Building Briefs – March 15th
Much needed affordable homes are nearing completion in the penultimate phase of the Muirton Park regeneration in Perth.
A mix of 25 homes family and cottage types are scheduled to be handed over by Campion Homes to Fairfield Housing Co-operative in May 2016. The ongoing partnership approach has seen the delivery of over 200 high quality homes since the project started in 2004.
Friday saw the site visited by over 40 guests including board members from Fairfield and Caledonia Housing Association, Perth and Kinross Council (PKC) councillors and housing staff as well as consultants to examine the final stages of the project.
The visit was followed by a viewing of the exhibition by Urban Union to highlight the proposals for the final phase of 200 homes, a mix of both affordable homes and housing for sale which will commence construction later on 2016 subject to planning approval. This continues the partnership approach between Fairfield, Caledonia, PKC and adding Urban Union.
Work begins on £4.1m primary school in Renfrewshire
Work is underway on a new £4.1 million primary school in Renfrewshire.
The new St Fergus’ Primary is being built next to the existing school on Blackstoun Road in Paisley.
The project is part of the councils’ £52m investment programme to improve local primary schools.
Features of the new school include a mix of formal and informal teaching spaces, along with opportunities for outdoor learning.
175 pupils will be accommodated in the single-storey building, which is scheduled to open in spring 2017.
Plans for distillery aim to transform abandoned community into business
The abandoned village of Polphail, constructed in the 1970s to house oil industry workers, is to be transformed into a distillery.
The site, at Portavadie on the west coast of the Cowal peninsula, was originally designed to accommodate 500 workers, but due to a downturn in the industry, it was never occupied.
After lying derelict for 40 years, the Portvadie Distillery company want to demolish the houses and erect a distillery, warehouse and visitor centre.
Council to discuss £25m secondary school plans
West Dunbartonshire Council is to discuss plans to build a new £25 million secondary school in Dumbarton.
A report is to go before the infrastructure and regeneration committee on Wednesday, 16 March.
If approved, construction of the new Our Lady and St Patrick’s High School could get underway this Spring in Bellsmyre.
The project is one of 12 schemes across Scotland delayed following issues over funding arrangements.
Planning permission for the school was granted last year.
Features of the new facility will include a floodlit all-weather sports pitch for football and hockey, three outdoors games courts, a fitness suite, gym and games hall with retractable bleacher seating and a flexible social space incorporating performance space.
If construction begins within the coming weeks, the new building could be open to pupils around October 2017.
Council reveals plans for new cemetery site in Stirling
Plans have been revealed to develop a new cemetery in Stirling.
The council is seeking planning permission from the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park (LLTNPA) to develop the cemetery in the Callander area.
A development site has now been identified, as the existing cemetery is expected to reach capacity within the next three years.
The farmland is already owned by the local authority and has previously been granted planning permission in principle for a similar development.
However, it lies within the administrative boundary of LLTNPA.
The cemetery would include new burial plots, an area for the internment of ashes, and an area for woodland burial which would include tree planting and setting of plaques at the time of burial.
A new circular roadway and pedestrian walkway will also provide access around the site. Other features of the development include 49 car parking spaces (six disabled) as well as a new bus stop.
A planning application will be submitted to LLTNPA later this month.
Free slate building course to take place in the Highlands
A free two-day slate building course is due to take place later this month in the Highlands.
The workshop is part of a wider £277,000 project to conserve and interpret the historic Ballachulish slate arch.
The course is open to anyone with an interest in using slate to build features such as dykes, cairns, plinths and seating.
Last year, a similar course was held in December as part of the same project.
The programme will focus on hands-on training, including helping to build a new stone plinth which will form part of a new interpretation at the East Quarry in Ballachulish.
The new workshop will run on the 24 and 25 March.
Both the slate arch project and course are funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Taylor Wimpey bricklaying masterclass builds pupils’ interest in the industry
Taylor Wimpey’s site manager Barry Watson at Wallace Grange in Dunfermline recently gave four pupils aged 14-16 from Starley Hall School in Burntisland an insight into the construction industry, and took the opportunity to showcase the range of skills and trades that are required in the building industry.
Hoping to inspire the youngsters to consider choosing an apprenticeship in one of the many trades needed by the construction industry, site manager Barry arranged a detailed site visit where the boys had the chance to step inside a number of new homes that are under construction, and see the range of trades at work and how their skills are vital in the creation of new homes.
There was also the chance to get involved in a bricklaying masterclass, where boys were set the challenge of building a small wall.
The visit was a great opportunity for the four boys to really see for themselves how a construction development works and how many different trades are needed.