Building Briefs – April 26th

Developer Scotia House and CRGP architects have tabled plans to build 24 flats in a second phase of development off Glasgow’s Paisley Road West.

The project will take the place of The Red Lion Pub and take the form of a four storey block of flats.

Highland roads ‘need double spending’

Roads in the Highland Council area are deteriorating faster than in any other predominantly-rural local authority in Scotland, according to a report.

The Scottish road maintenance condition survey for 2015 found that almost 40 per cent of roads in the Highland region were in a poor condition.

Highland Council has about £7m a year to spend on road maintenance till 2025.

But officials warned that just to maintain things as they are would cost more than double that figure.

Survey teams examined almost half of the roads in the Highland Council area, including all the A roads.

They rated them green, amber or red - with red meaning the road was likely to need repairs to “preserve serviceability and to prolong its future”.

Councillors on the community services committee heard that the surveyors declared 39.1 per cent of Highland roads to be red, which is above the Scottish average and is an increase of almost 3 per cent since 2014.

The statistics also showed that roads in Argyll and Bute were the worst in Scotland - with more than half in poor condition - but the network had improved since 2014.

Scottish housebuilders invited to apply for green accolade

Applications for the Vision in Business for the Environment of Scotland (VIBES) Awards are now open and Scottish housebuilders are being encouraged to enter the search for Scotland’s best green businesses.

Now in its 17th year, VIBES recognises and rewards businesses employing environmental best practice in their daily activity to cut down on resource use, increase sustainability, improve reputation, enhance competitiveness, support wider sustainable developments and benefit their overall bottom-line. Businesses from throughout Scotland have until Thursday 30th June to complete their submission for the awards which are free to enter.

To date VIBES awards have been presented to over 100 companies from a variety of sectors and sizes illustrating the diversity of businesses that are contributing to Scotland’s sustainable development. Organisers are looking forward to seeing the fantastic work being carried out across the country this year and are urging businesses to enter.

There are eight award categories this year; Management Large, Management SME, Green Team, Transport, Circular Economy, Environmental Product or Service and a special Hydro Nation charity award in collaboration with WaterAid. This year will also see the addition of a new theme category for the first time which will reward innovation in celebration of Scotland’s Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design.

A Micro Business Award will also be presented to the best entry to any category from a company with less than 10 employees.

Last year, Taylor Wimpey was presented with the Co-operation Award alongside C&D Associates. The housebuilder was awarded for its contribution towards the creation of a source control Sustainable Urban Draining System (SUDS) technology.

Councillors progress work on Banchory sports centre

Councillors have approved a report to progress work on the Banchory sports centre project.

Members of Aberdeenshire Council’s policy and resources committee unanimously supported the project and recommended that the detailed planning application be submitted with detailed design work undertaken.

The new centre will include a six-lane swimming pool with training pool, suitable as a competitive regional facility, along with a sports hall, training pool, squash courts and a fitness room, and will also include changing and café areas. The squash courts will have a moveable wall making them suitable for doubles squash – the only facility outwith the central belt for this exciting version of the sport. When not in use for squash this is another flexible space for sport and community use.

The current sport centre will be retained, providing considerable benefit to Banchory Academy in delivering the PE and wider curriculum, but will also provide a four court games hall outwith curricular hours for local sports clubs.

It was noted by the committee that the total cost estimate of the project is in the region of £8.5 million with a significant contribution of that coming from capital funds and the council revenue budget. The community of Banchory and the surrounding area have committed to raise £700,000 to contribute to the facility, an incredible feat co-ordinated by the volunteers in Banchory Sports Village Trust.

The council is exploring heating the facility using the nearby state of the art biomass centre, and will host a range of other sustainable features including solar panels.

Volume of house sales up 18.2 per cent

The volume of residential property sales rose 18.2 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2015-16 compared to the same period last year, according to official statistics published today by Registers of Scotland.

A total of 19,802 properties changed hands between January and March, the highest volume of sales for these months since 2007-08.

The total value of sales across Scotland increased by 8.3 per cent compared to the previous year to just over £3.15 billion. The City of Edinburgh was the largest market, with sales of over £554.6 million for the quarter, up 3.3 per cent. Midlothian recorded the highest increase in value, with sales of over £63m, an increase of 56.5 per cent compared with the same quarter last year. Aberdeen City showed the largest decrease in market value, down 22.7 per cent to £162.7m.

The highest percentage rise in the volume of sales was in Midlothian, with an annual increase of 48 per cent to 333 residential sales. Edinburgh City recorded the highest volume at 2,507, up 22.4 per cent compared to the same quarter the previous year. The largest percentage fall in volume of sales was in East Renfrewshire, down 14.5 per cent to 288.

East Renfrewshire recorded the highest average property price at £222,303, down 7.9 per cent on last year. The largest percentage rise was seen in North Lanarkshire, where the average property price rose 6.6 per cent to £116,738. The highest percentage fall was recorded in East Lothian, with an average price of £207,276, a fall of 16.5 per cent on last year.

All property types showed an increase in sales volumes, with flats showing the biggest increase at 24.2 per cent. They also all showed a decrease in average price this quarter, with detached properties showing the biggest decrease, down 11.6 per cent to £236,249. Semi-detached, terraced, and flatted properties showed price decreases of 8.5 per cent, 10.5 per cent, and 7.4 per cent respectively.

Revised Selkirk holiday lodge plans rejected

Revised proposals for a holiday lodge scheme near Selkirk have been rejected by Scottish Borders Council.

The latest plans would have seen a total of 19 lodges constructed at Whitmuir Hall.

Three years ago a 28-lodge development was also rejected, despite being recommended for approval by planning officers.

The same has happened this time around with councillors going against advice from officials to approve the scheme.

Family firm enjoys new Dundee lift contract

Lift supplier and maintenance firm Caltech is eyeing further growth after securing a £1.35 million project to upgrade old equipment in a number of Dundee multi-storey blocks.

The manufacturer – founded in 1978 by Howard Renwick and now run by his sons Andrew and Fraser – is also on the hunt for new premises after outgrowing its current base at Dundee docks.

The new contract with Dundee City Council has begun and will see Caltech install eight new passenger lifts at four blocks.

The existing lifts, which are at least 20 years old, are being replaced with new anti-vandal specified equipment.

The contract is expected to take around seven months to complete.

Council completes facility refurb project at Ayr Beach

South Ayrshire Council has completed a beachfront facility refurbishment project at Ayr Beach.

A £400,000 contract to carry out renovation work to facilities at Blackburn Drive and Arthur Street in central Ayr was signed earlier this year.

Work has now been completed at Blackburn Drive, which reopened to the public on Saturday, 23 April.

Arthur Street is expected to reopen early next month.

Features of the project involved various improvements such as new windows and roof, rewiring, external foot showers for beach goers, baby changing facilities, new toilet and sink fixtures, sanitary fittings, floor coverings, and general decoration.