Building Briefs – August 5th

Crofters in some of Scotland’s rural and remote communities will benefit from better housing through funding from the Scottish Government.

Cabinet secretary for rural economy Fergus Ewing confirmed 21 crofters will share over £705,000 from the Croft House Grant scheme.

The funding allows crofters to build or improve homes, helping to retain and attract people to rural communities.

Since the start of 2007, over £15 million of grant payments have been awarded. From 1 April 2016, changes made to the grant support mechanism include a significant increase in individual grants, with some crofters now eligible for £38,000 of funding.

Funding will be made available to crofters in Caithness, Inverness-shire, Lewis, Skye, Islay, North Uist, Ross-shire, Shetland and Sutherland.

Plans for 65 Inverurie houses and flats

Plans have been unveiled to create 65 homes in the Conglass area of Inverurie.

If approved, the Bancon Homes development would consist of a mixture of two, three and four-bed terraced, semi-detached and detached houses, as well as one and twobedroom apartments.

Plans were previously approved in 2014 for 33 homes to be built on the site but these have not been taken forward.

A consultation in relation to the proposals took place at the Garioch Sports Centre in April.

Plan for 11 Aberdeen flats

Plans have been submitted to build nearly a dozen homes on an historic Aberdeen city centre street.

Alan Grant Developments wants to convert 15 Bon Accord Crescent, which has lain vacant since last year, into 11 one and two-bedroom flats.

The building has been on the office let market for the last 12 months via FG Burnett and no interest has been shown either to let or to buy the property as offices.

It is category B listed due to the original granite on the three and a half storey structure.

Appeal after Selkirk holiday lodge plans rejected

A developer who hopes to build 19 holiday lodges near Selkirk is appealing a decision to reject them.

Alan Williams was refused outline consent for the proposal at Whitmuir Hall by Scottish Borders Council’s planning committee in April.

The refusal came despite planning officials at the local authority and those in its economic development department backing the plans.

A planning reporter is now due to be appointed to the project before carrying out a visit to the proposed site.

A final decision on the development is expected in October.

East Lothian hospital deals up for grabs

Construction suppliers from East Lothian are being invited to an event in Haddington to find out about winning work on a £70 million new build hospital development.

The event, which is being hosted by Constructionline at Haddington Town Hall, will give contractors information on the new East Lothian Community Hospital.

Morrison Construction has been appointed to build the hospital, and Galliford Try Facilities Management will provide facilities maintenance under a 25 year contract.

Plans for new wind farm in Scottish Borders

Plans have been unveiled for a new wind farm in the Scottish Borders.

Greenock-based Gilston Hill Wind Farm Ltd want to erect eight turbines, each up to 413ft (126m) tall, on land north west of Gilston Farm, near Heriot.

The company said it was seeking guidance from Scottish Borders Council on an Environmental Impact Assessment.

They said that once that had been processed a planning application would be submitted.

Work continues on £5m Dundee water mains upgrade

Scottish Water is continuing to work on a £5 million water mains upgrade project in Dundee.

The next phase of the scheme involves lining and flushing of existing water mains as well as some open cut mains replacement in the Perth Road area.

As part the development, Scottish Water is hosting an information event for local residents to find out more information about the upcoming works this month.

The exhibition will take place between 4pm – 7pm at the Mitchell Street Centre today, 04 August.

Moray Council seeks views on harbour development plans

Residents are being invited to voice their opinions on development plans for six harbours in Moray.

The council is hosting a public drop-in exhibition this weekend to gather public views on future plans for the facilities in Buckie, Burghead, Hopeman, Findochty, Portknockie and Cullen.

Harbour operations manager, Duncan Brown, said residents are encouraged to submit their own design ideas for each harbour.

The exhibition will take place between 9.30am – 1pm at Lhanbryde Community Centre on Saturday, 06 August.

Next phase of M8 safety barrier upgrade to begin

Scotland TranServ is to begin the next phase of its £430,000 safety barrier replacement scheme on the M8 motorway.

Workers will start replacing the central reserve barriers at Junction 27 near Arkleston on Sunday, 07 August.

For safety reasons, the six-week scheme will take place between 8pm – 6am and offside lane closures will be in place.

Work to begin on West Dunbartonshire library refurb project

Work is to begin on a major library refurbishment project in West Dunbartonshire.

A total of £20,000 is being invested by the council to create new toilet facilities at Balloch Library.

Additional renovation work will also be carried out to the inside of the library as part of the improvement plans.

The Scottish Government is also providing £30,000 to improve IT facilities at the library.

The facility is to close for one week from Monday, 22 August to allow internal construction works to be carried out.

The library will reopen on Monday, 29 August. Further works are scheduled to continue for around six weeks.

Progresses on £750,000 Falkirk restoration project

Land Engineering is progressing with work on a £750,000 restoration project in Falkirk.

The contractor is renovating the town’s historic A-Listed Steeple and the project is to be completed by December 2016.

Works on the 43-metre structure include essential repairs to the stonework, windows, and clock face as well as the iconic ‘Cock o’ the Steeple’ weather vane.

The scheme forms part of the wider £5.6 million Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) and is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Historic Environment Scotland.