Building Briefs – February 24th

Barratt Homes has unveiled plans to build 315 new homes on land it has bought in Inverness.

The company has taken over the Ness Castle site and will build an access road to the city’s Holm Roundabout.

Barratt Homes said land would be made available for Highland Council to build a new primary school.

It added that the new development will have two, three and four bedroom terraced, semi-detached and detached properties.

Glasgow fertility clinic reopens

A fertility clinic in Glasgow has officially reopened following a series of refurbishment works.

The £4 million project was carried out at the Assisted Conception Unit, at Glasgow Royal Infirmary.

In 2012, the clinic was closed following a severe fall in successful fertilisation rates. It is thought the rate fell from around 30 per cent to just 15 per cent between September and November 2012.

At the time, it was thought the fall could have been affected by building works being carried out on the floor above the unit, as dust, paint fumes and vapours from chemicals can pose a risk to embryos being prepared for implantation.

However, despite a full internal investigation being undertaken, a reason for the sudden fall in fertility rates was not discovered.

Improvements for Waverley Bridge begins today

Improvement works are to begin on Waverley Bridge in Edinburgh from today.

The project aims to improve pedestrian access around Waverley Station. As a result of the works, vehicles heading south will be diverted away from Waverley Bridge. This means traffic will become one-way around the area to northbound traffic only, to allow for the construction of a setted raised table – an elevated section of road – on Waverley Bridge between the north and south ramps of Waverley Station. Diversions will be in place for motorists.

The scheme is expected to take around four weeks to complete.

The works are part of a £1 million programme to improve pedestrian access around Waverley Station.

The first phase of works, on Market Street, were completed last year and involved the creation of a temporary taxi rank, new loading areas and a cycle lane. The second phase, which is currently underway, involves resurfacing the carriageway and widening the footways on Waverley Bridge. Upgraded drainage will also be installed, while kerb realignment, laying of sandstone and Caithness paving and improved pedestrian crossing facilities will also be delivered.

New flats planned for disused petrol station site in Bishopbriggs

The site of a disused petrol station on Kirkintilloch Road, Bishopbriggs is set to be brought back to life following a decision by the East Dunbartonshire Council’s planning board to grant permission for 33 retirement flats to be built there.

Developers McCarthy & Stone have already begun work to demolish the petrol station, clear the site and build the foundations. The development will consist of a three storey block and landscaped gardens with 22 car parking spaces, including two for blue badge holders.

£100k investment for Moray mountain bike trails

A £100,000 project is to get underway in Fochabers, Moray, to improve bike trails in the area.

The funding is for Monster mountain trails in Moray.

The investment has been principally provided by Forestry Commission Scotland, who will manage the trails, and the Commonwealth Legacy 2014 Active Places Fund via sportscotland. The work will involve upgrading the existing trails, adding new sections to the route and constructing a new skills area.

The new facilities are expected to be completed and operational by September.

Fire-damaged Highlands hostel to be made safe

A hostel in the Highlands, which was left badly damaged by a fire in April 2013 and has lain empty ever since, is to be made safe by contractors.

Earlier this month, the Highland Council issued a Dangerous Building Enforcement Notice to the owners of the Eastgate Hostel in Inverness.

It is understood the owners were discussing what they could do to repair the structure, but following a recent structural survey by the Highland Council’s Building Standards Team, the building was found to be unsafe. The structure had deteriorated, leaving its integrity compromised due to the length of time it had been left abandoned. The local authority then decided to take enforcement action to speed up work on the building to ensure its safety.

It has now been confirmed that the owners have appointed a contractor to make the building safe.

Works began on the property yesterday.

Homes plan lodged for Angus hospital site

A bid for more than 150 homes on the site of the former Ashludie Hospital has been lodged with Angus Council.

Miller Homes is seeking the green light for a scheme which would see the conversion of the B-listed main building into 11 flats.

The proposal also seeks permission for 112 three, four and five-bedroom private houses and two further blocks of flats, taking the total number of planned homes to 164.

The developers recently bought the mansion house and grounds from NHS Tayside and said that they had worked closely with Angus Council on the development plan.

NHS Tayside closed the hospital in September 2013 after declaring it surplus to requirements.

In December, a special meeting of Angus Council rejected proposals by housebuilder Barratt for about 300 homes on a 24-hectare site north of the hospital and near the A92.

