Building Briefs – January 29th

RICS Fellowship for Greig Adams at DM Hall

The Edinburgh Building Surveying department of DM Hall Chartered Surveyors has crowned a year of success with the elevation to Fellowship of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) of department head Greig Adams.

In becoming a Fellow, members join a group of professionals who stand out in the eyes of their peers, of business and of the public. RICS welcomed Greig into the Fellowship on the grounds that he was “self-evidently of exceptional standard and experience as a property professional”.

RICS Fellowship is awarded on the basis of individual achievement, recognising commitment to professionalism, leadership, technical innovation, standard setting, academic achievement, raising the profile of the profession and corporate social responsibility.

The accolade comes at the end of a year which has seen fee levels in the Edinburgh Building Surveying department rise by over 20 per cent on the back of a raft of increased business and new clients.

National Galleries in £15m bid to build on Princes Street Gardens

The National Gallery is to expand into Princes Street Gardens as part of £15 million plans to create a “world-class” home for its Scottish collections.

Directors are negotiating with the City of Edinburgh Council to acquire a strip of land in the east of the Gardens, allowing them to push the gallery wall out by five metres – bringing it in line with the existing extension – and dramatically increase the area dedicated to work by the nation’s greatest artists.

They said rooms currently used as offices would be transformed, creating around 500sq m of additional exhibition space – equivalent to a quarter of a football pitch – so Scotland’s art can be “proudly presented to the widest possible public in a gallery of world standing”.

A new landscaped public pathway and terrace will be built at garden level, resulting in a significant expansion of the pedestrian area at Princes Street level which is used by performers at festival time.

City leaders have confirmed the strip of Princes Street Gardens needed for the extension is “common good” land, meaning ownership will be transferred to the National Gallery under an Act of Parliament rather than sold through a commercial transaction.

Gallery staff said they would meet all court and parliamentary costs created by the proposal, which it is hoped can be financed through a mix of public and private money, including an application to the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Edinburgh University office to housing bid secures go-ahead

Edinburgh City Council has granted approval to conversion of office accommodation on the city’s Buccleuch Street to be converted into student housing.

Plans drawn up by JM Architects on behalf of the University of Edinburgh will return the tenement block to residential use together with the conservation and preservation of period details – although lost features will not be reinstated.

This will create flats ranging in size from three beds to seven bed maisonettes with principal rooms reinstated as living and kitchen spaces.

Subsequent phasing may see redevelopment of mews buildings along Meadow Lane.

Airriequhillart wind farm plans dropped

Plans for a wind farm development in Wigtownshire have been dropped.

EDF Energy Renewables has confirmed that it will not be pursuing an 18-turbine development at Airriequhillart between Port William and Wigtown.

Fife’s empty homes tax increase bring over 1,000 properties back into use

Fife Council’s policy to charge owners of long term empty properties double council tax has brought over 1000 properties back into use during the first year of the charge being levied.

At the start of the financial year, in Fife 2,115 properties were classed as long term empty and as such the owners received demands for double council tax. The move prompted a large number of owners to bring their properties back into use. At the end of November over 1,000 properties where brought back into use.

Of the total number of properties, 669 had been let or sold, 176 have been reallocated as the owner’s main residence and 261 are now being advertised for sale or let.

Firms encouraged to attend Galashiels Transport Interchange open day

Scottish Borders Council (SBC) has said employment opportunities are still available for firms looking to get involved in the Galashiels Transport Interchange project.

A number of sub-contractors are already working on the £5.2 million scheme, but there are still opportunities available for other companies.

Next week, on Friday 6 February, an open day will be held at the Galashiels Transport Interchange site office of contractor Morrison Construction from 8am to 4.30pm. Attendees interested to get involved in the project as a sub-contractor are encouraged to come along to hear more information.

There will be opportunities for firms to work on a range on internal trades, cladding and external works packages.

More information on the event can be found on the Hub South East Scotland website.

Funding boost for North Queensferry

A total of £754,430 has been set aside in funding for North Queensferry.

The funding boost has been made possible through the Coastal Communities Fund and will allow Fife Council to install a floating pontoon landing berth at North Queensferry harbour to create a sustainable transport option for visitors and boost tourism in the area.

It will also support a number of other environmental improvements, such as the installation of a new digital visitor information kiosk.

Consultation for proposed new Aberdeen school

A consultation event is to be held in Aberdeen in relation to a proposed new school for children with additional support needs.

It has been proposed that a Centre for Excellence for children with additional support needs, arising from severe and complex factors, should be built on land on the corner of Howes Road and Davidson Drive in Northfield.

The pre-application event will be held at Heathryburn Primary School on Wednesday 4 February, from 2pm to 7pm.

A public exhibition of the proposals will also be available to view from Monday 9 February to Saturday 14 February at Northfield Library.