Building Briefs – July 23rd

£2.5m low-cost housing development takes shape in Moray

New Moray Council housing has risen rapidly from the ground in Dufftown since work started in March.

Roofs are already on the 19 energy efficient houses, which are due to be completed by the end of the year.

Eight of the houses are cottage flats, specially designed for older people.

The brownfield site was previously home to a cooperage and an auction mart, and was purchased by Moray Council earlier this year to help meet demand for low-cost housing in Speyside.

Now the properties are weather-tight the next phase of work will include the installation of kitchens, bathrooms and heating systems.

The £2.5 million contract was awarded to Elgin-based Robertson Construction, who have a 30-strong team on site.

The properties are the first to be built by the council in Speyside in recent years and are part of a commitment to the building of 500 new homes across Moray over the next decade.

Golf course plan bids to be jewel in Jura’s crown in terms of jobs

A Hebridean jobs boom is on the horizon thanks to an Australian millionaire landowner’s ambitious plans for a golf course on the isle of Jura.

The Herald reports that Greg Coffey’s rumoured £55 million outlay on land he owns is expected to create up to 20 permanent jobs, a massive boost for an island which is home to less than 200 people.

Work is now under way on creating an 18-hole course on the £3.5m Ardfin sporting estate, which former hedge fund manager Mr Coffey bought in 2010.

Extensive renovation work is also being carried out to the infrastructure and buildings on the 12,000-acre estate and plans have been lodged to extend the main Jura House.

Bank backs Ayrshire waste treatment plant

HSBC is backing a recycling and recovery plant under construction in Ayrshire which is expected to create 10 jobs when it opens later this year.

The bank said it had provided a £2 million funding package for the high-tech plant at Tarbolton being built by Ayrshire Waste Management, part of the Larkfleet group.

The waste treatment and recovery facility is sited on 11.5 acres of land adjacent to an existing landfill site, and is expected to become operational in October.

Aberdeenshire Council announces project to improve offices

Aberdeenshire Council has announced a project to improve council offices in Banff.

The £1.75 million scheme, which is to begin on 27 July, is bringing several council teams together in the newly refurbished Banff Town House on Low Street.

A Customer Service Point has been developed to provide face-to-face support and guidance to local residents.

The project is part of the council’s corporate asset management plan, supported by the authority’s workSPACE strategy.

The construction and refurbishment work was undertaken by Morrison Construction.

The scheme has involved upgrades to Seafield House, along with works to 2 Carmelite Street/38 Low Street and the Town House.

Offices at 32 Low Street and St Leonards have also been upgraded creating an office for infrastructure services staff.

Asbestos found at Bute House

Nicola Sturgeon’s official Bute House residence is to shut down after the discovery of “small amounts” of asbestos, it has been confirmed.

The potentially lethal substance was uncovered during work to replace the 40 year old lift at the property in Edinburgh’s Charlotte Square.

Scottish Government officials say the asbestos remains “undisturbed” and there is no risk - past or present - to staff visitors or residents at the historic Georgian building.

Health and safety chiefs have now been informed, as well as neighbours ahead of work to safely remove the material. The work will get underway next week at which point Bute House will close down.

Plans for Girthgate wind farm are shelved by developer

An energy company has shelved plans to build 24 wind turbines near the Southern Upland Way.

Community Windpower wanted to develop a site at Girthgate, between Lauder and Stow.

Scottish Borders Council opposed the application and the bid was referred to the Scottish government’s directorate of planning appeals.

A hearing was due to take place in September but the firm has withdrawn their appeal.

Funding agreed to repair historic West Lothian well

Funding has been agreed with West Lothian Council to help restore a historic well in the centre of Torpichen.

The Jubilee Well dates from circa 1852, but was improved in 1897 to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee.

It is a C listed historic site, but in a poor state of repair. The stone work is cracked with redundant corroded iron fixings that require removal.

The well roof covering is also cracked and requires either repair or replacement.

The restoration of the well is being led by Torpichen Community Council who applied for funding via the council’s Village Improvement Fund (VIF).

A total of £15,000, with a margin of plus or minus 10 per cent has been granted to repair the well.

Infrastructure upgrades to be carried out on Livingston footbridges

A number of infrastructure improvements are to be carried out to two public footbridges on the A899 dual carriageway in Livingston.

Work is currently underway on Cousland Footbridge.

Roadworks includes blast cleaning and repainting of the underdeck steelwork, repainting of concrete edge beams and repainting of full length of parapets.

The footbridge will also be resurfaced and approach paths layered with anti-skid surfacing, along with replacing staggered fences.

The works are due to be complete by 21 August.

To allow scaffolding to be erected, slow lane closures will be enforced for a maximum period of three weeks commencing 20 July.

Work has also started on the Dedridge/Mid Calder Footbridge, which involves repainting of full length of parapets, removal of existing surfacing, installation of new anti-skid surfacing over the footbridge and resurfacing of approach ramps.

Further works include concrete repairs to edge beams and improvements to drainage of the paths at both ends of the bridge.

Lane closures of the carriageway will be in place for a maximum period of two weeks commencing on 17 August.

This is to allow access for a cherry picker to carry out repairs to the edge beams.

The bridge will also be closed for four weeks beginning 26 July to allow resurfacing work to take place.