Building Briefs – August 10th

Angus Carmichael has been appointed as Scottish Road Works Commissioner on an interim basis.

Currently service manager (network management) with Fife Council, Mr Carmichael is a Charter Civil Engineer with some 40 years’ experience of roads engineering and is an active figure in the road works community in Scotland having represented TayForth Area Road Authority and Utilities Committee (RAUC) for the last 15 years at the national level, and has been RAUC Scotland (RAUC(S)) co-chair for the last 3 years.

The appointment was announced today by Derek Mackay, minister for transport and islands. At the same time, the minister also announced an independent review of the Office and functions of the Commissioner’s role

Dundee MSP charts progress on new housing development

Dundee East MSP Shona Robison and local councillor Willie Sawers visited a new £4 million housing development being built in the Whitfield area of Dundee which forms part of both their constituencies.

Ms Robison and Councillor Sawers were shown round some of the 32 houses being developed by Angus Housing Association (AHA) in Ormiston Crescent by staff of the Association and the architect for the development, Ken Duncan, of local firm, Kerr, Duncan and McAllister. The houses being viewed were those nearest to completion by contractors Hadden Construction.

AHA director, Bruce Forbes, outlined the progress which has been made with the development since the demolition of the last Dundee City Council houses in Ormiston Crescent in 2014. He explained to Ms Robison and Councillor Sawers that this was the last stage in the regeneration of Ormiston Crescent, started more than 25 years ago by the Ormiston People’s Housing Co-operative which had become part of Angus Housing Association in 2003.

River Clyde Homes to continue £24m housing investment

River Clyde Homes is to spend over £2 million a month to upgrade homes across the Inverclyde area over the coming year.

The record investment comes as the based housing association aims to complete a nine year programme to bring its properties to the Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SHQS). Just over £24m will be spent on internal and external improvements to over 1700 homes, meaning that, in total, the association will have brought 5800 properties to the SHQS.

External works to varying degrees will take place in 1200 properties, while the final 530 homes will receive new kitchens and bathrooms. Preliminary works will take place ahead of a £2.6m investment in heating upgrades and system replacements to help alleviate fuel poverty, while £337,000 will be spent on equipment and adaptations to help tenants remain in their own homes.

Further works in the Holmscroft and John Street areas of Greenock will take place later this year with the latter seeing over £500,000 being spent on improving the landscape around the recently modernised homes.

Investment of £1.5m in the maisonettes and cottages in Slaemuir, Port Glasgow, is already underway and Cartsdyke Court in Greenock will get a facelift when new cladding is installed as part of a £1.4m package that includes triple glazing and new heating systems.

Sainsbury’s decides against Pitlochry store

Sainsbury’s has decided not to go ahead with building a store in Pitlochry.

The decision follows on from the supermarket giant pulling the plug on its planned £41 million store in Crieff Road, Perth, last year.

The company said there have been “fundamental changes” to the food market in the country, and claimed this was a contributory factor in their decision.

Fife Council invites public to discuss affordable housing development

Fife Council has invited the public to discuss proposals for a new affordable housing development at Monksmoss, Ladybank.

A drop-in event for members of the public to view and comment on the proposal will take place at Ladybank Library on Tuesday 25th August between 3pm and 7pm.

The proposal is for 23 council homes, made up of four one-bed cottage flats, nine two-bed houses, six three-bed houses, two four-bed houses and two two-bed amenity bungalows.

If approved, the council intends to purchase the houses from Campion Homes to rent to council tenants. They would contribute to the council’s wider affordable housing programme that aims to deliver 2,700 new homes by 2017.

Fife Council’s Affordable Housing Team is keen for local residents to come along to the drop in event to get their feedback on the proposal.