Building Briefs – August 23rd

Regeneration firm Urban Union has got behind one of Scotland’s landmark events on the Highland Games calendar by sponsoring this year’s Perth Highland Games.

The Perth Highland Games took place in early August and for the first time in its history at a new location, at Scone Palace. Despite the soggy weather the event saw crowds gather for the main star attractions including Highland Dancing performances, heavy weight competitions and the tug o’ war.

This is the first year that Urban Union has supported the Perth Highland Games as a Level 1 sponsor – investing £500.00 in the events.

Urban Union is currently delivering Muirton Living, in partnership with Caledonia Housing Association and Fairfield Housing Co-operative. A multi-million pound project, the regeneration of Muirton will see Urban Union deliver 102 affordable homes in the first phase of development, followed by an additional 101 for private sale.

Funding secured for Johnstone Police Station conversion plans

Funding of £10,000 has been secured to help convert Johnstone Police Station into a new local health hub.

Active Communities will complete a feasibility study and further develop the business case for its proposal with the new funding from the Community Empowerment Fund.

The newly established fund is open to all community groups who want to take over ownership and running of a building or piece or land in their local area.

Plans for the community led health and wellbeing centre also include providing space for women’s initiative Kairos, who provide support to vulnerable women facing social barriers and a men’s shed for men to make social connections and build friendships.

The station kitchen could be adapted to give local people training in cookery and healthy eating and there are also plans to provide meeting rooms for other community groups.

Two other community initiatives secured funding from the Community Empowerment Fund.

Councillors on Renfrewshire’s communities, housing and planning policy Board approved £10,000 for Paisley Community Trust as it develops the business case to turn the old Arnott’s site into a cinema, arts venue and theatre.

West End Growing Grounds Association also received £20,000 to help them relocate to Underwood Road.

The next deadline for Community Empowerment Fund applications is Friday 14 September.

Improvement works to take place in Dundee

A range of improvement works are to take place in Dundee following approval by Dundee City Council’s neighbourhood services committee.

The £500,000 works include repairs and replacements to window and door surrounds in 547 council houses.

In addition, footway and surfacing improvements will take place at the Lilybank Housing Scheme and wall repair work will be carried out at Kennet Walk.

Tenders were also accepted for eight additional parking spaces in both Duncan Place and Huntley Place.

Housing minister tours Highland City Region Deal development at Raining’s Close

The Highland Housing Alliance led housing minister Kevin Stewart on a tour of new City Region Deal developments in the region this week, including Raining’s Close in Inverness.

Due to complete in October 2018, the sixteen new homes and one commercial unit at Raining’s Close, brings much needed housing for young people living and working in the Highlands and those wishing to return to the region, reinvigorating this area of the city.

With funding from the Scottish Government’s City Region Deal, the development is a partnership with the Highland Housing Alliance and the Highland Council, built by Ark Estates Scotland Ltd and William Gray Construction. One, 2 bedroom and five, 1 bedroom apartments will be allocated at an affordable rent from the Highland Council and ten, 2 bedroom apartments will be allocated at a mid-market rent initiative from the Highland Housing Alliance and HHA Homes.

The mid-market initiative at Raining’s Close, is specifically targeted at people working in the Highlands who are unable to raise the initial deposit for a mortgage to purchase a home on the open market because of funding shortages.

The intention of the initiative is to enable home ownership in the future, as tenants will be able to buy the homes they are allocated within a specific time frame. The rents for these homes will be above the level of housing association and council rents but will be below current private rental levels for similar properties in the area.

The 16 apartments are built in three staged sections that flow to create a single contemporary development. It will also feature attractive residents’ walkways with landscaping and planting, with a natural stone finish and vertical timber cladding around sections of the buildings. Secure cycle and bin stores are included within the development.

The development known as Raining’s Close, is named after the benefactor behind Raining’s School and is located at the top of Raining’s Stairs that connect the Crown area to the City Centre.

The Highland City Region deal is a joint initiative supported by up to £315 million investment from the UK and Scottish governments, the Highland Council, HIE and University of the Highland and Islands, aimed at stimulating sustainable regional economic growth.

Successful West Dunbartonshire LED light scheme used as example to other authorities

West Dunbartonshire Council’s energy efficient street lighting is being used to demonstrate success to other authorities considering the move.

The Scottish Futures Trust is to use details of the council’s £6.2 million investment in LED to illustrate how effective it can be.

The council was the first in Scotland to make the upgrade, which saves £450,000 per year in energy.

It is one of a host of major improvements to roads and other amenities in West Dunbartonshire after Council investment of £24.86m in the past seven years.

Another highlight is the Knowle Burn Flood Prevention Scheme, which improved safety and reduced the flood risk to 490 households. Since its inception, it has prevented at least five flood events.

The council also spent £10.8m on road surfacing that has resulted in maintaining road condition performance over the period.

A total of £922,000 has been used to maintain safe walking routes to schools, town centres, nursing homes and areas for disabled access.

And 80% of traffic signals and crossings have been replaced or modernized in the past five years.