Building Briefs – December 11th

New affordable Inverness flats handed over to tenants

The Highland Housing Alliance has completed a development of new affordable flats in Inverness and handed over the keys to the tenants.

The Academy Street homes comprises 31, 1 and 2 bedroom flats, 17 of which were handed over through the National Housing Trust (NHT) scheme by the Highland Housing Alliance and 14 flats were handed over by the Highland Council.

The homes are of a contemporary design and come with fitted kitchens, carpets, and blinds. They were built in conjunction with the Highland Housing Alliance, the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT), the Highland Council, Ark Estates and William Gray Construction, under the highly successful NHT initiative.

Charity builds economic case for doubling new affordable homes

Scotland will reap significant economic benefits if it doubles its affordable house-building programme, according to a new report published by Shelter Scotland.

‘The economic case for investment in affordable housing’ claims that if the Scottish Government were to increase funding to the affordable housing supply programme to deliver at least 12,000 new affordable homes each year, it would sustain up to 19,000 jobs, with every £100 million invested in affordable housing generating £210m of wider economic activity.

Investment in initiatives to eradicate overcrowding, dampness, disrepair and fuel poverty would all play a key role in reducing generational health inequalities.

Shelter Scotland argues that increased investment in affordable housing should also be part of a wider effort to stabilise and reduce volatility in Scotland’s housing market to avoid the potential harm of any downturn.

Ahead of next week’s budget, which will be laid out by the Scottish Government, Shelter Scotland is calling on ministers to recognise the compelling case made in the report and prioritise investment in affordable homes.

Councillors urged to reject wind farm near Fort Augustus

Councillors are being urged to reject plans for a wind farm with turbines almost as high as the Forth Road Bridge towers, less than four miles south of Fort Augustus.

The developers of the Culachy Wind Farm have already reduced the number of turbines from 25 to 13, but plan to make them taller.

The Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) say they would be too near the Corrieyairack Pass and historic Wade Road and would be in a recognised area of wild land.

Scottish Government given £4m for flood-hit communities

The Scottish Government will be given almost £4 million to help households and businesses affected by last weekend’s flooding, it has been announced.

It is part of a £50m UK-wide fund announced by Chancellor George Osborne. Communities in the Borders, Dumfries and Galloway, Tayside and Moray were among those hit by Storm Desmond.

Edinburgh street named as most expensive for houses in Scotland

Northumberland Street in Edinburgh has been named Scotland’s most expensive street, with an average house price of just over £1.3m.

Half of Scotland’s 10 most expensive streets are in the capital, according to research by the Bank of Scotland.

Edinburgh is home to 13 of the top 20 most expensive streets, with Aberdeen accounting for four and Glasgow two.

Only streets where there have been at least seven transactions in recent years are included in the survey.

Properties in Ann Street and Hatton Place in Edinburgh, Lorisbank Road, Rubislaw Den South and Friarsfield Way in Aberdeen and Baroness Drive in Glasgow are also worth more than £1m on average.

Mar Hall Avenue in Bishopton, Renfrewshire, is the only street featured in the top 20 outside one of the main cities, with homes worth £917,000.

Eight out of the ten most expensive streets in Aberdeen are all located in the AB15 postcode.

Midlothian regeneration project receives £150,000 boost

A regeneration project in Midlothian has received a £150,000 boost from the Scottish Government.

The award is part of the £1.7 million Community Town Centre Capital Fund and will go towards the regeneration of Penicuik.

The Storehouse project is set to include a bakery, café, kitchen area and retail counters in the town centre.

In addition, a Community Shop Social Supermarket will be created, providing low-cost food and life training for vulnerable people.

Repair work underway on waterpipe in Scottish Borders

Essential maintenance work to a waterpipe is underway in the Scottish Borders.

Following heavy rainfall and flooding last weekend, a pipe on the side of the River Teviot near Hawick was sheared when a section of the river bank broke away.

The council has implemented temporary road closures to allow Scottish Water to undertake the repair work.

The water utility company has already carried out repair works to Hawick Waste Water Treatment Works following the bad weather.

New playground planned for Angus primary school

Plans have been put forward to build a children’s play area at a primary school in Angus.

The two proposed development sites are located at Grange Primary School in Monifieth. One of the sites is located within the school boundary, while another is further from Grange Road.

Features at the park will include a wheelchair accessible roundabout, a nest swing and sensory games.

Both the proposed play areas would be accessible at all times through the installation of suitable perimeter fencing and gates.