Building Briefs – December 22nd

A former UK government building in Perth is being transformed with 62 new homes in a bid to tackle the local affordable housing shortage.

Perth and Kinross Council has teamed up with Hillcrest Housing Association to redevelop land previously owned by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Vacant land and property across Scotland which was previously in public sector ownership is being used to add to the provision of affordable housing across Scotland.

Plans rejected for 140 homes on East Dunbartonshire’s greenbelt

East Dunbartonshire Council has unanimously rejected plans to build 140 homes on greenbelt on the outskirts of the village of Torrance.

The application by Hallam Land Management to build homes on grazing fields within Tower Farm was contrary to the Local Plan and contrary to Scottish Planning Policy.

Councillors on the planning board also heard that the increase in traffic that the proposed development would create would compromise pedestrian safety, especially around the local primary school.

They heard too, how the school does not have capacity to cope with the proposed development, how the site suffers from draining and flooding issues, and how the existing public transport arrangements couldn’t cope.

CALA Homes plans Linlithgow development

CALA Homes has signalled its intent to deliver much needed family homes at a site on the outskirts of Linlithgow.

The firm plans to create a new community of up to 60 properties on land at Preston Farm, on the south west edge of the town.

The new proposals would occupy just a portion of the farm site and would be painstakingly shaped to preserve the views to the north enjoyed from the neighbouring, Grade A-Listed Preston House.

A public consultation event will be held in February and this will allow local people to see draft proposals and to provide their feedback and suggestions for the development. CALA Homes is still finalising the arrangements and will publicise the details as soon as possible. As part of the public consultation process, the firm will also be seeking engagement with and feedback from Linlithgow and Linlithgow Bridge Community Council and from Linlithgow Civic Trust.

The development would include houses of all sizes, with a focus on quality family homes. A quarter of the homes would be affordable housing and the development would also include significant areas of public open spaces and amenity planting.

Empty town centre properties to provide new affordable homes

A £4 million fund to transform abandoned and empty town centre properties will help create 87 new affordable homes.

The Scottish Government’s Town Centre Empty Homes Fund will help revamp 10 derelict spaces, producing 62 homes for social rent, 11 homes for intermediate rent and 14 new homes for affordable sale.

Social justice secretary Alex Neil announced the 10 successful applicants to the fund today – ranging from housing associations to private landlords.

This support is being delivered alongside the Empty Homes Partnership, which since 2010 has brought more than 900 homes back into use and encouraged 17 of Scotland’s 32 local authorities to appoint dedicated empty homes officers in their area. The partnership is run by the housing charity Shelter Scotland and funded by the Scottish Government.

Scottish house prices forecast to increase by 4 per cent in 2016

House prices in Scotland will see an average increase of 4 per cent over the course of next year and 6 per cent across the UK, according to the RICS housing forecast for 2016.

Although housing has climbed the policy agenda, with supply issues dominating the private housing market the RICS forecast suggests that the likely increase in prices in 2016 will outstrip any rise in household income.

Kingdom delivers 39 new Mid Market Rent homes for Kirkcaldy

Tenants have moved into the final phase of Kingdom Housing Association’s recently completed £3.5 million mid market rent development at Pottery Street Kirkcaldy.

The 39 unit development provides a mix of one and two bedroom affordable flats for tenants who are employed, or have an offer of employment, and meet the qualifying criteria. The flats are fitted out with blinds, floor coverings, oven and hob and a washer dryer.

Local contractor Lundin Homes developed the project for Kingdom.

The total project cost is £3.516m. The Scottish Government provided £1.160m funding and Kingdom Housing Association have funded the balance for this project which is designed to comply fully with Housing for Varying Needs standards and Secured by Design.

Hawick flood repair works set to continue into New Year

Repairs to a Hawick street where a riverside retaining wall collapsed during recent floods are set to continue into the New Year.

Scottish Borders Council started work at Glebe Mill Street this week.

It said it was expected to take eight days and would mean the street and a stretch of a riverside footpath would stay shut until 2016.

The Duke Street and Noble Place junction in the town is also closed due to Scottish Water pipe repair works.

The council said the closure to Glebe Mill Street would also apply to pedestrians and was being made “in the interests of public safety”, although vehicle access would be maintained to the rear of properties on the street.

The council and Scottish Water have apologised for the inconvenience to local residents and businesses.

They said further updates would be provided in the New Year.

Top award for North Lanarkshire empty homes scheme

North Lanarkshire Council’s Empty Homes Purchase Scheme has scooped the title of ‘The Howdens Scottish Empty Homes Champion of the Year’ in recognition for its exemplary contribution to the field of private sector empty homes work in Scotland.

The award was presented at the Howdens Scottish Empty Homes Conference by George Clarke, TV architect and UK Empty Homes Adviser.

The Empty Homes Purchase Scheme addresses some of the issues faced by owners and communities in relation to empty properties. This includes bringing properties that cause blight to neighbourhoods back into use and helping to increase the supply of affordable council housing in high demand areas.

The scheme has already brought 33 empty homes back into use as social housing while achieving value for money. For example, a recent empty homes purchase cost £47,000 to buy and refurbish. The equivalent new build purchase would have been £68,000.

The project helps improve town centres and local communities by bringing empty homes back into use as well as providing a cost effective way of increasing council stock.