The application was rejected on the recommendation of planning officials but a Taylor Wimpey scheme for approximately 350 homes at the Grange, Ethiebeaton, received the green light.

Plans to enhance Seaton Park unveiled

Plans to enhance a section of Seaton Park in Old Aberdeen are on public display. The proposals focus on the east side of the park, where the land has become very wet in recent years.

Aberdeen City Council consequently commissioned to local firms – cbec eco engineering and Walking-the-Talk – to produce detailed design plans for the Seaton Park Wetlands Project. Initial survey work has been undertaken to help the designers with their options.

The council has said it now wants to hear from the local community regarding their views for the scheme.

The designs will be on public display from until 26 February at St Machar Cathedral, 18 The Chanonry. In addition, further information about the project can be found online.

Upgrade works for Auld Brig in Ellon

A project to illuminate the Auld Brig in Ellon, Aberdeenshire, has been completed.

The lights were switched on at the Grade A listed bridge on earlier this month, to mark the completion of the initiative.

The project was spearheaded by Ellon Community Council, who worked alongside Aberdeenshire Council. Initial funding for the scheme was provided by the local authority, and the success of the project will enable the bridge to be lit every evening.

Kilmarnock assisted living development receives rave reviews

Members of Kilmarnock and District Access Panel were greatly impressed last week after a visit to a new £1.6 million housing development has been created for people with additional support needs.

Lilyhill Gardens, a new development of flats, has just been completed on Witch Road in Kilmarnock.

It has been designed to offer accommodation for individuals with a range of support needs. A total of 13 tenants will benefit from bright, modern flats with amenities such as wet floor showers; rise and fall kitchen units in wheelchair access flats; door entry system with fob access; an enclosed, safe, private garden and a 24 hour link to East Ayrshire Council’s Risk Management Centre. One of the flats will act as a staff base.

McTaggart Construction finished the £1.6m development in twelve months and all of the flats have now been allocated.

Consultation for new South Ayrshire school

A consultation event is to be held in relation to the new proposed Invergarven School in Girvan.

South Ayrshire Council has said it will consult with the local community about plans to relocate the school to the grounds of Girvan Academy.

There is land available within the grounds of the academy to enable a new school to be constructed. It is understood informal talks with Girvan Academy and Invergarven Parent Councils, local elected members and school staff have already taken place and the idea was welcomed positively.

A document containing the proposed changes will now be issued for consultation and made available to everyone with an interest in the school.

The consultation will run from 25 February to 24 April 2015.

Scottish Water completes Queen Margaret Drive project

Scottish Water has completed a major project at Queen Margaret Drive in Glasgow.

The £150,000 investment will improve the waste water network and tackle flooding in the area. The work has reduced the risk of flooding at nine properties on Queen Margaret Drive as well as on the road carriageway.

Work commenced on the project in January, with Kier being the appointed contractor for the scheme.

The work involved installing a connection between two existing waste water mains, while some reinstatement work on the road and footpath in Clouston Street, close to Queen Margaret Drive, is to be carried out next month.

Angus development recognised for crime prevention work

A housing development in Angus has been given a Secured by Design award from Police Scotland for its determination to prevent crime.

Housebuilder DJ Laing Homes and Angus Housing Association were recognised for their focus on safety and security within the recently completed joint housing development of eight two-bedroom homes for rent in Carnoustie’s North Brown Street.

Stuart Ward, Police Scotland’s national architectural liaison officer, handed the certificate to representatives of DJ Laing Homes, Angus Housing Association and project architects Voigt Partnership.

Secured by Design is the official national police initiative focusing on homes and commercial premises and the benefits of maximising security standards.

Since its inception in 1989, the Secured by Design methodology has been proven to achieve a reduction of crime risk of up to 75 per cent.

Housing plan at former Blairgowrie school

Plans to transform the former St Stephen’s Primary School in Blairgowrie, which has lain empty since the school moved to the community campus in 2009, have been submitted to Perth and Kinross Council.

Architect Jim Brown wants to alter the frontage and build nine flats within the existing walls.

Graeme Carling, managing director of Carling Properties, which recently bought the building, said it was “absolutely ideal” for conversion.

The St Stephen’s building is category B-listed and dates from 1841.