Building Briefs – February 2nd

A redevelopment project at Aberdeen Art Gallery is due to commence shortly.

From today, the gallery’s opening hours will change to allow staff to prepare for the temporary move while works are carried out. Then, from 2 March, both the Gallery and Cowdray Hall will close to visitors.

The venue is expected to reopen in winter 2017.

When complete, the development will create a world-class cultural centre to celebrate art and music, and will be at the centre of civic and cultural life. There will be a total of 21 gallery spaces, rather than the current 11 spaces, while a new rooftop gallery to showcase international-quality exhibitions will be created, as well as two new education suites and a community gallery. At Cowdray Hall, it will be upgraded and be integrated with the gallery.

Gareth Hoskins Architects has designed the development.

Anchors away on £18m Arran Ferry Development

Transport minister Derek Mackay visited Arran yesterday to see plans to deliver an £18 million upgraded harbour at Brodick, and hear the latest on the delivery of a new vessel for the Ardrossan-Brodick route.

Work is under way to upgrade Brodick Harbour, with plans for a new pier, a new terminal building, improved passenger access, and a deeper berth to allow a greater variety of vessels to dock. The bus terminal will also be upgraded to ensure improved onward connection to all corners of the island and its wonderful assets.

Mr Mackay said partners are pressing ahead to deliver the upgrades by the end of next year.

Dundee V&A enlists property business heavyweight

One of Scotland’s most experienced commercial property investors has been appointed to the board of Dundee Design Limited, the body charged with delivering the £80.11 million riverside V&A Museum of Design.

David Hunter, an international property consultant and former managing director of Aberdeen Property Investors, a £6.5 billion fund under Aberdeen Asset Managers, will sit on DDL’s main board, chaired by Lesley Knox.

He will also oversee the building sub-committee that will liaise with contractors BAM on the three-year construction programme.

Project to conserve historic arch in Ballachulish

A historic slate arch in Lochaber is to be conserved in a project involving the Heritage Lottery Fund, Highland Council and Historic Scotland.

Known as the Tom Beag Inclined Plane, it was built in the 19th Century to transport wagons of slate from a quarry at Ballachulish.

The quarry dates back to the 1600s and in later centuries slate from the site was exported all over the world.

Work to conserve and interpret the arch is costing £277,000.

Scottish Borders Council’s administration outlines budget goals

Scottish Borders Council has outlined draft budget proposals which will see replacements for Langlee Primary and Broomlands Primary in Kelso and an overhaul of Galashiels schools.

Other plans include flood prevention work in Selkirk and Jedburgh with plans also in place for Hawick.

Tenants struggling to secure suitable rented homes due to lack of supply

More than two-fifths of private tenants struggle to find suitable rented accommodation in Scotland, according to a new report.

A poll of more than 1,000 people commissioned by the Scottish Association of Landlords (SAL) and the Council of Letting Agents found 43 per cent looking to rent in the last five years have found it “quite difficult” or “very difficult” to find a suitable property.

The organisations attributed the problem to a shortage of supply and called on the Scottish Government to encourage investment and construction in the private rented sector.

Poor treatment by landlords and value for money were also identified as issues for people looking to rent.

Scottish Borders Council rejects Hag Law wind farm bid

Councillors have unanimously voted to refuse permission for an eight turbine wind farm in the Scottish Borders.

Developers wanted to build the 100m high turbines near Romanno Bridge in Peebleshire.

Stevenson Hill Wind Energy, on behalf of West Coast Energy, also applied to construct a new access road from the A701.

The application drew 125 letters of objection and one of support.

They wanted to build the turbines along the ridges of the peaks of Green Knows, Hag Law and Wether Law.

Members of the Scottish Borders Council’s planning applications committee raised concerns about its visual impact on the landscape and neighbouring communities.

Archaeologists had also claimed it would cause unacceptable harm to four scheduled monuments of national importance and a historic landscape of “at least regional importance”.

Planning officials advised councillors to reject the scheme on landscape impact and potential noise nuisance grounds.