Partnership has already gained planning permission for a 9.5MW solar photovoltaic (PV) park on farmland at Carmyllie, near Arbroath.

BWE said the project could produce enough energy to power 6,670 homes.

It has already secured a 9.5MW connection agreement with Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution.

The firm expects the New Mains of Guynd park to start generating electricity early next year.

St Andrews to build two-tier 2015 Open grandstand

The first-ever two-tiered stand to be built at an Open Championship venue will help create the “best closing arena in golf” at this year’s event at St Andrews, according to the R&A.

Two grandstands down the side of the first hole on the Old Course, one at the side of the 17th green and the ground-breaking structure behind the 18th green will provide seating for 10,000 spectators.

Almost half of the total grandstand capacity for the event’s 144th staging, the aim is to create an amphitheatre that is second to none in the sport as the 2015 champion sinks the winning putt.