Building Briefs – January 8th

Minister for housing and welfare Margaret Burgess MSP visited this week Peebles to officially open new affordable homes delivered through the National Housing Trust initiative.

The project is the first to be commissioned by Bridge Homes, a company established by Scottish Borders Council and Scottish Futures Trust to provide additional affordable housing for mid-market rent across the Scottish Borders.

The company acquired the 13 two-bedroom homes at Standalane Way from market housebuilder Miller Homes and has appointed Edinburgh-based Orchard and Shipman to manage the development.

The official opening marked the acquisition of the completed homes and the first tenants moving in.

Hotels planned for Edinburgh’s West End

Two new hotels are set to be opened in the West End of Edinburgh.

Budget brand Sleeperz has applied to convert an office space in Shandwick Place into a 43-room operation on three floors.

And on the same street, MC West End Ltd has submitted a bid to turn a hostel into a “boutique hotel”.

Building products firm Stevenswood in capital expansion

Scottish building products firm Stevenswood is upping its presence in Edinburgh with the acquisition of two sites for new outlets.

The Livingston-based firm, which manufactures windows, doors and kitchens, will open trade centres in Leith and Sighthill to add to its existing Loanhead site in the capital.

The company already operates ten trade centres across Scotland including ones in Aberdeen, Glasgow and Stirling.

Dundee City Council to make up £23m shortfall over next financial year

Dundee City Council will have to make cuts of £23 million over the next financial year, the local authority has revealed.

Previously, council chiefs had said that they would need to find £28m worth of savings spread over 2016/17 and 2017/18, however, the authority is now saying that £23m of cuts will come next year and that no further figures are available for the following year.

The position has changed following the announcement by the Scottish Government last month that Dundee would lose more than £11m from the grant it receives from Holyrood for next year.

Councillors on the policy and resources committee will hear on Monday of the position in a report considering the local government financial settlement 2016/17 and financial implications for the city council.

Administration finance spokesman, Councillor Willie Sawers, said the council will continue to invest in the future with “an ambitious capital plan which is providing new schools and modern facilities across the city”.

The local authority will set its budget next month.

Inverness ‘Mad Mile’ £65m could be better spent, says MSP

Green Party MSP John Finnie has said funding to be allocated for a new road in Inverness would be better spent improving existing infrastructure.

About £65m is to be spent on the link between the A9 and A96 trunk roads.

Mr Finnie said people in Inverness had nicknamed the short stretch of carriageway as the “Mad Mile”.

But infrastructure secretary Keith Brown said the link was needed to support the “current needs and future aspirations” of Inverness.

Mr Finnie told the Scottish Parliament that the project should be reviewed and the funding invested instead in making improvements to roads, bridges, harbours and piers.

Mr Brown said the link was needed to support the growth of Inverness, adding that he doubted people in Inverness were opposed to its construction.

Plan to transform Angus Council’s sheltered homes into retirement accommodation

Angus Council is to consider proposals for a new model of housing for older people which recommend that the local authority’s sheltered housing provision should be reduced by a third.

A report has suggested that 210 of the council’s 626 sheltered housing units would instead be converted into retirement accommodation for older people.

Further consultation would take place with tenants regarding improvements to complexes.

The recommendations will be considered by the social work & health committee on 12 January and by the communities committee on 19 January.