Building Briefs – July 21st

Scottish hotel group Apex Hotels is moving into Glasgow for the first time, creating 60 new jobs.

The firm have confirmed that they are set to transform the Marks Hotel on Bath Street into the Apex City of Glasgow Hotel with a £10.5 million refurbishment.

The new four-star venue will feature 104 rooms with five luxury duplex suites and is expected to be fully operational by early October.

Wetherspoon’s fresh £2m Edinburgh superpub plans

Fresh plans to open a £2 million superpub in Victoria Street, Edinburgh, have been revealed by Wetherspoon.

Last year, attempts by the chain to turn the former Khushi’s Indian restaurant into a large pub were knocked back by planning chiefs amid claims the scheme would have a negative impact on the B-listed structure.

But now the pub giant has launched a fresh bid to set up home in the building, which has lain empty since it was devastated by a blaze in December 2008.

The latest proposals come after city chiefs gave the go-ahead for Wetherspoon to transform the former Picture House in Lothian Road into a huge pub in April.

The plans for Victoria Street include creating a new floor within the roof space, complete with three outdoor terraces to the side and rear. Alterations to the front of the building proposed in the last application have been removed.

The plan insists “the proposed scheme will sensitively showcase the building’s historic character, rejuvenating this key building within this part of the Old Town”.

Plans on show for Moray supported accommodation development

A Moray project is set to give adults with high levels of care and support needs the opportunity to live in a home of their own for the first time.

Moray Council will put plans on show next month for the proposed £2.5 million development of 10 bungalows in Lhanbryde which will provide permanent homes and respite accommodation for adults with autism and communication difficulties.

Villagers are being invited to view the plans and learn more about the development from the council’s project team at a drop-in information event in Lhanbryde Community Centre on Wednesday, August 12 from 4pm to 7pm.

Last month councillors approved funding for a purpose-built facility to replace Maybank, a converted Victorian house in Forres which has become increasingly unsuitable for the needs of those living there.

The site for the proposed supported housing development lies off the Garmouth Road. It was previously designated for industrial use but is identified as an opportunity site in the Local Plan.

Along with the seven bungalows for permanent residents, one house will be available for respite accommodation to give families a break and another for communal use so the residents can get together to socialise. The remaining building will provide office and accommodation space for staff.

Each house will have its own garden and a sensory garden is also planned. There will be landscaping of the site and a new access road.

Following the community information event a planning application will be submitted to Moray Council at which time people will have the opportunity to make comments formally. Subject to approval, work is scheduled to start on site in the spring of next year, ready for people to move into their new homes early in 2017.

Landslide mitigation efforts continue on A83

Further work is to be carried out on the A83 to establish how the local diversion route, the Old Military Road, can be improved to help keep Argyll opened for business in the event of a landslide at the Rest and Be Thankful.

Transport Scotland will look at options to improve the general layout, access points and the operation and implementation of the diversion route should it be required.

The local diversion route is part of the range of measures being progressed on the A83 under the Red Option to help reduce the risk of impacts of landslides at the Rest and Be Thankful. As well as the diversion route, it has seen the introduction of additional fencing and debris netting as well as drainage and culvert improvements.

A total of £48 million has been spent on the maintenance of the A83 since 2007.

Installation of temporary footbridge in Alyth

A temporary footbridge is to be installed in Alyth following the loss of Springbank footbridge which was damaged by the recent flooding in the area.

Perth & Kinross Council has moved swiftly to ensure that a temporary footbridge is installed next week so that residents in the Springbank area of the town have easy access to the shops and community facilities.

Consultation begins on future growth in Edinburgh and South East Scotland

Residents and interest groups living in Edinburgh and the South East of Scotland are being asked for their views on the challenges of future population growth including the need for more housing, infrastructure and protecting the environment.

Over the next 20 years the predicted population growth in the region is 18 per cent with the number of households growing by 25 per cent. This is expected to raise some challenging debates including on any effect on green belts and countryside in the area.

The consultation on SESplan’s Main Issues Report, which runs from Tuesday, 21 July to Wednesday, 30 September, is the first stage in the preparation of the region’s second Strategic Development Plan, which will aim to accommodate future need and demand in a manner that will support the economy and investment.

The same SESplan partner local authorities are also aiming to secure £1 billion to support growth, under ambitious plans announced in April. The authorities will work together to develop a deal with the Scottish and UK governments which could go some way to meeting the challenges faced. A proposition is being developed which seeks to use investment in infrastructure to improve productivity and growth as well as to reduce inequality.

The purpose of SESplan is to create a Strategic Development Plan, a planning document covering the whole of the Edinburgh and South East Scotland region. It is an important planning document as it is used to inform the Local Development Plan for each local authority area. It focuses on long-term strategic level planning matters which cross local authority boundaries such as housing, economic growth, green networks and infrastructure.

The Main Issues Report is available is available at www.sesplan.gov.uk and in local authority planning offices and libraries. An easy to read guide has also been produced and the public and interested groups are being encouraged to attend the events being held throughout the region.

A725 Crossbaskets to Whirlies roundabout resurfacing

Almost £230,000 will be invested on the A725 in July with Scotland TranServ carrying out resurfacing works on behalf of Transport Scotland.

The works on the southbound A725 between Crossbaskets and Whirlies Roundabout will take place from Friday 24 July to Wednesday 29 July.

New facilities open at Girvan Harbour

New modern facilities have been opened at Girvan Harbour in South Ayrshire.

Known as the Girvan Harbour Facilities, this latest development enhances the pontoons that were installed in 2013.

The £465,000 project was led by South Ayrshire Council and was part funded with an award of £131,699 from the Argyll & Bute South Ayrshire Fisheries Local Action Group, financed by Axis 4 of the European Fisheries Fund 2007-2013 Programme.

Features include modern rest facilities for harbour fishermen and pontoon users, a new harbour master’s office and public toilets.

The facility will be operated by Ayrshire Roads Alliance and South Ayrshire Council.

Perthshire hotel to remove chimney after losing appeal

The owners of a Stanley hotel have been given extra time to remove an unauthorised chimney stack after losing a planning appeal.

The chimney was installed at the Tayside Hotel four years ago as part of an overhaul of the venue’s heating system.

Councillors refused a retrospective planning bid, claiming that the new biomass boiler would have a detrimental impact on nearby properties.

Their decision followed complaints from residents about “intolerable” smoke and acrid smells.

A second planning application was also turned down for the same reasons and an appeal to Scottish ministers was rejected.

Hotel owners Joanna Hardy and father William Twaddle were later served with an enforcement order from Perth and Kinross Council, ordering them to take down the stack within 45 days or face prosecution.

Now an appeal against this order has been refused by the Scottish Government’s directorate for planning and environmental appeals.