Building Briefs – February 27th

Aberdeen City Council is to hold a special meeting next month to discuss the Marischal Square development.

The meeting was put forward by Callum McCaig, SNP group leader, after a motion to place the project onto a full council agenda earlier this month was ruled “incompetent”.

It has now been agreed by Aberdeen Lord Provost George Adam that a special meeting will be held on Thursday 5 March.

Concert hall receives funding boost

A project to renovate Scotland’s oldest purpose-built concert hall has taken a step forward with an Edinburgh World Heritage grant.

The £100,000 award will help the University restore and renovate St Cecilia’s Hall - an A-listed venue and musical instrument museum, situated in Niddry Street, off the Cowgate.

This is part of an initiative to create a new centre of excellence for the study, display and enjoyment of historical musical instruments.

St Cecilia’s Hall was built in the 1780s and was designed by architect Robert Mylne. Today the hall is owned by Edinburgh University, housing its world-class collection of historical musical instruments.

The Heritage Lottery Fund also awarded the project £823,500 last year, as part of the £6.5million vision to transform the hall.

Work on the exterior will start next month and is due to be completed in September 2016.

87,000 Scots could die due to inability to heat homes

Cold homes could claim the lives of 87,000 Scots over the next 15 years, a fuel poverty charity has claimed.

National Energy Action said consumers are “hit hard” by energy taxes and urged politicians to address the issue ahead of May’s general election.

The charity’s newly-published Manifesto for Warmth, released to coincide with Fuel Poverty Awareness Day, reports there are 4.5 million households unable to heat their homes in the UK and claims the NHS could also be left bearing a £22 billion bill for treating cold related illnesses.

As well as noting the benefits of ending fuel poverty once and for all, the report also highlights that the Treasury will make over £28bn from domestic energy consumers in the next 10 years.

According to the UK government’s own national figures unaffordable energy prices, combined with low incomes and a housing stock which remains woefully poor compared to other European countries, has resulted in there still being 4.5 million households that are unable to adequately heat their homes across the United Kingdom.

Fuel Poverty Awareness Day falls on Friday 27 February 2015 and is a national day to highlight the issues faced by those unable to heat their homes affordably and the solutions available to tackle these issues. NEA’s supporters will be taking part in events to build awareness and will be asked to join in the Nation’s Biggest Housewarming a series of community events taking place on the same day.

Historic Fettercairn Distillery set for expansion

A whisky giant has lodged plans to expand one of Scotland’s oldest distilleries.

Whyte and Mackay wants to redevelop and extend Fettercairn Distillery, which has been in operation since 1824.

The work would include a 60sqm expansion to the ground of first floor of the distillery - which would result in an increase of production.

In a report to planners, Ian Gallacher of property consultant GVA James Barr, said the works would have an economic benefit for the village of Fettercairn, near Laurencekirk in Aberdeenshire.

The project will also see work to the building’s interior.

Consultation event on new Dumbarton Office

Residents are being invited to give their views on plans for the Council’s new office building in Dumbarton town centre.

The proposal will see 500 council staff currently based at Garshake Road in future working from a new office at the old Academy building in the Town Centre. The new office will save the council £300,000 per year, and provide a catalyst for further regeneration activities in Dumbarton town centre. It will also restore the existing derelict A-listed frontage of the old Academy building for generations to come.

Following on from the initial Community Consultation event (held on Wednesday 3rd December 2014) the project team will be available within the Aritzan Centre on Thursday March 5th from 2pm until 7pm provide an update on the project.

Persimmon launches £750,000 community fund

Persimmon Homes has announced the launch of Persimmon Community Champions – a £750,000 community fund to support local groups and charities across the UK.

Persimmon Community Champions is a national programme where charities and groups can apply for funding up to the value of £1,000 to match money they have already raised themselves.

Jeff Fairburn, group CEO, said the community initiative was a way of supporting people across every city, town and village where the company works.

Persimmon is set for further growth this year on the back of an excellent 2014. The group legally completed 13,509 homes last year.

The company is calling on groups and charities to apply for funding, with the first grants being issued in March 2015.

To apply for funding, visit www.persimmonhomes.com/charity.