Building Briefs – January 27th

Owners of the Fife Central Retail Park in Kirkcaldy say a £10 million investment will bring at least 230 new jobs to the region and breathe new life into the development.

Plans have now been submitted for five new shops that will replace the empty former Homebase store at the western end of the park, which closed in August 2015 with the loss of 30 jobs.

Hammerson, the company that owns the retail park in the north of Kirkcaldy, said the investment will create up to 230 permanent new jobs, many more short-term construction jobs and dozens more indirect jobs.

They also suggested it will generate £3m every year in additional income for the local economy.

The plans will see the former Homebase store changed into five large new units selling a range of bulky goods such as furniture and sports equipment.

Two new kiosk-style food outlets are also planned, while there will also be a series of improvements in the car park to make pedestrian crossings better, remove congestion and improve vehicle access.

The façades of the adjacent shops will also be enhanced to match the rest of the park.

Contractor appointed to repair damaged culvert in Perth

A contractor has been selected to carry out repairs to a damaged section of road in Perth.

Murdoch MacKenzie Ltd is due to begin repairing the Cuttle Burn Culvert and fence to the main landslip on Oakbank Road in Blairgowrie next week.

However, Perth & Kinross Council added due to recent high levels of rain and saturated ground, works will only progress if it is deemed safe to do so.

Due to heavy plant and materials on site, the council will be required at times to close off the Cuttle Burn steps, Oakbank Road, the car park and the riverside path to the public

It is understood the road will be fully reopened when work is completed this spring.

SHEPD to invite tender bids for Shetland’s electricity supply

Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution (SHEPD) is due to start inviting tender bids to secure the future of electricity supply in the Shetland’s.

The move comes as the main power supply for the islands, Lerwick Power Station, is starting to reach the end of its operational life.

During last summer and autumn, a pre-qualification process was completed which potential suppliers were invited to come forward.

The preparation of technical information from which bids will be based is now well advanced and on course to be completed by the end of April 2016.

Railway station upgrade to begin in East Dunbartonshire

A railway train station is to undergo improvement works in East Dunbartonshire, it has been announced.

It is understood the council is aiming to develop a Sustainable Travel Hub at Milngavie Station.

Work to upgrade the footpath, carriageway and car park will begin on Monday, 01 February.

In addition, old slabs will be replaced with new granite and more bike racks will be installed.

The project is part of the A81 Route Corridor Improvements and is expected to last for approximately seven weeks.

Surge in sales at Stevenswood sparks plan for 10 trade outlets

Stevenswood, the Livingston-based manufacturer of windows, doors, conservatories and kitchens, plans to open 10 new trade outlets this year after announcing a 23 per cent increase in sales.

The company, which employs 158 people, grew its total sales net of VAT to £13.1 million in the 12 months to October 31, 2015, up from £10.7m in its previous financial year.

Window sales jumped more than fifth, while kitchen sales were up by a third, fuelled by rising demand from both trade buyers and the general public.

Despite investing heavily in its cost base over the period, the business remained profitable with pre-tax profits of more than £500,000.

Stevenswood’s growth has been fuelled by a £3.5m investment in February 2015 from the Business Growth Fund, the £2.5 billion fund set up in 2011 to provide growth capital to small and mid-sized businesses and backed by five of the UK’s main banking groups – Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds, RBS and Standard Chartered.

This has allowed the company to recruit 60 new staff and double its number of trade counters from six to 12, with branches opened in locations including Aberdeen, Dundee, Shawfield and Loanhead.

In the next stage of the firm’s expansion, Stevenswood will open 10 trade counters during 2016, including branches at Seafield and Sighthill in Edinburgh this month and then a further eight units over the coming months at locations such as Bellshill, East Kilbride and Inverness.

Scottish Borders Council announces next phase of SLEEP initiative

Scottish Borders Council has announced the next phase of its Street Lighting Energy Efficiency Project (SLEEP) will take place in Galashiels.

The £4.9 million scheme began in April 2014 and around 6,000 street lights in the Borders regions have already been converted.

It is understood a total of 16,000 out of 19,000 lights will be replaced during the four year project.

SLEEP is expected to save around £100,000 each year in reduced energy costs and use half of the energy needed by the existing lighting infrastructure.

Firth of Forth wind farm to bring £1.1bn of investment

The company planning a giant wind farm off the coast of Fife has said it will mean £1.1 billion of spending in Scotland.

Mainstream Renewable Power predicted 500 jobs should be involved in construction, and 100 employees during the 25 years it is in operation.

A consortium of companies is being brought together to build the 450 megawatt wind farm, Neart na Gaoithe.

It is due to be operating from 2020 if it wins a legal challenge now in Scottish courts.

Swinney urges councils to accept ‘challenging but fair’ funding settlement

Finance secretary John Swinney held talks with council representatives yesterday as he sought to finalise the Local Government Finance Settlement.

If accepted by Scotland’s 32 councils, Mr Swinney said the funding agreement would protect the council tax freeze, invest £250 million in social care and maintain the pupil-teacher ratio in Scotland’s schools.

The deputy first minister will now write to each of the council leaders with full details of the proposition, setting a deadline of February 2 to respond to the deal.

Support surge for Green plan to tax vacant land ahead of Land Reform debate

A Scottish Green party petition to bring Scotland’s derelict and vacant land back in use for housebuilding has gathered over 1,300 signatures in just one week.

The petition was launched to demonstrate public support for a Green amendment to the Land Reform Bill, due to be considered by the rural affairs, climate change and environment committee today.

The amendment calls for Scotland’s 11,000 hectares of vacant and derelict land to be included into the valuation system so it can be taxed, with the resulting revenue ring fenced for housebuilding, a move the Scottish Greens suggest could yield around £300 million a year.

Minister sees how new GHA homes help foster community spirit

An amenity block for tenants in a new GHA development in the north east of Glasgow is contributing towards creating a real sense of community, housing minister Margaret Burgess has found.

The 157 new homes in Barmulloch also include an amenity block for tenants who need an extra bit of support. And tenants there are building a sense of community by organising social events and get-togethers in the common room.

Barmulloch is one of the areas identified as a priority for regeneration by Transforming Communities: Glasgow (TC:G), a partnership between GHA, Glasgow City Council and the Scottish Government.

The £13.9 million development includes £7.2m in grant from the Scottish Government.

The homes, built by contractor CCG, are a mix of one and two-bedroom flats, and two, three and four-bedroom houses. Ten of the homes are built to wheelchair standard.

Contractors CCG took on 13 staff - including five apprentices - in a variety of trades as a result of its contract with GHA.