Building Briefs – February 14th

Up to £33 million is to be invested to expand a medical device manufacturer in Renfrewshire.

Vascutek has secured funding from Tokyo-based Terumo Corporation to expand its headquarters in addition to boosting its manufacturing facility at Inchinnan.

The investment will include scaling up existing facilities at the site, including the installation of two new ‘cleanrooms’, which will be used in the manufacture of polyester grafts and ThoraflexHybrid products.

Other features will see new equipment purchased for the cleanrooms and a new sterilisation suite developed.

Work on the first phase will get underway this April, with completion scheduled for 2021.

Plans for St Andrews apartments lodged

Architects Muir Walker & Pride has submitted a planning application to Fife Council for eight new apartments in the St Andrews conservation area.

The proposals on a steeply sloping site just off the A915 Bridge Street to the north of Kinness Place also incorporate an underground car park and two luxury penthouses on the top floor of the development

The project would also require the demolition of the existing two-storey 1960s building at Southcroft, Lade Braes.

A design statement related to the plans said redevelopment of the site would “contribute to an increase in the housing stock of central St Andrews which will in turn contribute more to the local economy” and urged planning officials to support the application.

West Lothian park to receive £1m investment boost

Work is to start on a £1 million park improvement project in West Lothian.

The scheme will see sporting and leisure facilities transformed at Watson Park in Armadale.

Features include building new stand-alone team sports changing facility in conjunction with Armadale Community Football Club, modernising Watson Memorial Bowling Club and improving the open space areas in the park.

Work is underway to develop the new sports pavilion and is aimed to start on-site by summer 2019. A programme of planned improvement work will be agreed with Watson Memorial Bowling Club to include fabric, mechanical and electrical upgrades.

Other works such as drainage works, path upgrades and refurbishing the existing enclosed ball court will take place to complement other changes being carried out at the park. The current changing rooms and former depot building at the park will be assessed to see if it can be used for equipment storage in the future.

Residents invited to view plans for A96 Hardmuir to Fochabers dualling

Residents are being invited to view updates plans for dualling the A96 between Hardmuir to Fochabers.

Ongoing design work as well as a public consultation process have resulted in a number of changes to the options under consideration for the scheme.

Cabinet secretary for economy, jobs and fair work, Keith Brown said Transport Scotland will hold a series of public drop-in events later this month and into March for anyone who is interested in the scheme.

Details of the drop-in events, which will take place between 12 noon and 7pm, are as follows: