Building Briefs – August 25th

Private finance used to deliver social homes in Dunblane

Forth Housing Association has started the construction of a small development of eight homes in Dunblane without the need of a Scottish Government grant.

The homes, which include two fully wheelchair accessible properties, are being financed by a private loan and funds from a former charitable trust.

Thomas Brittain was a wealthy businessman who, on his death in 1964, left his home and funds to be used for the benefit of the elderly and infirm of Dunblane. Some 50 years later, with his former home having been sold, the trustees of his fund chose to close the Trust and, with the agreement of the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, transfer the remaining monies to Forth.

The money will help finance the 1 and 2 bedroom homes, which have been designed to meet the needs of elderly or disabled tenants. The homes will be available at Forth’s standard rents.

Orkney school closed after glass roof panel shatters

A school in Orkney has been closed to pupils after a glass panel in the roof of the building shattered and landed in the foyer.

The incident happened after pupils had left Stromness Academy on Wednesday afternoon.

Orkney Island Council said a technical inspection began immediately, with contractors on site to assess and secure the damaged area.

It is hoped that the school could reopen to pupils on Friday.

Homes plan for former Fraserburgh petrol station

Grampian Housing Association has unveiled proposals to convert a derelict petrol station in Fraserburgh into new homes.

Barbour’s Garage has been empty since a grocery shop run from the premises was forced to close down in January last year.

The Association wants to demolish the remnants of the petrol station on Cross Street and build new affordable homes to help ease Aberdeenshire Council’s housing waiting list.

A planning application has yet to be submitted but the Association is confident the development will have a positive impact.

Craig Stirrat, director of business development at Grampian Housing Association, told Scottish Housing News: “We are pleased to be working with Aberdeenshire Council to bring new affordable homes to Fraserburgh.

“We see this as a way of providing much needed homes for key workers and others in housing need.

“The redevelopment of this site is part of the town centre regeneration and our plans will be sensitive to the design requirements of a conservation area.

“We hope to submit a planning application for this joint venture by the end of the year.”

Loans increased to encourage self-build projects in the Highlands

Loans of up to £175,000 are now available to help people build their own homes in the Highlands.

The Scottish Government’s £4 million Highland Self-Build Loan Fund, which launched earlier this year, is extending opportunities for people to self and custom build homes across the region.

The available loan funding has now been increased from £150,000 to £175,000 to help an even greater number of people across the Highland Council area.

The Highland Self Build Loan Fund is a Scottish Government pilot scheme which aims to rejuvenate what was once the main housing delivery model in the Highlands, and generate growth in the “self-build” sector again. Applications are being accepted by The Highlands Small Communities Housing Trust (HSCHT), which is administering the scheme.

The fund will increase economic activity in the area and provide financial assistance to people who have in recent years been unable to progress with their self-build projects.

Clyde Gateway signs new tenant at Albus building

An independent publisher has made Clyde Gateway’s The Albus building its new centre of operations, in a move that brings 60 new workers to Bridgeton.

Peebles Media Group now occupy the entire ground floor of The Albus – a building which scooped the UK wide award for best office in the UK (up to 2,000m2) at last year’s British Council for Offices’ awards.

The Albus has a further two units currently under offer and is one of only a handful of speculative developments that have been built in the Glasgow City Region in recent years. This sustainable development houses seven self-contained open plan office suites over 3 floors from 2,067Sq ft. - 20,603 sq. ft.

The building delivers sound environmental credentials scoring a BREEAM ‘Very Good’ and is already home to MadeBrave, a full-service digital creative agency serving national and international brands.

Temporary buildings key to redevelopment of Dumfries college

Pupils at St Joseph’s College in Dumfries have been decanted into temporary buildings to facilitate the redevelopment of the college.

Forming part of the Dumfries Learning Town project, the major redevelopment will see the historic buildings refurbished while other buildings will be demolished and replaced with new builds. The result will be a learning campus that is fit for purpose in the 21st century.

Staff and pupils moved into the temporary accommodation on the site for the start of the new term.

Scotland house purchase lending up 23 per cent

The amount of money borrowed by Scottish home buyers is 23 per cent higher than the previous quarter, according to figures by the Council of Mortgage Lenders.

Home buyers borrowed £2.2 billion for house purchases, which was up 23 per cent quarter-on-quarter but down 1 per cent year-on-year. They took out 16,500 loans, up 23 per cent on the previous quarter but down 4 per cent compared to the second quarter 2015.

First-time buyers borrowed £920 million, up 42 per cent on the first quarter and 2 per cent on the second quarter last year. This equated to 8,500 loans, up 39 per cent quarter-on-quarter and 4 per cent year-on-year.

Home movers borrowed £1.2bn, up 11 per cent quarter-on-quarter but down 5 per cent compared to a year ago. This totalled 8,100 loans, up 11 per cent quarter-on-quarter but down 9 per cent on quarter two 2015.

Remortgage activity totalled £850m, up 9 per cent both on the first quarter 2016 and the second quarter 2015. This came to 7,100 loans, up 11 per cent quarter-on-quarter and 4 per cent compared to a year ago.

A9 scaling new heights at Alvie Primary School

The new term at Alvie Primary School ‘kicks off’ in style thanks to the A9 Dualling Programme.

Once the school broke up for summer holidays, contractor Wills Bros John Paul JV, who are currently dualling the A9 between Kincraig and Dalraddy as part of Transport Scotland’s A9 dualling programme, immediately set to work to revamp their playground in time for the new school year to begin.

Pupils will now have access to an all-weather, Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) which will enable them to play a number of sports including football, hockey, tennis and netball.

The contractor has also erected approximately 15 metres of climbing wall suitable for use by primary school pupils. As well as providing the children with a fun activity, the climbing wall is expected to improve the children’s balance, strength and flexibility.

Drainage has also been installed to weather-proof the ground as much as possible against the extremes of Scotland’s weather.