Building Briefs – December 19th

Grampian Housing Association continues commitment to Peterhead town centre regeneration

Work has started on Grampian Housing Association’s newest development in Peterhead, where it is building 17 affordable two-bedroom flats on a previously derelict site.

The development supports Aberdeenshire Council’s Regeneration Strategy, which aims to drive prosperity by breathing new life into empty and derelict plots.

The properties on Windmill Street, which will be available for rent, are all designed to be energy efficient. Four will be specially adapted for disabled people.

The £2.2 million development is being built in partnership with Chattan Estates, backed by grant funding of £1,334,160 from the Scottish Government.

The flats are expected to be completed by the autumn of 2018.

Vacant, deteriorating, derelict and abandoned buildings and land have a highly detrimental impact on the appearance and amenity of the surrounding area, discouraging inward investment and negatively affecting surrounding property values.

Aberdeenshire Council’s Regeneration Strategy sets out the holistic approach required to achieve the renewal and development of Peterhead. The key aims of the strategy focus on People, Places, and Prosperity.

New first time buyer homes approved in Grantown-on-Spey

The Cairngorms National Park Authority has granted planning permission for 16 new homes aimed at first time buyers to be built in Grantown-on-Spey.

The development is part of the Seafield Avenue/Beachen Court development which was granted planning permission in 2016. That application was for a development of 43 plots and associated works as well as a related application for 10 affordable homes on a neighbouring plot, which are currently under construction.

This latest phase of 16 properties – a mixture of two and three bedroom units – are of such a design that first time buyers will qualify for the Scottish Government’s ‘Help to Buy’ scheme.

New council homes completed in Livingston

Tenants have received their keys to a newly completed development of council homes in Livingston.

A total of 10 new homes have been built at Appleton Drive within the Barratt development in Eliburn.

Featuring a mix of cottage flats and semi-detached houses, the housing are amongst the first new build local authority homes to be fitted with PV solar panels and are designed to have a carbon offset which will help reduce the carbon footprint for this development.

West Lothian Council is currently building 1,000 new homes across all nine council ward areas as part of a £111 million investment in housing.

More A9 design work published

Transport Scotland is continuing the design work to progress the A9 Dualling programme.

The draft Orders and Environmental Statement for the Glen Garry to Dalwhinnie and Dalwhinnie to Crubenmore projects have been published today.

Locals and road users will get a chance to see the plans at public exhibitions in Dalwhinnie Village Hall on 17 and 18 January 2018.

Details of the public exhibitions:

Glen Garry-Dalwhinnie, and Dalwhinnie-Crubenmore

Wednesday 17 January, 1pm – 8pm

Thursday 18 January, 10am – 3pm

Dalwhinnie Village Hall, Dalwhinnie PH19 1AB

Aberdeen Royal Infirmary car park set to re-open

A new £10 million multi-storey car park for patients and visitors at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary is to reopen on Wednesday.

The facility at the Foresterhill campus - which has space for more than 1,000 cars - opened in October.

However, it closed shortly after to allow more work to be done.

NHS Grampian apologised for the “long period of time it has been unavailable”.

CCG donates £100,000 to charity in 2017

CCG (Scotland) Ltd has given more than £100,000 to charitable projects in 2017, with donations going to local causes up and down the country.

The Glasgow-based construction firm has built a strong reputation in housebuilding and commercial construction, and is currently live on a wide range of projects around Scotland. CCG seek to engage in each of the communities where the firm operates, working with supply chain partners to provide apprenticeships, employment and training opportunities as well as charitable support to local good causes.

In 2017, CCG donated to the Allan Glen STEM Academy at the City of Glasgow College Campus – an organisation which offers educational support to students looking to pursue a STEM-related career. The building company also hosted a fundraising day to raise money for the St Andrew’s Hospice Capital Appeal. The ‘It’s a Knockout Fun Day’ at Strathclyde Country Park saw CCG staff and a number of the company’s supply chain partners competing across an inflatable assault course with donations being put towards the Hospice’s £9m target.

Other projects receiving support include Richmond Hope - a charity based in Craigmillar for bereaved children, East Dunbartonshire Council’s foodbank, Dougrie Terrace Sheltered Housing, Grassroots Clothing, Positive Action in Housing, and the Craigmillar Book Festival as well as various gala days and community events.

CCG is also focused on skills development and offers apprenticeships and work placements in the local communities where it has live projects. In 2017, 22 young people began an in-depth construction apprenticeship programme within the CCG Group, taking the total number of apprentices up to 70. The company also offers work experience placements to young people, many of which lead to full time employment opportunities.