Building Briefs – June 5th

A new £8.6 million primary school has been opened in Duns, Scottish Borders.

The new Duns Primary and Berwickshire Locality Support Centre project was delivered by development partner hub South East Scotland and GRAHAM Construction.

Construction work on the project provided a series of community benefits, including six new jobs, 96 work placement days, 550 pupil/student visits and six new and existing apprenticeships.

The school was officially opened with the unveiling of a commemorative plaque by Paralympian and double world champion Samantha Kinghorn yesterday.

Slight drop in housing registrations in Scotland

More than 11,200 new homes were registered to be built in the UK during April, according to the National House Building Council (NHBC).

The new figures reveal a slight drop in housing registration numbers when compared with last year, when 12,648 new homes were registered during April 2017.

Overall, a total of 11,216 new homes were registered during the month, with 7,634 new homes in the private sector (2017; 9,350) and 2,582 in the ‘affordable’ sector (2017; 3,298).

On a regional basis, slight falls in housing registrations were also recorded in Scotland, with 2,988 homes registered this year compared with 3,734 last year, while in Wales numbers dipped slightly from 1,311 in April 2017 to 1,255 this year. However, there was a slight rise in Northern Ireland & Isle of Man, from 816 homes in 2017 to 889 homes for the month this year.

Renfrewshire Council to invest £1m in cemetary improvements

Up to £1 million is to be invested in improving cemeteries across Renfrewshire.

Renfrewshire Council will carry out upgrades to drainage systems, roads and pathways to nine cemeteries in the region.

A total of £500,000 will be invested in Hawkhead Cemetery as part of significant work to improve the drainage and roads infrastructure, while Bishopton and Inchinnan will also significantly benefit from the planned works, with each cemetery being allocated £75,000 as part of the programme for infrastructure improvements.

Elsewhere, a further £350,000 will be invested in Renfrewshire remaining cemeteries including Arkleston, Broomward, Kilbarchan and Lochwinnoch.

Archaeological surveys to begin for Killiecrankie to Glen Garry A9 Dualling

Archaeological survey work is to be carried out for the A9 Dualling Killiecrankie to Glen Garry scheme.

The surveys form part of the design programme for the scheme and the scope of the work has been agreed with Historic Environment Scotland (HES). Overall, the scheme will take around three weeks to complete.

Transport Scotland has also invited HES, Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust, Killiecrankie and Fincastle Community Council and the Soldiers of Killiecrankie interest group to attend the survey works on site.

The A9 Dualling Killiecrankie to Glen Garry will see the 22km road upgraded to a dual carriageway, as part of the Scottish Government’s plans to dual the A9 between Perth and Inverness by 2025.

The survey’s findings will be published in due course.

Kilmac continues work on South Montrose Spine Road

Contractor Kilmac is continuing work to build the South Montrose Spine Road in Angus.

The scheme, which is now nearing completion, is part of the council’s ongoing multi-million pound Montrose South regeneration programme.

A new section of the road is now open and named “Rue De Luzarches” after the twin town in France. Works included the demolition of a number of properties, road realignments, new road construction, landscaping and construction of a new feature fence/wall around the port.

In addition, the aim of the works was to improve the access to the area for large vehicles, remove large vehicles from residential areas, improve safety and improve the look of the area in order to promote private sector investment. Overall from start to finish, the construction works have taken around eight months.

The Montrose South regeneration programme has already led to the private sector committing £100 million investment in Montrose South, along with 200 new jobs and more in the pipeline.

Work underway to restore damaged Dunbeath Brae water link

Work is underway to restore a damaged water main link in the Highlands.

The scheme is located in a steep section of the embankment at Dunbeath Brae, with the main being relocated to a more stable and accessible area beneath the public path on the embankment.

Work on £55,500 Aberdeen skate park refurb complete

Work on a £55,500 skate park refurbishment project in Aberdeen is now complete.

The new St Fittick’s Skate Park in Torry was boosted by a £50,000 funding award from the SUEZ Community Trust, which enabled the expansion of the existing skate park to include 10 features for users of all abilities.