Building Briefs – April 9th

M8 Hillington Footbridge work postponed

The planned installation of the M8 Hillington Footbridge on Saturday 11 April has been postponed due to a forecast for high winds.

A spokesperson for Scotland TranServ said the M8 between Junctions 26 and 27 will now remain open until a revised installation date is scheduled.

Newly refurbished Greenock Central Library opens

The newly refurbished Greenock Central Library on Wallace Place has officially opened.

The new library, which represents a £2.3 million investment, offers a wide range of services in a flexible, modern and comfortable environment reflecting a 21st Century library.

Consent granted to develop Corriegarth Wind Farm

NBW Wind Energy has been granted consent to develop Corriegarth Wind Farm.

The development will have 23 turbines and have a generating capacity of up to 70MW, and effectively replaces the existing planning permission granted by Highland Council for a 50MW, 20-turbine wind farm on the same site.

It is estimated that Corriegarth Wind Farm would power 33,000 homes.

During the construction period, it is believed that local and national employers will be encouraged to compete for contracts for the manufacture and supply of turbines, as well as contracts for construction, operation and maintenance work on the wind farm. Stone for the construction of turbine bases would be locally sourced, creating indirect economic benefit to the local area.

The developer has estimated it will create 245 jobs during the construction phase. During the operational phase, the applicant estimates four to five full-time jobs could be created to undertake regular maintenance work.

NBW Wind Energy Ltd has indicated that the community benefit fund will provide approximately £100,000 per annum to support local projects.

Plans to modernise Airdrie school almost complete

Plans to modernise a primary school in Airdrie are almost complete.

Work started at New Monkland Primary School, Glenmavis, in June 2013 to develop new nursery accommodation within the school.

Phase two saw an extension including two new classrooms being added to the school.

The total investment is just under £1 million.

The school now generates electricity, after solar panels were installed on the roof of the extension, which can be sold back to the National Grid.

The final phase will see improvements to the exterior of the building.

Proposal for 10 flats and shop in Aberdeen

New flats, offices and a shop could be built in an Aberdeen community by “early next year”.

Culter Properties is behind the construction of 10 two bedroom flats, two offices and a retail site.

The site, which includes 24 parking spaces on North Deeside Road, was purchased by Culter Properties from Culter Car Centre in November 2013.

The firm then put two proposals forward, including 16 properties, comprising 11 two-bedroom flats and five one bedroom flats, but decided to go with the option that included the retail element instead.

Demolition work at Angus school site

Demolition work that will pave the way for a new multi-million-pound development at Warddykes Primary School in Arbroath is now underway.

Robertson Construction is carrying out six weeks of advance works that include initial site preparation and specific ground work.

It began in recent days with the janitor’s house being reduced to rubble.

The preparatory work at Warddykes and Timmergreens primary schools is being undertaken ahead of the appointment of a new contractor for the construction of the two schools.

This follows the collapse of the firm initially selected.

Hubco, the procurement agent of the Scottish Futures Trust, has identified a new contractor for the project and a detailed pricing exercise is now being carried out.

The £11 million replacement of the two schools is the first phase of Angus Council’s major investment programme to upgrade the primary school estate in the town.

River Clyde Homes has designs on the future with new Broomhill office

To underpin its £26 million regeneration plans for the Broomhill neighbourhood of Greenock, River Clyde Homes (RCH) has opened a project office in the area.

Based in a former shop unit on Broomhill Way, it will provide a focal point for customers as the three year project progresses.

Broomhill is a high density housing area where RCH manages 666 properties. It’s an area of mixed development, but the stock is largely of late 60s/early70s concrete construction. At its heart lie three multi-storey blocks, the look of which will be altered to stunning effect using a high specification cladding to create a dramatic new facade.

The area requires a radical and substantial investment in new services to support customers and capital investment to produce homes that are fit for the 21st century. But there is a strong community spirit in Broomhill and River Clyde Homes has worked with local residents to develop plans for the future.