Building Briefs – December 23rd

St. Andrews now has the accolade of homing Scotland’s most expensive street, according to research from Bank of Scotland.

The Scores, which is a stone’s throw from the infamous Old Course golf course in the “world’s home of golf”, has knocked Edinburgh off top spot, with an average house price of £2,179,000.

The Scores rolls along the cliff edge of St Andrews and boasts unbeatable views out to St Andrews Bay and the North Sea. Lined with traditional Victorian detached and terraced houses, the narrow road eventually culminates at the first tee of the world famous Old Course.

Dominating half of the top 20 table, Edinburgh still has the highest number of expensive streets in Scotland. Aberdeen now accounts for five of the prestigious locations and Glasgow three, while other than St Andrews; Balmoral Court in Auchterarder is the only top 20 location outside the main cities.

Edinburgh’s most expensive residential street can be found in Merchiston, where homes are a mixture of late Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian villas and Victorian tenements. Ettrick Road with an average house price of £1,899,000, is the most expensive street in Edinburgh and second most expensive in Scotland. At over half a million pounds less, the New Town’s Northumberland Street (£1,390,000) and Heriot Row (£1,374,000) are Edinburgh’s next most expensive streets.

Seven out of the ten most expensive streets in Aberdeen are all located in the AB15 postcode. To live in Rubislaw Den North or Rubislaw Den South you have to be prepared to spend over £1.5m for a property there. These areas are Scotland’s third and fourth most expensive streets respectively. Although somewhat cheaper, properties in Aberdeen’s tenth most expensive street, Menzies Park in AB12, still average at over £776,000.

Last year, only one street in Glasgow had an average house price of over £1m – Baroness Drive in Thorntonhall. This remains Glasgow’s most expensive street with an average price of £1,037,000, however is now closely followed by Baron Court in the G74 postcode (£1,035,000) and Grange Road in Bearsden (£1,033,000).

New look Girvan Golf Clubhouse now open after refurbishment

The project to transform the interior of Girvan Golf Clubhouse to guarantee its long-term future is now complete.

The extensive refurbishment means that the South Ayrshire Council facility will remain an important fixture for years to come.

The £172k refurbishment programme involved a full internal upgrade at Girvan Clubhouse, including the dining room, bar, locker rooms, a new disabled WC and showers. The entrance area and corridor has also been refreshed, heating improved, damp issues resolved, with new electrical fittings improving efficiency and reducing costs.

The project was delivered by Kier Construction.

Work starts on new North Lanarkshire Council homes in Blackwood

Blackwood is one of the latest new North Lanarkshire Council housing developments to see building work begin on site.

A sod cutting event took place to mark the construction of 30 modern and affordable council homes in Cardowan Drive, Blackwood, Cumbernauld.

The £3.2 million development is being delivered by partnership housing developer Lovell, and comprises a mix of 2 bedroom cottage flats and 2, 3, and 4 bedroom semi-detached homes.

Attending the sod cutting were housing convener, Councillor Barry McCulloch, local member, Councillor Bob Chadha and representatives from the council’s housing service and Lovell.

A contribution is received from the Scottish Government towards the development costs the site.

More than half of Scottish electricity from renewables

Renewable sources delivered the equivalent of 59.4 per cent of Scotland’s gross electricity consumption in 2015 – up from 49.9 per cent in 2014.

This means that the 2015 50 per cent renewable electricity target has been met and exceeded. Renewable sources of electricity generation in 2015 were up 14 per cent on 2014 and are again the single largest contributor to electricity generation in Scotland at a record 42 per cent of Scotland’s total output (including exports) – higher than both nuclear (35 per cent) and fossil fuels (22 per cent), statistics published today have revealed.

Scotland continued to be a net exporter of electricity, exporting 29 per cent of all electricity generation in 2015, while Scotland’s renewable generation made up approximately 26 per cent of the total UK renewable output in 2015.

Oban pipe refurb project to begin

A joint venture between Morrison Utility Services and AECOM is to begin a £200,000 water pipe refurbishment project in Oban.

