Building Briefs – July 6th

CCG is continuing with work on a £12 million project for blind and partially sighted people in Paisley.

Mhairi Black MP took part in a ground-breaking ceremony at the Hawkhead Road scheme to mark the start of construction on July 1.

The development aims to create a new 54-bed care home, along with an activity and support centre, for visually impaired veterans in south-east Paisley.

The project is being delivered for Royal Blind and its sister charity Scottish War Blinded.

The development is expected to be completed in 2017.

South Ayrshire Council invests £1m to improve roads

South Ayrshire Council is set to use funding reserves of £1 million to boost road infrastructure.

The work will be undertaken by the Ayrshire Roads Alliance and is over and above the £10m already being spent on roads over five years.

Major new galleries open at National Museum of Scotland

Ten major new galleries will open this Friday at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh following a £14.1 million redevelopment.

The new state-of-the-art galleries, which are dedicated to decorative art, design, fashion science and technology, are the latest phase in an £80m masterplan to transform the Museum and showcase the breadth of its world class collections.

The innovative new galleries, created in collaboration with award-winning practice Hoskins Architects and exhibition specialists Metaphor, encourage visitors to take a journey of discovery. The redevelopment of the magnificent Grade A listed Victorian building restores the Museum’s original layout and sightlines. Over 3,000 objects are now on display across the new galleries, three-quarters of which have not been shown for at least a generation.

The £14.1m project is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), Wellcome and the Scottish Government, as well as other major trusts, foundations and nearly 800 generous individual donors.

Homes listings hit by Brexit vote in Lothians, says ESPC

The ESPC has warned that the number of houses being put on the market in the Lothians has stalled as a result of the Brexit vote.

However, the organisation, which represents member solicitors in central eastern Scotland, said it believed the dip was “temporary” and that the market could already be beginning to improve.

The ESPC said it had witnessed a “significant dip” in the number of properties brought to the market, as well as a reduction in the number of Home Report requests.

However, it added that the first few days of July had been more buoyant.

Bridge roadworks to begin over M8 motorway in Glasgow

Roadworks are to begin on a bridge over the M8 motorway in Glasgow, it has been announced.

Scottish Roads Partnership will begin waterproofing work on Wardie Road bridge in Easterhouse on Monday, 18 July.

The three-week scheme will take place between 7am – 7pm seven days a week.

In order to carry out the work safely, the Wardie Road between Ware Road and Struie Street will be closed during the projects duration. Diversions will be in place.

Work continues on £120m water infrastructure upgrade project

Work is continuing on a £120 million project to upgrade the water infrastructure in Ayrshire and parts of East Renfrewshire.

Scottish Water engineers are installing a new water main from Waulkmill Glen to Amlaird Water Treatment Works near Fenwick, East Ayrshire.

As part of the scheme, a section of Aurs Road will be closed at the junction of Springfield Road on Saturday, 09 July and Sunday, 10 July. Diversions will be in place.

A Scottish Water spokesperson said the scheme “will benefit more than 200,000 people and businesses in much of Ayrshire and parts of East Renfrewshire”.

Work begins on Hawick 3G sports pitch

Work has begun on the new £1 million Hawick 3G sports pitch.

The first sods were cut at Volunteer Park by Graeme Anderson of Hawick Linden and Morgan Tait of Hawick Wanderers.

Both rugby clubs play at Volunteer Park and, as part of the Volunteer Park Sports Club group, have been key in co-ordinating and supporting the delivery of the project along with Bill McLaren Park Ltd.

They have worked alongside Scottish Borders Council, which is also delivering and funding the project. The new pitch is being built by Malcolm Construction and will be managed by Live Borders when it opens in autumn 2016 for sports clubs and schools to use.

Charity nets boost from Bellway

More than 190 babies’ lives could be saved thanks to a charity football festival sponsored by housebuilder Bellway.

The tournament, held in Airdrie close to the housebuilder’s Crystal Park development, raised £565 for the care of premature babies in the developing world.

Four teams took part in the tournament held in New Broomfield Park on June 25 – with a team of coaches from Cumbernauld Colts winning the tournament.

Also competing were a team from Bellway Homes captained by Willie McDermott Land Director and two teams of Airdrieonians supporters.

Proceeds from the event are going to Embrace, which provides infant warmers around the world.