Building Briefs – March 20th

Arnold Palmer to design first Scottish golf course

Golf legend Arnold Palmer is set to build his first course in Scotland, according to developers.

Castle Stuart Golf Links said the Arnold Palmer Group is to collaborate on a new 18-hole links course on the Moray Firth near Inverness.

It added that the new venture would complement the existing course at Castle Stuart, which opened in 2009.

Plans for the new course are expected to be submitted within two months.

It is envisaged work will get under way early next year, ahead of the return of the Scottish Open to Castle Stuart for the fourth time in six years.

It is planned to have the new links open for use by 2019.

Aberdeen Region Deal confirmed

Aberdeen City Council has welcomed confirmation from UK Chancellor George Osborne of a £2.9bn City Region Deal for Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen.

Councillor Jenny Laing and Councillor Jim Gifford, respectively leaders of Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeenshire Council, each welcomed the news mentioned in the Chancellor’s budget announcement.

Councillor Laing said: “I am delighted for Aberdeen and the whole of North-east Scotland that the Chancellor has today indicated he is willing to enter formal discussions on a City Region Deal with our officials. The proposals we have outlined will ensure the prosperity of our city and North-east Scotland for decades to come by anchoring an economy of global significance for the benefit of the UK as a whole. I am looking forward to developing detailed plans that will bring more jobs and opportunity for our region.”

Councillor Gifford said: “Today is a watershed moment for the Aberdeen City Region – a true recognition by Government that oil and gas underpins the UK economy and a commitment to the future growth and prosperity of the region that supports the industry. This is the start of a negotiation with both UK and Scottish Governments that will shape the region for many years to come.”

The deal and aims to release £2.9bn for infrastructure improvements over the next 20 years, supported by an economic strategy focusing on internationalisation, innovation and skills.

Contractors offer lifeline to ex-Muirfield staff

Local contractors have rallied-round to help find new jobs for workers hit by the collapse of Dundee contractor Muirfield Contracts.

Around 200 ex-Muirfield staff attended an event on Wednesday organised by Skills Development Scotland in the wake of the company’s fall into administration last week with the loss of 258 jobs.

BAM, Robertson and Havelock Europa were among contractors offering opportunities for Muirfield staff.

BAM is main contractor on Dundee’s £80m V&A museum of design job which got underway earlier this month.

Jordan Devlin from, Havelock Europa, said: “We’ve had a great turnout from everyone that has come along today.

“We have a wide variety of vacancies so wanted to get out and speak to people so that they can see what we have available.”

Aberdeen flats plan submitted

Detailed plans have been submitted for 100 flats on the south bank of the River Dee in Aberdeen.

The proposal includes demolishing a former pipe yard and industrial buildings to make way for the properties across the river from Duthie Park.

The south side is bounded by Abbotswell Road and there are buildings along the eastern boundary, including Banks o’ Dee Nursing Home, a house and a residential flatted block.

A design statement said the two-bedroom flats would be of various sizes, and that 24 of them would be affordable.

Energy-efficient materials are used in the design, and the layout styled “to give as much privacy as possible to the nursing home”.

A flood assessment said the site was not at risk of river flooding but did warn that the Tullos Burn did pose “a risk of flooding to part of the proposed development site”.

As a result, building floor levels have been set above the predicted water level.

The application has been submitted by Stewart Milne Homes and the John Lawrie Group.

The public has until April 6 to make comments to the city council, which will rule on the plan after planners have made a recommendation.

New Orkney school project underway

Orkney schoolchildren will donned wellies to welcome workmen starting construction of their new school.

The £2.627 million replacement community school in Evie is being part funded by the Scottish Government through the Scottish Futures Trust

Orkney Islands Council was asked to outline its schools most in need of replacement or refurbishment in 2009, to help Scottish Government Ministers decide on how to allocate a national funding pot of £1.25bn.

Construction starts on March 24 and its expected the new school will open in the summer of 2016. The new school will be built next to the current school and includes creation of a junior grass pitch.

Whitburn residents consulted on town development plan

Residents of Whitburn in West Lothian are being asked to take part in a consultation process focusing on the town.

Taking place over four days between Monday 30 March to Thursday 2 April, a series of planning and design workshops are being held with the aim of developing a masterplan for Whitburn.

The charrette is being undertaken by West Lothian Council. It is jointly funded by both the council and the Scottish Government, after the council submitted a successful bid to the Charrette Mainstreaming Programme 2014/15.

The exercise will be launched on Monday 30 March, and planning and design workshops will be held in Whitburn Burgh Halls between Tuesday 31 March and Thursday 2 April. Further feedback sessions will be held on Thursday 23 April.

Residents can also drop into the ‘Design Studio’ in the Burgh Halls between 09:30 - 21:00 on the Tuesday and 09:30 - 17:00 on the Wednesday.

100 years of Edinburgh planning on display

A touring exhibition showing a century of town planning in the Scottish capital is to open this weekend at the Museum of Edinburgh.

The ‘100 Years of Planning’ temporary display was launched at the City of Edinburgh Council’s Waverley Court in September before touring different corners of the city.

The exhibition explores ten decades of the Edinburgh skyline from 1914 to the present day.

The display will also pay tribute to significant people in the history of Edinburgh’s landscape, including the father of modern town planning, Sir Patrick Geddes, to the man who designed Edinburgh’s iconic police boxes, Ebenezer James Macrae.

Work begins on final stage of Wishaw streetscape

Work has begun on the final phase of the Wishaw town centre streetscape project in North Lanarkshire.

The final stage began at the West Cross on 13 April. Main Street, between Belhaven Road and Dryburgh Road, will close for eight weeks followed by four weeks with temporary traffic management in place.

The road will be reconstructed and resurfaced, new pavements and lighting installed and public spaces improved. Scottish Gas will replace pipes below ground.

A parking lay-by will be constructed outside the Commercial Hotel, and an entrance feature created at the West Cross.

The work marks the final stage of the £3m second phase of the streetscape project.

Work begins to reinforce Gourock sea wall

Work is set to begin on reinforcing a crumbling sea wall at Gourock’s Kempock Street car park in Inverclyde.

The move follows a report last year that corrosion was identified on the wall below the Kempock Street car park. As a precaution a small section of car park was closed off.

Work is now starting on placing ‘rock armour’ protection for the wall, as part of a £5m Gourock regeneration plan.