Building Briefs – June 30th

ACHA to build 27 new homes in Oban and Connel

Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA) has got the go ahead to build 27 new homes for rent in Oban and Connel.

The 17 homes to be built in Oban will be at Glenshellach and the ten in Connel will be at St Oran’s Place.

The two developments which are starting on site this month will see an investment of £4,145,000 in the projects. Funding support for the initiatives has come from the Scottish Government (£1.7 million), Argyll and Bute Council (£675,000) and ACHA (£1.7m).

The new properties will range in size from 1 to 4 bedroom.

Both developments will be built by M&K MacLeod Construction of Lochgilphead.

Developer tees up plans for new homes beside Carnoustie Links

A disused industrial site overlooking Carnoustie’s golf links could be revitalised by plans for 82 new homes.

Ogilvie Homes has applied to build 58 private homes and 24 affordable flats on the 2.14-hectare former Taymouth Engineering Works and Casings brownfield site, with space for 62 vehicles, a playpark and “green”.

The developer has been advised to carry out careful excavation and mitigation works due to asbestos and toxins found in the soil.

The works and other buildings were demolished between 2006 and last year, with the exception of the Carnoustie casings building.

A spokesman for the developer said: “The site is bounded by residential properties and, once the former casings buildings are removed, will be somewhat of an anomaly in the locale.

“Our proposal to develop the site as a residential development will bring this incongruous area of land back in line with its environment and will regenerate this brownfield site in the town centre.”

A delegated decision on the application is expected to be made by October 21.

Broxden Business Park plan submitted

A multi-million-pound plan to create more than 20 offices and a meeting hub on the outskirts of Perth has been lodged with the council.

The John Dewar Lamberkin Trust have submitted the proposal, which would result in new business space for small and medium-size businesses at the Broxden Business Park.

The proposal is part of the overall Perth City West project, which aims to build 3,000 homes and a primary school on separate land, plus proposed changes to the road infrastructure at the Broxden roundabout.

If passed by Perth and Kinross Council, the business park scheme would see 24 offices built with “flexibility” to expand, along with creating a meeting space, reception and also providing business support services.

The project will be delivered in phases comprising the east range, the north range and ‘the triangle,’ which will be the meeting hub.

Update on repair works to landslip at Rochallie, A93

Works are well underway to repair the landslip at Rochallie on the A93.

To allow carriageway surfacing work to be carried out, the road will close between 9am and 4pm on Wednesday 1, Thursday 2 and Friday 3 July this week.

The work cannot be carried out at night and a signed diversion via the A923 – A9 – A924 will be in place for drivers travelling on the route between 9am and 4pm.

The repair works on site will stabilise the embankment, improve the existing road drainage system and see the road resurfaced.

It is anticipated that the works will take a further three weeks to complete.

Renfrewshire housing improvement programme creates over 200 local jobs

A £138 million programme to improve homes in Renfrewshire has helped to create more than new 200 jobs.

The five year project by Renfrewshire Council to upgrade tenants’ homes to meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SHQS) saw 234 jobs created through contractors working on the programme.

More than 20 apprentices were also taken on, many of whom have gone on to permanent employment, and local young people have been given work experience placements.

Keepmoat is one of the contractors working on the SHQS programme.

New affordable flats set for North Ayrshire

A ceremony has been held to mark the official signing of a building contract for 12 new build flats in Largs.

Cunninghame Housing Association, in partnership with North Ayrshire Council and the Scottish Government, is delivering 12 new build flats at Waterside Street.

The flats are all two-bedroom properties and have been designed to amenity standard to accommodate elderly people.

Contractor is RDK Construction started on site in May 2015 and will complete the work in February 2016.

Abbeyfield House in Lenzie reopens after major refurbishment project

Abbeyfield Scotland, the charity that provides independent living with support for older people across Scotland, held a reopening celebration at its house in Garngaber Avenue in Lenzie.

Provost Una Walker and other dignitaries, residents, local volunteers, neighbours and families all joined the Abbeyfield Scotland team to officially reopen the house following an extensive refurbishment and modernisation programme of around £500,000.

The investment in the house, which is home to 10 residents, includes a new extension which contains a platform lift for access to the upper floors, increased room sizes and brand new en-suites which have been carefully designed in a contemporary style to suit older people’s needs. The programme was sensitively carried out to reflect the lovely character of the Victorian house.

Hawick wind farm scheme rejected

Councillors have refused plans for a wind farm south of Hawick due to concerns over its landscape impact.

Infinis UK wanted to put up nine turbines in the Windy Edge project north of Hermitage Castle.

The project had attracted more than 300 letters of opposition, along with more than 100 in support of the scheme.

Planning officials recommended refusal, saying it would be “incongruous and anachronistic”. Councillors voted by six to two to reject the proposals.