Building Briefs – March 10th

CCG’s hospital accommodation development in Glasgow has won three accolades at two different awards ceremonies in Scotland.

The Ronald McDonald House, located on the campus of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital campus in Govan, received a Civic Trust award as well as a Special Award for Scotland at the annual Civic Trust Awards ceremony in London.

In addition, the development also won the Judge’s Merit Award at this year’s Scottish Property Awards in Glasgow.

The 30-bed Ronald McDonald House includes accommodation for families of sick children attending hospitals as well as for full-time staff members.

Plan for £1.8m new theatre in heart of Edinburgh gets green light

A £1.8m plan for a new theatre and centre for the performing arts in the centre of Edinburgh has been given a planning green-light.

Councillors on the city’s planning committee have approved the plan by ballet star and director Peter Schaufuss to create the centre in the Charlotte Baptist Chapel in Rose Street.

A rival plan, to open a restaurant, bar and accommodation in the same 1908 building, by Glendola Leisure, was rejected.

McLaughlin & Harvey tops out Irvine Leisure Centre

A major milestone has been reached on a leisure centre development project in North Ayrshire.

Contractors McLaughlin & Harvey (McL&H) have now reached the highest point of its Irvine Leisure Centre project.

A symbolic weathervane was erected during a topping out ceremony to mark the occasion.

McL&H said the facility, designed by LA Architects, is now weathertight and work is progressing well on the project.

When complete, the centre will include a 25 metre six-lane swimming pool, a teaching/warm-up pool with changing facilities and spectator seating.

In addition, a six-court multi-use sports hall will be built as well as community facilities, a fitness suite, a cafe and the historic Town House.

Aberdeen Ikea store ‘could open in May’

A planned Ikea store for Aberdeen is on track to open in May.

The Swedish furniture retailer is constructing the order and collect store at Wellington Road.

Developers Cyan Properties said steps were being taken to improve traffic flow and address concerns raised by the local community, and it was likely to open in mid-May.

Ikea said the development was on track and it aimed to open the new store in “late Spring”.

East Ayrshire Council to extend home energy efficiency improvements

Dozens of homes in East Ayrshire are set to be warmer and more energy efficient thanks to a large scale housing improvement programme carried out by the local authority.

Working with the Energy Agency, East Ayrshire Council secured funding from the Scottish Government which allowed the Housing Asset Services team to extend its external insulation programme to 66 homes in Onthank and 77 homes in Patna.

Funding was offered to private home owners which meant that improvements could be carried out on whole streets when the council’s housing improvement and energy efficiency programmes were already underway.

Energy efficiency features prominently in the Housing Improvement Programme, with £5.49 million identified to be spent on external wall insulation and render works in the current financial year.

Hundreds of homes have already benefitted from external wall insulation and new render finish and this year alone 640 council houses will be upgraded.

As well as improving the thermal efficiency, the smart render finish really lifts the appearance of the houses.

In Onthank 15 private houses and 51 council houses are in the process of being completely rejuvenated while, in Patna 38, private houses and 39 council houses are involved in the improvement programme.

Demand and transactions ease in Scottish housing market after buy to let rush

Activity in the Scottish housing market is set to see slower growth over the next three months, following a short-term rush for buy-to-let properties, the latest survey from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has revealed.

While 74 per cent of respondents across the UK expected a rush on buy-to-let purchases ahead of LBTT and Stamp Duty increases coming into effect this April, the RICS UK Residential Market Survey, February 2016, shows this impact may be fading, with only 17 per cent (net balance) of respondents in Scotland expecting to see an increase in near terms sales.

Consequently, the rise in demand for residential property throughout Scotland stalled last month, however, price expectations remain steady, with a net balance of 15 percent more chartered surveyors predicting a rise in property prices during the next three months.

Across the UK, East Anglia continues to show the sharpest price increases, with 91 per cent of respondents reporting that prices had risen over the past month. London and the North East by way of contrast saw very modest gains.

Work begins on updated South Lanarkshire local development plan

Work on a 2016 Local Development Plan for South Lanarkshire will now get underway after the scheme gained approval by the local authority.

As part of the agreement, South Lanarkshire Council’s planning committee approved a consultation and engagement exercise to assist in the preparation of the second South Lanarkshire Local Development Plan (SLLDP2) and a call for sites which could be considered for development.

The current Local Development Plan and associated statutory supplementary guidance was adopted in June 2015.

This plan has formed the basis of the council’s decisions relating to new development proposals throughout the area. The policies in the plan have also reflected the council’s desire that developments should promote the growth and regeneration of South Lanarkshire by seeking sustainable development within an improved urban and rural environment.

However, local authorities are required to prepare new development plans every five years, which means that early preparatory work is beginning just now.

The first stage in preparation of the SLLDP2 is consultation with Community Councils, local communities, stakeholders and developers.