The scheme, to re-line the internal surface of pipes in the Glenschellach Terrace area, will be carried out by Caledonia Water Alliance (CWA) and will start on Monday, 16 January.

The eight-week project coincides with Scottish Water’s ongoing construction of a new £29 million water treatment works to serve the area.

The new facility is being built by Efficient Service Delivery (ESD), a JV between Black & Veatch, Galliford Try and MWH. The centre will serve over 12,000 customers and have the capacity to meet extra demand during the summer when it opens later in 2017.

Funding approved for Gore Glen excavation project

Funding has been approved for a general excavation of the heated area at Gore Glen in Midlothian.

The council will provide £184,000 to remove material at the site to a prepared location so it can be allowed to cool.

The excavation is the only sure method of eliminating the heating and ensures that the burning area is excavated to determine the extent of the burning material.

The method will prevent further spreading to the underlying coal seams and the consequent impact that may have on the transport infrastructure.

Work to begin on £2m Inverclyde museum refurb project

Work is to begin on a £2 million museum refurbishment project in Inverclyde.

The historic McLean Museum and Watt Library is scheduled to close at 3.30pm today.

Inverclyde Council is investing £1.8m towards the 18-month project, alongside a £287,000 grant from Historic Environment Scotland.

Works include repairs to the parapets, towers and roof, as well as replacing windows and treating areas of wet rot.

Earlston additional support school approved

A new additional support centre for pupils with profound and complex needs in the Borders has been approved.

The site in Earlston will replace current provision at primaries in Hawick and Innerleithen.

Councillor Sandy Aitchison said it would provide a “high quality learning environment” for its pupils.

A preferred option for the name of the new facility has now also emerged. Councillors selected Leader Valley School from a shortlist of three.

Work continues on East Dunbartonshire street design project

Work is continuing on a major town centre improvement project in East Dunbartonshire.

The Cowgate Street Design Project is scheduled to enter its final phase on January 9.

Work will be carried out around the area of Kirkintilloch Community Hub and William Patrick Library. In order to carry out the project, Cowgate will be closed from its Catherine Street junction with West High Street also being closed to traffic.

Completed phases of the Cowgate Street Design Project include:

Works are taking place to lower vehicle speeds, remove street clutter, widen pavements and narrow roads. In addition, gateway features will be created - enhancing the town - as well as public realm improvements featuring artwork by members of the public.

Rural homes to benefit from superfast broadband

Up to 600,000 homes and businesses in remote locations across the UK are to benefit from the roll-out of superfast broadband.

A total of £440 million of funding has been unlocked by the UK government to give properties in hard-to-reach parts of Scotland and the rest of the UK quick and reliable internet connections. It means streaming music or films, which is the norm for city locations, will also be available in remote locations.

The UK Department for Culture, Media and Sport said careful contract management by government, local authorities and BT has saved more than £150 million in 44 projects in the first phase of the broadband expansion.

Scotland is to receive a £17.8m share of the funding.

Scottish cabinet secretary for rural economy and connectivity, Fergus Ewing, said the Scottish Government was committed to delivering 100 per cent broadband coverage for Scotland by the end of the current parliament in 2021 and that Holyrood would announce further measures in the New Year.

Bright community ideas sought for £1,000 grants

Groups that aim to change their communities for the better are being sought for the chance to receive grant support from Esh Border Construction.

The construction group’s Esh Communities scheme has launched and offers organisations of all shapes and sizes grant funding of up to £1,000.

Supported by the Esh Charitable Trust, the scheme calls for groups with innovative ideas about tackling community issues to come forward.

Groups that can demonstrate their ideas are aligned with at least one of Esh Group’s core values are encouraged to apply for the funding.

Those core values are:

Esh Communities was launched in 2012 and has so far supplied more than £140,000 to community groups.

Last year more than £40,000 worth of funding was given in grants to 39 projects across Scotland the North East, North West, Yorkshire.

Groups should apply before the closing date on January 27 via the Esh Group website.