Building Briefs – March 17th

Wates rebrands fit-out division

Wates has renamed its Interiors & Retail division Wates Smartspace.

Wates merged its Interiors and Retail businesses in 2012. The new name is intended to reflect that the division also does maintenance and refurbishment work as well as fit-out.

Ogilvie secures £100m finance package from HSBC for Fleet division

Ogilvie Fleet has secured a £100m finance package from HSBC.

The deal is one of the largest funding arrangements of its time and will enable the Ogilvie Group firm to potentially double in size over the next 5 years.

Inverclyde regeneration and economic development plan on track

Inverclyde’s new joint operating regeneration and economic development plan is on track according to the latest update revealed this week.

Riverside Inverclyde and Inverclyde Council’s economic development service entered into a ‘joint operating plan’ last year.

And so far this year they’ve supported 578 new and existing businesses and given 1,529 individuals employability support.

Bosses reckon they’re on track to hit their annual targets across employability, businesses support, new business start-ups and the number of jobs created or safeguarded in Inverclyde.

Dundee development plan under review

Anyone who has a professional or personal interest in the future of Dundee’s built environment is being encouraged to have their say as part of a new consultation.

Launched yesterday, the exercise by Dundee City Council will help to review the local development plan.

Anyone with an interest in the future planning of the city is being encouraged to give the council their initial views on the key issues that need to be addressed by the plan as well as to identify and suggest potential development sites.

The Dundee Local Development Plan was adopted in December 2013 and sets out the land use strategy to guide development across the city up to 2024 and beyond.

An up to date development plan will include land allocations to satisfy the needs of Dundee’s housing, employment and retail sectors.

Council planners are working towards preparing a Main Issues Report which will be published for a period of public consultation in December 2015.

Kempock wall to get ‘rock armour’ protection

The crumbling sea wall at Gourock’s Kempock Street car park is set for ‘rock armour’ protection.

And regeneration bosses are warning that further short term car park closures will be necessary while the work is being carried out.

Last year it was reported that corrosion had been identified on the wall below the Kempock Street car park and as a precaution a small section of car park was closed off.

Now, as part of the £5m Gourock regeneration, work is starting on putting in place ‘rock armour’ protection for the wall.

RJ McLeod will begin working on the Car Park from Monday 16th March.

Dundee housing scheme to heal gap site

Peter Inglis Architects have submitted plans to build a flatted development on North Isla Street, Dundee, on the site of a former access point to an industrial yard behind the offices of Radio Tay.

These will continue in use, served by another access route to the north, allowing construction of eight new homes on the tight 0.063 hectare site.

The five storey build will incorporate a bicycle store and lift with wraparound balconies offering views to the east.

Plea to halt Cairngorms windfarm

Campaigners are making a last-ditch plea to the Scottish Government to reject plans for a 31 turbine windfarm at the edge of the internationally acclaimed Cairngorms National Park.

A ministerial decision by deputy first minister John Swinney on the Allt Duine development near Aviemore is due imminently following a public local inquiry in October 2012.

The Save Monadhliath Mountains protest group argues that approving the RWE Innogy project would be akin to granting a McDonald’s restaurant in Holyrood Park at the foot of Arthurs Seat in Edinburgh.

Next step in plan for Shetland wind farm site

A public consultation is expected in the coming weeks after Peel Energy acquired the rights to develop Beaw Field Wind Farm on the Isle of Yell.

The size of the proposed wind farm, north-west of Burravoe to the south of Yell in Shetland, has yet to be determined.

Surveys, guided by Environmental Impact Assessment regulations, are to be taken to ensure the potential impact of the wind farm on local area and surrounding communities is fully understood.