Building Briefs – June 20th

Plans have been unveiled to create a new learning and cultural hub on Paisley High Street. A currently-empty retail unit at 22 High St has been earmarked by the council to become a new modern community facility to house the town’s library collection. Despite original plans to demolish the building and erecting a new structure while retaining the existing listed façade, further investigations have revealed a new solution based on a comprehensive refurbishment of the current building, which can be done within the project’s set budget. Once finished, the facility will replace the current Paisley Central Library which will leave its current location next to Paisley Museum in September when the museum closes for a £42m revamp project.

Both projects are being delivered as part of a £100m investment in the town’s venues and infrastructure. Designs for the new learning and cultural hub will now be produced by the project team, while further site investigation works will continue over the summer. Construction is expected to start in late 2019.

Funding has been secured for plans to create new solar power centre on Duke Street in Glasgow. Up to £940,000 has been awarded from the EU Horizon 2020 fund to help transform the council-owned car park into a facility featuring a huge canopy of solar panels. The facility, which will be primarily used to power the car park and includes ten charging points for electric vehicles, will be powered by a 500kw battery and a sophisticated controller that will allow for storage and sharing of the energy generated within the district captured via the solar panels. Overall the solar panel canopy, which will cover the equivalent of over 130 car parking spaces, is scheduled to be full operational by October 2019.

Work on a bridge maintenance project in Moray has been completed ahead of schedule Moray Council have revealed the Glenernie bridge will open to traffic today, 15 June, two weeks earlier than expected. Features included strengthening works, as well as vegetation clearing, drainage, waterproofing and carriageway resurfacing.

Work continues on phase two of Inshes District Park

Work is to begin on a £3 million regeneration project in Greenock. The scheme involves removing a sharp corner between Baker Street and Drumfrochar Road, known as Baker’s Brae, by cutting through the site of former industrial buildings. Features include lowering kerbs, landscaping and improving sightlines. The project is being delivered by regeneration company Riverside Inverclyde and completion is scheduled for spring 2019. Baker Street will be closed between Regent Street and Ingliston Street for one week from Monday, 25 June. Further varying traffic management restrictions will be imposed over the coming months as work continues on the project.