Building Briefs – April 28th

The start of a new development of affordable housing in central Alexandria was marked by a ‘sod cutting’ ceremony last week.

Caledonia Housing Association, working in partnership with the Robertson Group, Cordale Housing Association and Dunbritton Housing Association, are commencing work to provide 55 new affordable rented homes on this key site in central Alexandria, formerly the site of the Kippen Dairy and Leven Cottage Hospital.

The new homes include 42 one and two bedroom flats, 2 wheelchair adapted flats, and 11 two, three and four bedroom houses, all for rent. Designed to high quality standards, including enhanced energy efficiency levels, the construction of these homes will signify the beginning of a transformation of the centre of Alexandria, and at the same time provide much needed affordable housing in the area.

The project is one of three new affordable housing developments due to commence shortly, the other two being located in John Street and Main Street, both in Renton. These three developments will produce 72 new homes and 14 refurbished properties. Most of the homes will be managed by Cordale Housing Association as part of a commitment made when they became part of the Caledonia Group in April 2014.

Argyll and Bute Council launching stalled spaces initiative

People across Argyll and Bute can look forward to derelict spaces within its key coastal towns being turned into temporary community assets thanks to the new stalled spaces scheme.

Many of these sites may have plans for future development but this can be often be years away.

This innovative project seeks to empower communities and help them reconnect with their own particular area, building relationships with both the renovated community space and with neighbours and colleagues.

Argyll and Bute Council is administering small grants of up to £2,500 to help properly constituted community groups enhance vacant or derelict land within their town centres.

Contract awarded for new cycle link

Westhill-based Chap Group has been lined up to create the Ellon Road Cycle Link. The work will involve upgrading a route from Balgownie Road to The Parkway in Bridge of Don.

Aberdeen City Council wants to resurface and widen footways and add signage. The job will also involve the installation of a toucan crossing. Bids of between £301,237 and £447,836 were received.

Traffic management must be agreed with the city council before any work starts.

Works start at Falkirk Rosebank Premier Inn

Construction works have started on extension to the Premier Inn at Falkirk Rosebank.

The extension has been designed by Lawrence McPherson Associates with the construction works being carried out by Ogilvie Construction. The construction works are expected to complete in the autumn.

The 20 bed annexe extension will bring the total number of bedrooms to 51.

Gavinton housing bid gains approval

Plans for a sizeable housing development on the edge of the Berwickshire village of Gavinton have been given approval.

The RM and JS Partnership wants to build 54 homes on land south of the Old Manse in Gavinton near Duns.

The project would see a mix of single-storey, one-and-a-half and two-storey properties.

Public consultation scheduled for Grassmarket development

Peveril Securities and Campus Development Management have submitted a proposal of application notice for the creation of a mixed use development including flats, student accommodation, café, hotel and an arts facility and workshops on Edinburgh’s King’s Stables Road.

As part of this process a public consultation will be held on 17 and 18 June between 15:00 and 20:00 at 8-20 King’s Stables Road.

The hotel will offer guests access to private courtyard gardens and has been designed to reflect the history and character of the Grassmarket. A number of potential hotel operators are said to have expressed an interest in managing the venue.

Wind power firm UrbanWind in £30m funding deal

Glasgow-based renewable energy firm UrbanWind has announced plans to develop wind turbine schemes across the UK after signing a £30 million funding deal with a private equity firm.

Zouk Capital will provide finance for smaller schemes which have won planning permission but lack funding to proceed.

Under the agreement, Zouk and UrbanWind will create a joint venture to develop suitable projects.

UrbanWind says it has about 100 sites in the development appraisal phase.

They are currently being evaluated for funding approval.

Cost of Perth Theatre revamp soars by £1.5m

The cost of redeveloping Perth Theatre has soared by more than £1.5 million.

Horsecross Arts, which is behind the ambitious regeneration scheme, revealed that the total price of the project has risen from around £15m to £16.6m.

The new calculations follow a review of designs and costs.

The group’s chief executive Gwilym Gibbons said that work on site had been hit by delays, but was now ready to begin soon.

The theatre is still scheduled to reopen in 2017.

Construction work progressing at Brechin abattoir

Construction work is now well underway at Brechin abattoir and is on schedule for completion towards the end of this year, according to Quality Pork Limited.

The multi-million pound development will effectively double the slaughter capacity at the abattoir and create a state-of-the-art processing facility producing pork for a wide range of domestic and export customers.

The new facilities have been designed to enable those numbers to increase further in the future as the Scottish pig herd expands.

Architects to reveal plans for new primary school

Architects Archial Norr are to reveal an outline design plan for Bishopbriggs’ new Primary School and nursery facility in East Dunbartonshire.

The school is to be built on the site of the existing Woodhill Primary School following its closure, along with the closure of Auchinairn Primary.

A Community Information Event has been organised for the public to view the draft proposals and find out more information.

Stonehaven Station car park to close for essential maintenance work

Aberdeenshire Council has announced the upcoming closure of Stonehaven Station car park in May. The closure is to allow essential tree-clearing maintenance work to be carried out.

It will occur at 6pm on Friday from 15 May to 18 May.

£3.64m regeneration project unveils new Borders bandstand

A new bandstand has been officially opened in Wilton Lodge Park, part of a £3.64 million regeneration project for the area.

Work on the site began last Christmas by contractors Lost Art.

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and Scottish Borders Council both funded the project.

Revamp plans for listed Bearsden arts centre

East Dunbartonshire Council has revealed plans for the refurbishment and extension of Kilmardinny House in Bearsden.

An information event held on 23 April highlighted the outlined designs and planned improvements for the arts centre.

East Dunbartonshire Leisure and Culture (EDLC) Trust representatives and council delegates attended the exhibition to answer questions from the public.