Building Briefs – August 28th

New affordable homes to transform derelict site in Ayr

A prominent gap site on the outskirts of Ayr is to be transformed with a new development of affordable homes.

South Ayrshire Council has approved plans to build 27 properties on the site of the former Whitletts Primary.

The £3.9 million plans will see a mix of 27 homes built, including 1-5 bedroom properties ranging from cottage flats through to townhouses facing onto Main Road. The development will be paid for by the Scottish Government’s Housing Subsidy programme, South Ayrshire Council, and with income generated from Council Tax levied on second homes.

To allow the project to proceed a block of four council flats on James Brown Avenue will be demolished to allow for access to the site without impacting on Main Road during construction. The three affected tenants will be rehoused on a temporary basis, and given the opportunity to return to the new development once it has been completed.

The council has pledged to work closely with the community during the construction phase to help minimise any disruption.

The project is scheduled to be complete by September 2019.

Residents looking to find out more about the project can visit an open day on Wednesday 30 August between 2 and 7pm at the Domain Youth Centre, Glenmuir Place, Ayr, KA8 9RP.

South Lanarkshire on track for 1000 new council houses

Construction is now underway at the latest phase of South Lanarkshire Council’s Home+ house building programme.

The site of a former primary school Belstane Gatein Carluke is one of nine sites where South Lanarkshire Council is scheduled to start house building this financial year.

The Belstane Gate development will bring 22 much needed family homes to Carluke.

The project has been designed by South Lanarkshire Council’s Design Team and is being constructed by Cambuslang-based CCG.

The investment, which is supported by Scottish Government funding, will see 22 new 2, 3 and 4 bedroom homes built, with completion expected Spring 2018.

With generous space standards, high quality kitchens and bathrooms the new homes incorporate renewable technologies such as solar panels, ensuring energy efficient homes which will be cheaper to run, benefitting both the environment and household budgets.

South Lanarkshire’s approach to energy efficiency will continue across all future developments including the fabric of the buildings and the use of high-quality insulation, modern heating systems and boilers, and wherever possible, renewable energy sources.

Cameron House unveils final phase of multi-million pound refurbishment

The Cameron House resort has unveiled its newly refurbished bedrooms and suites completing the final phase of its £4 million investment.

The 136 bedrooms, including 26 suites, have all been updated to offer a contemporary, luxury look while retaining the warm and inviting atmosphere guests have always enjoyed at Cameron House.

The design scheme takes inspiration from the hotel’s stunning surroundings, injecting a Scottish flavour with contemporary nods to tartan and layered paisleys throughout the rooms.

The completion of the bedrooms marks the end of a 12 month refurbishment plan at Cameron House, which has invested £4m into the resort. The year-long project has included a revamping of the food and beverage offering along with the hotel’s other public spaces, and the addition of the new Great Scots Bar Terrace, which offers a panoramic open-air space overlooking Loch Lomond.

Greyline Design, the interior designers appointed to undertake the refurbishment, have given the rooms a rich, colourful and opulent feel, by adding bold reds, including mixed eclectic furnishings and accessories that use a mixture of warm copper, bronze and antique brass fittings. Luxurious touches include fabrics from Osborne & Little, bespoke carpets from Gravity Flooring and upholstery from Zoffany with the main focal point in every room being the sumptuous handmade leather sleigh beds by Paton Developments.

NnG Offshore Wind Farm to make ‘major contribution’ to Scottish economy

A study of the Neart na Gaoithe offshore wind farm (NnG), carried out by the Fraser of Allander Institute at the University of Strathclyde, has estimated that over the lifetime of the project it will generate an economic impact equivalent to 0.6% of Scotland’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

After the completion of the new Queensferry Crossing, NnG will be Scotland’s next major infrastructure project.

The study into the economic effects of this £2 billion infrastructure project also reveals that NnG will create 13,900 person years of employment across its construction and operational phases.

Published today, the report was commissioned by Mainstream Renewable Power, developers of NnG, in order to evaluate and fully understand the project’s impact on the Scottish economy.

The study adds that some £382m of additional activity will be generated in Scotland’s construction industries, with a further £440.2m in the services sector.

Argyll and Bute roadworks project to begin

A £130,000 roadworks project is to begin in Argyll and Bute.

The scheme will see Bishopton Road and part of the A816 in Lochgilphead resurfaced on either side of the junction. Drainage works on the A816 are also part of the scheme.

The project forms part of Argyll & Bute Council’s £3 million Capital Road Reconstruction Programme and work is scheduled to start today.

Completion is set for September 5.

Further A9 Ground Investigations to start next week

Ground investigations on the stretch of the route between Pitlochry and Glen Garry are due to begin on September 4 as part of the A9 Dualling programme.

Although the vast majority of the work, which is expected to last around 30 weeks, will be carried out away from the existing road and will not require traffic management, some traffic management measures will be required when necessary to allow work beside the carriageway to be carried out safely.

This will include alternate single file traffic sections controlled by temporary traffic signals.

Scottish Water helps Milnathort get back in bloom

A Kinross-shire village is back to its picturesque best with the help of a donation from Scottish Water and alliance partner amey-Black & Veatch (aBV).

Residents in Milnathort have seen the village cross transformed thanks to the hard work of green fingered locals.

‘Milnathort in Bloom’ members used cash donated from Scottish Water and aBV to purchase planters and trees that have brightened up the area, much to the joy of villagers.

The donation from Scottish Water and aBV followed a £1.6 million investment upgrading the sewer network in the village.

Much of the project centred on the village cross with months of work required there to upgrade the sewer network in Milnathort.

Kelpies sculptor to create bronze elephant memorial

A bronze baby elephant sculpture has been chosen as the preferred memorial for families affected by the baby ashes scandal.

The memorial will be placed in West Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh, after being chosen by parents affected by historic practices at Mortonhall Crematorium.

Bereaved families were devastated after it emerged staff at Mortonhall had secretly buried the ashes of babies for decades without their parents’ knowledge.

A Memorial Garden was set up at the crematorium but some families have been unable to return to Mortonhall.

The sculpture, which will be created by renowned Kelpies sculptor Andy Scott, will stand 6.5ft high and will be embossed with a coat of forget-me-not flowers.

Small footprints will be shown leading up to the elephant’s trunk, which is curved as if cradling an invisible infant.

The nature of the memorial will be simply described in an inscription along the plinth.