Building Briefs – July 8th

Fife on track to meet ambitious affordable housing commitment

Fife Council is on track to deliver on its commitment of 2,700 affordable homes by 2017 as it marks that all developments are now complete, or are under construction, across the Kingdom.

With a total investment across partners in excess of £300 million, all 2,700 affordable homes are now either built or underway to meet local people’s needs.

A total of 66 developments that make up the Affordable Housing Programme are now complete, with a further 48 developments under construction across Fife progressing well.

There is a growing need for housing across Fife and these homes will help contribute to meeting these needs. The majority of the Fife Council homes delivered or under construction will be for council rent, with many of those allocated to existing council tenants on the transfer list. Other types of affordable housing are also being made available, including mid-market rent homes.

The Affordable Housing Programme offers a mix of house types, offering from one to seven bedrooms, and includes two-storey houses, bungalows and some flats, as well as homes that will meet a range of needs.

The Affordable Housing Programme has involved support from the Scottish Government as well as Fife, Kingdom and Ore Valley housing associations.

Plans submitted for nine flats in Alexandria

Cube Housing Association has submitted plan to West Dunbartonshire Council for a block of nine new flats on currently vacant land in Alexandria.

The plans, if approved, would see nine two-bedroom flats go up on vacant land at the corner of Miller Road and Carrochan Road, which was the site of a pub until the old building was demolished last year.

MAST Architects are proposing a three storey building with three flats on each floor and 12 parking spaces.

Robertson appoints Yorkshire and East Midlands commercial director

Robertson Yorkshire and East Midlands has promoted from within to fill the role of commercial director for the business.

With 18 years of experience in a range of national construction contractors, Rebecca Southworth will be tasked with reaching the ambitious growth targets of the newest business in the Robertson Group.

Based at Thorncliffe Business Park in Sheffield, Robertson Yorkshire and East Midlands has already secured 85 per cent of the revenues it needs to hit its targets for 2016/2017.

A number of new projects have contributed to the businesses fast growth, including the 444 bed £20 million student accommodation at Talbot House, Nottingham and 115 bed £6m student accommodation at Lawrence St, York.

Cloich & Stranoch wind farms approved while Hag Law refused

Cabinet secretary for economy, jobs and fair work Keith Brown has today granted planning consent for a new 18-turbine wind farm in Cloich Forest, which will generate up to £6 million in community benefit funding near Peebles in the Scottish Borders.

He has also approved the 24-turbine Stranoch wind farm in Dumfries and Galloway, which will power the equivalent of around 34,959 homes.

Meanwhile, minister for local government and housing Kevin Stewart has refused the planning appeal on Hag Law wind farm near Ramanno Bridge, also in the Scottish Borders.

The completed Cloich wind farm will power the equivalent of almost 26,968 homes. It will be developed by Cloich Wind Farm LLP, which is wholly owned by Partnerships for Renewables and will have a generating capacity around 54MW.

Stranoch will be developed by Wind Prospects Developments 2 Ltd and will have a generating capacity around 72MW.

The Cabinet Secretary agreed with the findings of the Public Local Inquiry Reporters to grant consent in both cases.

Historical artefacts discovered during East Dunbartonshiretown hall refurb project

Central Building Contractors (CBC) has uncovered various historical artefacts during a £5.5 million town hall redevelopment project in East Dunbartonshire.

Archaeologists discovered Roman remains next to the Kirkintilloch Town Hall project site, including a Roman nail and a piece of pre-glaze Roman pottery - both thought to date back to 650AD.

hub West Scotland, CBC and East Dunbartonshire Leisure and Culture (EDLC) Trust are underway with work to transform the town hall.

Work has so far taken place to excavate the car park site, and to create retaining walls in the basement and new parking. Contractors have also stripped out soft furnishings, and redundant floors and walls within the town hall itself.

The new Kirkintilloch Town Hall is due to open in summer 2017.

Plans revealed for £800,000 upgrade at Highland WWTW

Plans have been revealed for an £800,000 investment at a waste water treatment works (WWTW) in the Highlands.

Scottish Water will begin upgrading its Gairloch WWTW in autumn 2016.

Features include replacing the existing eight-year-old membranes at the facility with a new septic tank system, which is more carbon friendly. In addition, a 25-metre extension will be added to the existing outfall in Loch Gairloch.

Scottish Water will work alongside SEPA to ensure the discharge of treated waste water from the facility meets SEPA’s environmental standards.

The project is to be completed in spring 2017.

£160,000 resurfacing project to begin in North Ayrshire

A £160,000 resurfacing project is to begin in North Ayrshire, Scotland TranServ has announced.

Resurfacing works are to get underway on the A737 between Barrmill Road and Manrahead Roundabout from Wednesday, 20 July until Saturday, 23 July.

The project aims to improve the road surface for 15,000 motorists who use the route each day.

Works will take place from 8pm – 6am and the road will be closed in both directions.