Building Briefs – July 20th

Sanctuary Scotland Housing Association has submitted plans to build 143 affordable homes on the site of the former Craigbank housing estate, Nitshill, Glasgow

Designed by Mast Architects, the development incorporates a mix of detached, semi-detached and terraced housing spread evenly throughout the 7.87 hectare site.

Twenty of the homes, including 12 cottage flats, will be available on a shared equity basis with the remaining 123 homes built for mainstream rent. Many of the homes will be adapted for wheelchair use.

Should the development receive planning permission, work is expected to start in Spring next year with an estimated completion of Winter 2017.

2,000 tonne rail bridge slide ensures M8 M73 M74 upgrade is on track

The first major bridge as part of the £500 million M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements has been successfully manoeuvred into position.

The cabinet secretary for infrastructure, investment and cities, Keith Brown, visited the site to view construction progress ahead of the significant milestone in the major infrastructure project.

The new rail bridge, weighing in excess of 2,000 tonnes, slid into its final position next to the existing Cutty Sark rail bridge over the A8 at Bargeddie.

It will carry the Rutherglen and Whifflet rail line over the new M8, which is currently being constructed to the south of the existing A8.

Scottish Roads Partnership, the consortium responsible for designing, building, financing and operation the project, took possession of the rail line on 11 July and will return it to Network Rail on 26 July.

The bridge slide was the culmination of many months of meticulous preparation in consultation with Network Rail.

The first phase of works involved the closure of the railway line over four weekends in April 2015, allowing the construction team to lay the foundations by installing eight piles (each two metres in diameter) and reinforce the ground on either side of the bridge. The three-span steel bridge was then built adjacent to the existing railway prior to the slide.

Go-ahead for major renovation of historic Dreel Halls

Refurbishment of a historic building in the East Neuk has been given the go-ahead by a Scottish Government reporter.

The Dreel Halls are to undergo internal alteration and extension which the owner said would increase their potential significantly and secure their future as the only community-owned space in Wester Anstruther.

Councillors had refused planning consent, fearing that the character of the former church could be destroyed.

However, reporter Richard Dent disagreed and gave the go-ahead for Anstruther Improvement Association’s refurbishment to follow the completion of a £700,000 exterior renovation last year.

Work, designed by Arc Architects, will include construction of an extension for a disabled toilet and lift to give full access to the upper hall for the first time.

Number making own electricity rises 52 per cent in one year

The number of Scots companies, communities, farms and landowners making their own electricity has risen by more than 50 per cent in the last year.

New figures show 775 organisations have bought generating equipment in a bid to insulate themselves from rising energy costs, cut carbon emissions and sell excess power to the grid.

That’s up from just 509 in 2013, according to a new report by independent energy firm SmartestEnergy.

An estimated £80.9m was spent developing 267 new wind, hydro, solar and anaerobic digestion projects in 2014, taking the total spend to just over £494m, according to the Energy Entrepreneurs 2015 report.

In total, Scotland now has 775 commercial-scale projects over 50kW capacity now operating outside of the big power companies. They are generating £271m worth of electricity a year, enough to power more than 1.4 million households.

The figures show Scotland continues to punch well above its weight given its size, attracting almost a quarter of total spend in the independent sector to date across Great Britain (£494.1 million).

Brick prices rise by another 9 per cent in six months

Brick prices have risen by 9 per cent during the first six months of this year.

Manufacturer Michelmersh reported soaring prices in its half year results today to June 30 2015.

The rise comes on top of 13.5 per cent price increases reported by the firm in 2014 as demand continues to outstrip supply.

Michelmersh saw brick sales rise to 36m from 34m last time during the half year as selling prices increased to £422 per thousand from £387 per thousand.

Production in the period also increased from 34m to 35m but stock levels fell further to just six weeks supply.

Michelmersh warned that stock levels “cannot fall further whilst still able to provide a timely and reliable service to our customers”.

Property price fall after stamp duty rule change

Average property prices in parts of Scotland have fallen slightly year-on-year after the replacement to stamp duty was brought in, raising the tax paid on more expensive homes.

Prices fell by a half per cent compared to this time last year, despite rocketing by 18 per cent in the first three months of 2015, according to figures from estate agents ESPC.

It is thought the huge disparity can be explained by higher-priced properties being brought to market at the start of the year before the introduction of Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) on April 1.

This replaced UK stamp duty in Scotland. It means properties worth up to £145,000 will not attract any tax but between £325,001 and £750,000, the rate is 10 per cent, with a top rate of 12 per cent applying to all transactions above £750,000.

As a result fewer properties above £300,000 are being sold, therefore driving down average prices.

Dunfermline is proving to be a strong area in the east-central Scotland property market. The average price of a property continues to increase, this time by 12.6 per cent compared with last year.

Revised plans unveiled for Sandy Knowe wind farm

Revised plans have been submitted for a major wind farm in Dumfries and Galloway, six months after the Scottish Government rejected a previous bid for the site.

Proposals for a 30-turbine scheme at Sandy Knowe, near Kirkconnel, were refused earlier this year.

Energy minister Fergus Ewing said it would have an “unacceptable landscape and visual impact”.

Burcote Wind has now lodged plans for a 24-turbine project on the site.

The firm said it was “bitterly disappointed” by the minister’s decision in February, claiming the scheme had been supported by local people.

In a revised plan submitted to Dumfries and Galloway Council, it said the 125m (410ft) high turbines would produce enough energy to power 42,890 homes.

The turbines would be sited further away from Kirkconnel and Kelloholm, than in the earlier plan.

Burcote Wind said it had carried out an extensive consultation and said the revised application proposed enhanced benefits for the local area.

Cloburn Quarry lifts profits by a quarter

Cloburn Quarry, the Lanarkshire company owned by political activist Robert Durward, lifted profits by a quarter last year, according to its Companies House accounts.

Cloburn’s operations include the ‘red granite’ quarry and the manufacture and sale of concrete. Last year its net pre-tax profit was up from £1.53 million to £2.01m, below the £2.39m of 2012 but on a par with 2010. Turnover jumped from £7.96m to £9.49m.

The directors write that the recession continued to affect the construction industry but there had been considerable improvement during the year. Turnover had increased by 19 percent and net profit by 23 per cent, which was “very encouraging”, and the directors continued to monitor overheads carefully.

M8 maintenance works to begin

Essential maintenance work is set to begin on the M8 between Junctions 26 (Renfrew) and 27 (Hillington) today.

Scotland TranServ, on behalf of Transport Scotland, will carry out the £220k resurfacing works which will benefit road users who travel on this section of the M8 each day.

The programme of works will last for four nights, with a total closure of the M8 westbound in place each night from 8.00pm until 6.00am.

Traditional building skills coming to the Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park

On the 17th September, schoolchildren and residents of the picturesque town of Callander will get a first-hand opportunity to see traditional building skills in action and possible get some hands on experience.

Ancaster Square, at the heart of the town, will play host to the Forth Valley Traditional Building Forum who will be there to put on a number of live demonstrations. Visitors will see stonemasonry by Historic Scotland, stone carving from a bursary holder of the Heritage Lottery Fund, which will also be working in conjunction with Forth Valley College to show off joinery, and painting and decorating skills. A traditional roof slating demonstration will be undertaken by the National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC).

For more information on the Forth Valley Traditional Building Forum, as well as additional details on the free public event, head to http://stbf.org.uk.