Building Briefs – July 9th

Webster Homes has announced the launch of a new development at Gairneybank, near Kinross.

The development, the fourth from Webster Homes since its inception in 2014, sees five luxury contemporary homes, each with four bedrooms and two en-suites, brought to the market.

The properties each have a striking exterior look, with features such as slate roofs, an arched porch entrance, and Juliet Balconies, all designed to maximise light and space in the picturesque setting of Gairneybank.

Webster Homes has ensured its properties are all eco friendly, constructed with the very latest energy efficient materials, and with solar panels included.

Falkirk Crematorium given Civic Award following Clark Contracts revamp

Falkirk Crematorium was awarded a prize from the Falkirk and District Arts and Civic Council following the refurbishment and extension carried out by Clark Contracts.

Clark Contracts attended an awards ceremony last week where the project team gathered to see the presentation of the award to the team at Falkirk Council.

The Civic Award is awarded to an organisation or individual who has made a significant contribution to the local community with regards to civic amenities, enterprise, economy or the environment.

The council received the award for the refurbishment of Falkirk Crematorium, which was completed towards the end of last year, for its contribution to civic amenities.

The £2.6 million project was led by the community design team in development services, and the refurbishment work was carried out by Clark Contracts. The work included the replacement of the three cremators, extension of the chapel to accommodate larger services, partial enclosure of the loggia to increase privacy for mourners, and improvement of the facilities for the public.

Previous recipients have included Falkirk Wheel, Helix Beehive, Muiravonside Sculpture Poetry Trail and Falkirk Trinity Church.

Aberdour housing developments refused by councillors

Plans for two major housing developments in the Fife village of Aberdour have been rejected by councillors.

Fife Council’s west planning committee met at Dunfermline City Chambers to discuss CALA’s proposal for 85 new homes on a field at the east of the village and Campion Homes’ bid to build 80 homes beside Nether Bouprie Farm to the west.

The CALA development had been recommended for approval, with council planners arguing it was needed to help meet a shortfall in housing land.

However councillors unanimously rejected the plans after seeing for themselves the traffic congestion experienced on the A921 at the east of the village during a site visit earlier in the day.

The Campion proposal was also rejected after it had been recommended for refusal.

Former Borders school buildings set for demolition

Sections of school buildings in the Scottish Borders no longer in use and deemed surplus to requirements will be demolished this summer.

Buildings at the former Duns Primary, current Eyemouth Primary and old High School and Edenside Primary in Kelso will all be taken down by appointed contractor George Beattie & Sons Ltd.

The former Duns Primary has been vacant since pupils and staff moved into their new home at the former Berwickshire High in August 2017.

The contract will see much of the existing primary school removed, with the original masonry building retained. In addition, two of the older modular units at the school will be removed, with three newer modular classrooms having already been sold.

To allow for the potential development of the Eyemouth Primary site, the former nursery building will be removed, having not been used for several years.

A section of the former High School science wing will also be demolished, while at Edenside Primary a disused classroom will be removed.

It is expected that the nursery building at Eyemouth Primary and the classroom at Edenside Primary will be removed during the summer holidays.

The works at the former Eyemouth High and Duns Primary will be completed during the new school term but are not expected to impact on local pupils.

The works are being managed by Scottish Borders Council’s architects team.

Call for entries for 44th NHIC Annual Awards

Since 1974 the National Home Improvement Council (NHIC) Annual Awards have recognised achievement in UK Housing and have grown over the years to become highly regarded as the premier event in the home improvement and modernisation sector.

This year the NHIC has announced the creation of The George Clarke Medal, which it will proudly host as part of its Awards Ceremony on November 22.

Entries are now invited from across the spectrum of home improvement projects and associated activities in the following five categories:

The National Home Improvement Council encourages vibrant renovation, modernisation and home improvement in the private and public housing sectors.

To download an entry form, find out more information or book your place at the Awards event of the year, please visit www.nhic.org.uk/awards.

Funding for Forth and Clyde Canal bridge repairs

Transport Scotland has announced £1.625 million in capital grant aid to enable Scottish Canals to fix the bridges and reopen the stretch to boats, and to carry out repairs at Ardrishaig Pier in Argyll and Bute.

Repairs will be carried out to bridges over the Forth and Clyde Canal – between Kirkintilloch and The Falkirk Wheel – following calls for action by East Dunbartonshire Council.

There is currently no through-route for barges and boats on the Forth and Clyde due to bridge issues at Twechar and Bonnybridge.