Building Briefs – August 24th

Architects plans for the new St Peter’s House in the Orkney Islands are to go on display on Thursday, 25 August, for two weeks.

The plans by Glasgow-based Young and Gault Architects are to replace the current 32-bed facility with a modern 40-bed one at Garson West.

The plans can be viewed at Orkney Islands Council’s Customer Services in School Place, Kirkwall and at the Stromness Warehouse Building.

Tullis Russell biomass plant to be put to use in district heating project

Plans are afoot to use the heat produced at a biomass plant built for the defunct Tullis Russell Papermakers to develop a district heating network in Glenrothes.

The RWE Markinch Biomass CHP plant was commissioned in 2014 to replace Tullis Russell’s previous coal and gas-fired plant with additional power being exported to the grid.

Tullis Russell Papermakers went into administration in early 2015 and its electrical crepe paper division was later bought out by a group of employees to form Glenrothes Paper, which is still powered by the RWE biomass plant.

Ayshire Roads Alliance to carry out A71 maintenance work

The Ayrshire Roads Alliance is to carry out essential maintenance work on the A71 this weekend.

On Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 August the firm will be working on barrier repairs, gully clearing, grass cutting, road sweeping and litter picking.

The works will be carried out between 6am and 3pm from the Bellfield Interchange to Moorfield roundabout and from Moorfield roundabout to the boundary with North Ayrshire.

On Saturday lane closures will be in place in both directions between the Moorfield roundabout and the North Ayrshire boundary.

On Sunday lane closures will be in place in both directions between the Bellfield Interchange and Moorfield roundabout.

Mactaggart & Mickel Homes unveils plan to buy current home of househunters

Family housebuilder Mactaggart & Mickel Homes is making it even easier for househunters to make the move to a new home by helping them sell their existing property.

The company’s new Guaranteed Buyer Plan means the housebuilder can purchase a client’s current property at an agreed Part Exchange price if it is still unsold six weeks before they are due to move into their new Mactaggart & Mickel home.

Eligible participants will be given a free valuation of their current property and the Mactaggart & Mickel Homes will cover the Home Report, marketing and selling fee.

For those who want to take advantage of the new scheme their existing property must be located within the central belt and its value must be below 70 per cent of the value of their new Mactaggart & Mickel home up to the value of £225,000.

Househunters interested in purchasing a home with Mactaggart & Mickel Homes can find out if they qualify for the new Guaranteed Buyer Scheme by speaking with the onsite sales consultants at their chosen development.

Irvine Housing Association announces new chair and board members

Irvine Housing Association welcomed Duncan McEachran as new chair of the Association at its 22nd AGM last week following the end of former chair Alan West’s five-year tenure.

Duncan, a board member since 2012, is former chief internal auditor of NHS Dumfries & Galloway and former finance director and executive board member of Dumfries & Galloway Health Board, and brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience in the not for-profit sector.

Duncan is currently a trustee for Action for Sick Children (Scotland). He is also a lay member of Justice of the Peace Advisory Committee (South Strathclyde, Dumfries & Galloway) and trustee (chair) of Relationships Scotland, Dumfries and Galloway.

The Association also announced the appointment of four new board members following the AGM. Ann Robertson MBE, tenant representative with a strong focus on community; Gerry Darroch with a broad range of housing and public sector and experience; Jessica Meek, housing analyst consultant and Margaret Burgess, former minister for housing and welfare and MSP for Cunninghame South 2011-16, and former manager of East Ayrshire Citizens Advice Bureau.

£400,000 funding announced to improve woodlands and green infrastructure

A total of £400,000 funding has been allocated to improve woodlands and green infrastructure in Scotland.

Applications are now open for the latest phase of Central Scotland Green Network (CSGN) funding.

The CSGN aims to transform the central belt into a place where the environment adds value to the economy and enriches the quality of people’s lives.

A90/M90 spur overnight works

An overhead gantry is to be installed on the A90 near South Queensferry this weekend.

The gantry is the first of two installations as part of the significant road upgrade for the new Queensferry Crossing.

It will be installed on the southbound carriageway at the point where the A90 to Edinburgh and the M90 Spur separate.

Lane restrictions will be in place on the A90 in both directions from 20:00 hours, with full closure of the A90 southbound from 23:00 hours to 05:00 hours.

The southbound carriageway on the M90 spur will completely close between 21:00 hours to 05:00 hours. Traffic approaching the Forth Road Bridge from the north will be re-directed via Kincardine Bridge.

The outside lane on the M90 spur northbound will also close from 21:00 hours reopening at 05:00 hours.