Building Briefs – August 31st

Peter Vardy to open new CarStore in Dundee

The Peter Vardy Limited automotive retailing group is to follow the success of its state-of-the-art high-tech car supermarket in Glasgow with the opening of a new CarStore in Dundee.

The massive new facility for quality pre-owned cars will be built on an 8.5 acre brownfield site on the Kingsway, just east of the Coupar Angus Road roundabout.

It will open in the early part of 2017.

The exact scale of the Dundee project has still to be finalised, but the site in Glasgow stretches across 70,000 square feet and guests can choose from more than 500 cars.

The Dundee CarStore, like Glasgow, will be fitted-out with a range of cutting-edge technological innovations aimed at enhancing hugely the consumer’s car buying experience.

Step forward for East Calder Partnership Centre

Significant progress has been made towards a new £2.7 million partnership centre for East Calder.

West Lothian Council received an update on proposals to create a new community space for the village, and gave its approval to go-ahead with the next stages of the project.

Community engagement and design development phases for the project have been completed, with the site adjacent to the current health centre chosen. Feedback from local groups and individuals has helped shape the proposals, including what facilities will be in the new centre.

An exchange of land with NHS Lothian will allow the new East Calder Partnership Centre and a new East Calder Health Centre to be built next to each other, creating a new civic focus for the village.

A planning application will be submitted soon, with a target of an operational East Calder Partnership Centre by spring 2017.

£6m Dumfries bypass upgrade nears completion

The final two stages of the £6 million maintenance programme for the Dumfries bypass are to take place over two weekends in September.

The work will be taken forward by Scotland TranServ, on behalf of Transport Scotland, on the following dates:

Cupar’s 1400-home northern expansion plans unveiled to public

The masterplan for the Cupar North expansion was unveiled to local residents with developers revealing the proposals could create more than 700 jobs.

Last week’s exhibition outlined the potential for around 1400 new homes, jobs and investment for the area over a 20 year period.

Included was a comprehensive explanation from the Cupar North Consortium, comprising Persimmon Homes, Headon Developments and VICO Properties, of the benefits and detailed planning of the proposed growth over the coming years.

A great deal of time and planning expertise has resulted in a proposed infrastructure that will not only provide new homes it will also deliver a new primary school, business and employment land, land set aside for the growth of local GP and hospital services.

A relief road will be supplied by the developers in the first half of the development that will allow traffic, HGVs in particular, to avoid the town centre which will improve air quality and pedestrian safety in the town centre.

In addition, the masterplan proposals show that the new roundabout to the east will open up access to land to the south of the A91 which is identified for employment use making delivery of these far more viable.

New pumping station complete in Orkney

Ross-shire Engineering has delivered a new purpose built pumping station for Orkney Council.

The 7.5 tonne building houses new pumps which will improve the water supply for Hatson Pier.

The facility is capable of delivering fresh water to the pier and is fully fitted with pumps, controls, treatment and monitoring equipment.

In addition to the new pumping station, the project includes two new water storage tanks capable of storing up to half a million litres of fresh water.

Ross-shire Engineering, based in Muir of Ord, is the main contractor on the project.

The tanks are now undergoing onsite testing/commissioning and should be ready for commercial use in September.

Farrans to develop Aberdeenshire sports and community facilities

Aberdeenshire Council has appointed Farrans to develop new sports and community facilities in the region.

The facilities will be built at two sites in Banff and Macduff.

The works in Banff will provide indoor and outdoor sports and community facilities at Banff Academy.

The new centre will include community and offices areas, along with viewing galleries for the sports hall and squash courts.

Outdoor terrace areas, car parking and landscaping will also be developed.

Further works include new football pitches, running and cycling tracks, upgraded tennis courts, a refurbishment of the PE department and a swimming pool.

Elsewhere, Farrans will develop a new pavilion and football pitches in Macduff.

The existing pavilion in Canal Park will also be refurbished.

BAM helps Dundee football team celebrate three in a row

Riverside CSC is kicking off the football season sporting a new look thanks to a trio of new sponsors who have stepped in to help the Dundee club.

BAM Construction, Gauldie Wright & Partners Architects Ltd and Careys Foundation have provided new home strips, an away strip and new tracksuits for the club’s U13 squad who are about to embark on their first season as an eleven-a-side team.

Doug Keillor, regional director, BAM Construction, which is building the new V & A Museum of Design Dundee, added, “Riverside is a pro-active football club with committed coaches, inspiring youngsters and adults at all levels of the game. We are delighted to give our support and look forward to seeing them develop as a team as the season progresses.”