Building Briefs – August 12th

EMA Architects have submitted plans for the replacement of two large warehouses on an 8 hectare site off Abbey Lane, Edinburgh, with139 apartments in a series of four and six storey blocks for Bellway.

In their design statement EMA noted: “The design will reinforce the urban fabric of the surrounding area and create a place with character and identity with high quality positive street frontages and maximum permeability and encourage social interaction. The massing and urban form will work well with the immediate surroundings and adjoining sites which are likely to be developed in the future.”

Plans for new Dundee indoor football centre

Plans have been revealed for a new indoor sports facility in Dundee.

A disused space at Baldovie Industrial Estate could be home to five football pitches and a multicourt for futsal, basketball and badminton, run by Active Soccer, on a temporary basis for five years.

If given the go ahead, the centre could bring 30 new jobs to Dundee and would provide a training ground for local clubs during the winter months, according to the company.

Both Dundee FC and Dundee United FC have written to Dundee City Council to back the proposals — highlighting a lack of similar facilities elsewhere in the city.

Previous applications to utilise the vacant building for a football centre have been rejected due to the centre not coinciding with council development plans.

However, the developers now believe that they have satisfied the issues which have prevented planning permission in the past, saying that the centre will deliver a safe football environment and be of great social benefit for the local community.

New Argyll and Bute primary school consultation opens

Plans for the new Kirn Primary School moved forward this week as the planning application was validated, opening the consultation process.

The school is one of Argyll and Bute Council’s flagship new school projects and is being delivered in partnership with hub North Scotland Ltd and the Scottish Futures Trust through the Scottish Government’s Schools for the Future Programme.

The new primary school has been designed for 320 primary pupils, together with an early years facility with 30 spaces. The project will see the refurbishment of the original 1881 school building, the demolition of the later 1950’s extensions and the construction of the new primary school building in their place which will include classroom accommodation, a library, dining facilities and a sports hall.

Further improvements planned for Dalmarnock area

A further £1 million is to be spent improving roads, pavements and lighting in the East End.

Clyde Gateway has already spent £1.4m carrying out improvements to French Street and Reid Street which it believes helped attract the new Police Scotland to the area along with 1100 jobs.

On Thursday, city councillors will be asked to agree to accept £1m from the regeneration agency to carry out an upgrade of Carstairs Street.

Work on third Queen Elizabeth University Hospital car park underway

A formal turf-cutting ceremony for the latest car park to be built at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow has taken place.

Dunne Building & Civil Engineering Limited are operating as main contractor for the design & build multi storey car park, which will include post tensioned slabs, external envelope, cladding, glazing, floor coatings and M&E installation.

When complete it will provide an additional 964 parking spaces at the new hospital campus.

Housing minister opens Aberdeen affordable homes

Grampian Housing Association celebrated a double achievement as it officially opened its 3,000th property built for social rent and also marked its 40th anniversary.

To mark the occasion, Margaret Burgess MSP, minister for housing and welfare, officially opened the association’s latest development of flats for rent at Spencer Court, Froghall Terrace, Aberdeen.

Grampian Housing Association received £1.048 million of funding from the Scottish Government along with a grant from Aberdeen City Council of £121,360.

The £2.04m development was completed in partnership with Barratt Homes and builds on the association’s successful and longstanding relationship with the house builder.

Spencer Court in Froghall Terrace provides 19 one bedroom flats and one two bedroom flat aimed at single people and couples seeking affordable housing close to the city centre.

The development is part of Aberdeen City Council’s Strategic Infrastructure Plan (SIP) agreed with the Scottish Government. Froghall Terrace contributes to the overall council target, to provide 2,030 new affordable homes in Aberdeen by 2017.