Building Briefs – February 5th

Veteran housing organisation selected as Glasgow architect’s charity of the year

An organisation which provides residential accommodation for ex-UK servicemen and women has been chosen as charity of the year by Mast Architects.

The Glasgow-based architectural practice led the design team on Scottish Veterans Residences (SVR) Bellrock Close housing development in Glasgow which opened in 2014 and has since won a number of awards including a commendation for innovation in the Saltire Society Housing Design Awards

The team at Mast Architects will engage in a number of sponsorship and fundraising events over the course of the year with all proceeds going to support SVR’s work with homeless veterans throughout Scotland. The firm has previously been involved in fundraising for the charity, including its participation in the 2013 Glasgow Half Marathon which generated £2,625 in donations.

£2.9m housing development takes shape in Fort William

The Highland Council has begun work on the £2.9 million development of Tweeddale in Fort William town centre.

The local authority has taken possession of the key site, which has lain empty for a long period, to provide 22 housing flats for council rent. The housing development is due for completion in January 2017.

This latest project takes the total spend to some £40m invested in Fort William over the past five years. In addition to the investment, the council has enabled further investment in the area through work with partners.

A vast amount of work is currently underway and has been completed in the town, to bring old buildings back to life, provide new homes and invest in the future of young people.

Work begins to bring new homes to Arbroath’s abbey quarter

A major move towards the transformation of the abbey quarter of Arbroath has been revealed this week.

Over the next few weeks, demolition contractor Safedem will continue to raze the four blocks of empty council flats at Guthrie Hill and Smithy Croft.

Following the demolition, work will begin to build 42 new homes for social rent, transforming the landscape and improving access to the abbey and High Street.

The abbey quarter is extremely important to Arbroath, as a central residential and retail area and also as a major international visitor destination thanks to the dominant presence of the historic Abbey.

With Arbroath Abbey holding both historic and cultural importance, the demolition of these nearby properties will improve the area and deliver high quality housing which is sympathetic to its surroundings.

New gym hall for Edinburgh primary school officially opened

The new gym hall for Blackhall Primary School in Edinburgh was officially opened yesterday.

The City of Edinburgh Council allocated over £1 million for the new building as part of its capital investment programme with the gym being completed in December.

Pupils are now benefitting from two hours of PE a week which was not possible in the previous building which is now used as a dining hall and for other school activities.

The council’s development partner hub South East Scotland and contractor Morrison Construction were involved in the project.

Work begins on new multi-use games area for Lochgelly

Work has started on the construction of a new multi-use games area (MUGA) in Lochgelly.

The new sports facility will be located on the former skate park at the top end of the Lochgelly Public Park.

The £90,000 project is being funded by Fife Council’s Cowdenbeath area local community planning budget and work is due to be completed in spring.