Building Briefs – January 30th

Scotland has delivered a third more affordable homes per capita over the last decade than England, according to figures from the Scottish Government.

In answer to a parliamentary question from Edinburgh North and Leith MSP Ben Macpherson, housing minister Kevin Stewart revealed that over the 2007-08 to 2016-17 financial years, the government’s supply of affordable housing per capita has been 33% higher than the UK government’s supply in England.

According to the figures, 70,861 affordable homes have been delivered in Scotland in the ten years since April 2007.

Melrose health centre expansion paused by NHS Borders

NHS Borders has postponed a major health centre expansion following a decision to shut another facility.

The health board is to consult with doctors and patients in Newtown St Boswells over the Eildon Medical Practice’s move to close its centre.

However, in the meantime it has postponed upgrade plans for the practice’s site in Melrose.

A statement said that process had been “paused” while they looked at future care provision for patients.

Planning permission has already been granted for the extension and refurbishment, and a tendering process has recently been concluded with pre-VAT estimates between £925,000 and £1.12m being submitted.

A spokeswoman for NHS Borders confirmed the redevelopment would be put on hold until a full consultation exercise with Eildon Practice partners, patients and other stakeholders had taken place regarding the Newtown St Boswells decision.

Shared campus consultation proposed for Prestwick

South Ayrshire Council has issued letters advising residents in Prestwick of a proposed consultation to create a shared educational campus.

The proposed consultation, which will only progress if approved by councillors next month, will set out the potential to build two brand-new schools and a new early years centre, all of which would share the same campus on a site yet to be identified.

Although on a shared campus with some shared facilities, Glenburn Primary and Early Years Centre and St Ninian’s Primary and Early Years Centre would retain its own distinctive ethos and identity.

The aim of the proposed campus is to provide pupils, parents/carers, staff and the local community with first-class facilities that would help transform learning and teaching, as well as enhance services available to local people. Each school would retain its own name, identity, staff and pupils, while the new early years centre would have its own dedicated centre manager.

The request to progress the proposed consultation will be considered by councillors on February 13.

Auchterarder’s public amenities boosted by developer contributions

Developer contributions are helping to deliver improvements to public amenities in Auchterarder, according to a new Perth & Kinross Council report.

At the end of this month, the council’s environment and infrastructure committee will hear that, in line with an agreed development framework for a major expansion of housing in the town, developers are contributing £1,000 per house being sold on the open market to the council, up to a maximum of £600,000, towards an Auchterarder Community Facilities Fund.

The fund aims to support the delivery of additional facilities for community residents. In its first year, £155,000 in contributions has been provided, including one funding application for £50,000 and approved under delegated powers by the Executive Director (Environment), following consultation with Auchterarder Community Council, local elected members and the Committee Convener, in line with the fund’s operating procedures.

The £50,000 has supported a project to upgrade the Provost’s Walk path on the southern boundary of Auchterarder, making it suitable for both walkers and cyclists.

On January 31, the committee will be asked to agree that an annual report is produced covering contributions to and allocations from the Fund, and that any future funding applications with a value over £50,000 are brought forward for members to consider.

Council approves re-development of Linlithgow High Street site

West Lothian Council’s development management committee has approved plans to restore the old Clydesdale Bank on Linlithgow High Street into a restaurant/café.

The former Clydesdale bank closed in 2012 due to significant building repairs required to maintain the ageing property. This re-development will restore the existing property, reinstating original windows and replacing the shop front.

The exterior of the building will be replaced with a more traditional shop frontage that is in keeping with the high street and similar properties in the area.

This project is one of four long term vacant units now under development, with new businesses expected to open soon.