Building Briefs – March 23rd

Redpath Construction has been appointed to deliver a landlord strip out and retail unit sub-division at East Kilbride shopping centre for EK Devco Ltd.

The company is working with Mosaic Architecture & Design, Gardiner & Theobald and Dewar Associates to convert the previous BHS unit into two smaller units for let. Redpath has delivered a number of projects in the centre including JD Sports, H&M, Specsavers, Greggs and Miss Selfridge.

Green light for 400-home expansion of Blairgowrie

Plans for hundreds of new homes to be built in Blairgowrie have received planning approval from Perth and Kinross Council.

Planning officials had recommended approving the Westpark Partnership’s application to build 400 houses as well as new retail and business space on the town’s western edge, despite receiving nearly 80 objections.

Members of the council’s development management committee unanimously approved the outline planning application at their meeting last week.

Although project leaders hope to create more than 400 homes over the next 15-20 years, the exact number will be determined by follow-up planning applications for each phase of the work.

130 new affordable homes planned for Aberdeen

Plans have been submitted to Aberdeen City Council for the development of 130 affordable homes on the bank of the River Dee.

Stewart Milne Homes wants to build the properties on the site of a former pipe yard on Abbotswell Road.

The plans supplant a previously approved project for a 100-home development, which included only 24 affordable flats.

But the developer has said it now intends to provide a 100% affordable development due to “changing market conditions” and a “desire to deliver much needed affordable housing”.

Mackie Ramsay Taylor Architects said the individual properties will benefit from enhanced space standards for wheelchair users while a green belt of planting will be used to blend the homes in with neighbouring Duthie Park. This will be threaded with new pedestrian links to improve connectivity in this part of the city.

Plans approved for 100 new homes for Croy

The Highland village of Croy is set for 100 new homes after plans were approved by local councillors.

Developer Scotia Homes also intends to build a shop and a cafe on the Highwood site on Dalcroy Road.

The project was considered by Highland Council’s south planning applications committee which gave the scheme the go-ahead on condition that a liaison committee is formed to oversee details of the development.

Work begins on new Royston community hub

Spire View Housing Association has announced the beginning of work on the creation of a new, state of the art community facility on Roystonhill.

The new building will replace the existing Rainbow Hall while retaining its fabulous façade to ensure the new building complements local surroundings, including the impressive, adjacent Church Spire, visible across the city and beyond.

The building was purchased by Spire View from the Church of Scotland, thanks to financial support from the Scottish Land Fund and works will be undertaken by Fleming Buildings Ltd.

The new facility will include two community halls, community café area, large flexible meeting space, commercial kitchen, reception area with open plan office space, smaller additional office space, interview room and community shop unit.

Meanwhile significant environmental works will start on the adjacent ‘Spire Park’ site, owned by Rosemount Spire and Park Limited, a subsidiary of the Rosemount Development Trust. Spire View Housing Association and the Development Trust, with the support of the Royston Strategy Group, have been working in partnership to make this fantastic project a reality for the local Royston community.

The project is due to complete in April 2019.

Council to open public consultation on the future of Glasgow High Street

A working group has been formed by Glasgow City Council to develop a five-year Action Plan which will guide the enhancement of High Street, Saltmarket and the surrounding areas in the coming years.

Key aims of the Action Plan include:

Other aspirations from previous public engagement included calls for more bespoke businesses and unique traders; increasing footfall along the length of the High Street / Saltmarket corridor by creating circulation between Glasgow Cathedral and Glasgow Green; and investment in public realm and traffic issues.

Three main workstreams have been identified to assist in the delivery of the Action Plan - heritage, economic development and public realm - which will see partnership working between property owners; heritage organisations; the Glasgow City Innovation District; the businesses developing in the Tontine and growing from it; the creative industries located in the Barras, Trongate 103 and the Briggait; and local small businesses, including start-ups and pop-ups.

A cross-party body - the High Street Reference Group - has been established to oversee the implementation of the Action Plan, and the group is comprised of councillors from the three wards bordering the area.

Council approves Glasgow city centre lane strategy

Glasgow City Council has approved a strategy to fully develop the 90 lanes in the city centre as well as an action plan to deliver the strategy.

The City Centre Lane Strategy is part of the wider strategy to redevelop Glasgow City centre. The overall strategy has a number of aims, with two that are particularly relevant for the lanes strategy: developing the city centre as a place to stay and live; and making the centre a place to visit and enjoy.

The City Centre Lane Strategy is expected to help achieve these aims by encouraging owners to make full use of the lanes network, a valuable part of Glasgow’s heritage and character, and it will be made more attractive to visitors through improved landscaping and a higher-quality environment.

The action plan to deliver this strategy will be supported by planning policy and will feature strategic and operational interventions, with demonstrator projects largely led by lane owners, businesses and communities. The plan will promote initiatives in seven areas within the city centre, and the council will work with partners in the cultural, creative, advertising and property sectors to achieve this.