Building Briefs – March 3rd

Images showing the ambitious vision for a new Maritime Hub at Ardrossan Harbour have been revealed this week.

Artist’s impressions of the integrated ferry, road and rail terminal show how the port could look for the new £48.5 million hybrid vessel due to start operating on the Ardrossan to Brodick route by 2018.

In addition to a new state-of-the-art Maritime Hub building, it is proposed the £15m development by harbour owners Peel Ports and North Ayrshire Council would provide a new linkspan for vehicles to board the ferry, a new passenger access system (PAS) and improved car parking facilities.

New care villages set for Fife

Two new care villages are to be built in north-east Fife.

Existing care homes in Cupar and Anstruther are to be replaced with modern facilities as part of an £18.3 million investment confirmed by Fife Council.

There had been concerns that Northeden House, Cupar, and Anstruther’s Ladywalk House would be replaced by just one care home serving both areas.

However, the local authority’s intention to retain homes in both towns was announced as it set its budget for the coming year.

Buckhaven is also to get a new care village.

Significant bypass works at A944 from this weekend

Substantial works are planned to take place on the A944 at South Kingswells from this weekend with a contraflow as part of the construction works for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route/Balmedie to Tipperty (AWPR/B-T) project.

The traffic management taking place over the next two weekends will enable A944 road users to drive on part of the new roundabout and allow the contractor to continue with the construction of the South Kingswells Junction.

The first contraflow, which will provide one lane in each direction of travel on the A944, is planned to be in operation from 8pm on Friday 3 March until 6am on Monday 6 March. These measures will enable the contractor to complete the westbound (Aberdeen to Westhill) tie-ins to the new road, which means that drivers travelling westbound will be diverted on to the new road and under the new structure at South Kingswells from Monday 6 March. Drivers travelling eastbound (Westhill to Aberdeen) will continue to use the existing A944.

A further contraflow, again providing one lane in each direction of travel, is also planned to be in operation on the A944 the following weekend from 8pm on Friday 10 March until 6am on Monday 13 March. These measures will enable the contractor to complete the eastbound connections to the new road, which means drivers travelling eastbound will be diverted on to the new road and under the new structure at South Kingswells from Monday 13 March.

Further lane closures and contraflows will be required in this area over the coming months. This will enable the contractor to complete the roundabout and fill in the area between the two structures to bring the road surface between the new structures up to the level of the AWPR.

Multi-million pound revamp plan for Deeside hotel

The new owners of a 19th-century Deeside hotel hope to create one of Scotland’s top resorts with a “unique” multi-million pound revamp of the property.

The Fife Arms Hotel in Braemar could include a 40-seater cinema and be adorned with paintings, sculptures and murals from high-profile contemporary artists.

The property’s new owners are committed to stripping back the building to its Victorian-era roots and blending it with modern designs and artwork.

However, while promising a “five-star experience” for visitors, the developers have vowed the hotel will remain at the heart of the community and offer facilities for locals.

The new-look Fife Arms is scheduled to open in 2018.

Fraserburgh 2021 regeneration project to be launched

Local people in Fraserburgh are encouraged to get involved in the launch of a project next week designed to revitalise the look of the town’s Conservation Area.

Fraserburgh 2021 will be formally launched by Aberdeenshire Provost Hamish Vernal in the town’s Dalrymple Hall on March 11.

The event will include a guided tour of the Conservation Area by members of the Fraserburgh Heritage Centre and a talk by Chartered Architect and Heritage Consultant Andrew Wright.

Fraserburgh 2021 is a £5.8 million Townscape Heritage and Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS) which focuses on restoring and enhancing the town.

The scheme includes a repair programme for priority buildings, a small grants scheme for property owners within the new conservation area, training and education opportunities in traditional skills and public realm improvements.

Work begins this spring to redevelop the Council Chambers in Saltoun Square and the adjoining former Police Scotland premises.

Hawick Flood Protection Scheme moves to next phase

The construction of a flood protection scheme for Hawick is a step closer after councillors approved the final outline design of the project.

The decision taken at a meeting of Scottish Borders Council (SBC) yesterday means the publication of the scheme – the most important phase of the project - can now take place in April 2017.

Publication opens the scheme up to potential objections, which the project team have aimed to minimise by carrying out extensive proactive engagement with statutory consultees and the community in the last two years to overcome key concerns.

Upon publication of the scheme, there will be a formal 28 days objection period, before Councillors will be asked to give final approval for the scheme, which is expected to take place in September 2017.

Approval will decide the scheme’s programme and if the project will be successfully funded by the Scottish Government.

The estimated overall costs of the scheme continue to be refined as the detailed design develops. The completion of the project is currently scheduled for March 2022.

It is expected that the Scottish Government will meet 80 per cent of the overall costs, with SBC providing the remainder of the costs.

DM Hall creates four new directors

A series of promotions and one new appointment to director level have been made by chartered surveying firm DM Hall.

The new directors are: Mark Rutherford, residential, Ayr, Bob Fraser, residential, Dundee, Dunfermline-based Amanda Cameron, head of property enquiry and legal searches and new arrival, Ross Wilson, DM Hall’s head of agency in the East of Scotland.

Barratt Homes and renowned laureate take Motherwell nursery children on a ‘bear hunt’

Pre-schoolers from Firtrees Nursery in Motherwell enjoyed a special treat this week when they visited Barratt Homes’ Craig Brae development to go on a ‘Bear Hunt’.

The event - organised by the housebuilder - saw renowned children’s laureate Michael Rosen read his multi-award winning book ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’ via a Skype call to 16 boys and girls aged between 3-5 years in celebration of World Book Day (Thursday 2 March).

Also known as International Day of the Book, World Book Day is organised by UNESCO to promote reading and publishing, and is embraced by schools across Scotland in a bid to raise literacy levels amongst children.

Estelle Sykes, sales director of Barratt Homes West Scotland, said: “While we’re known for building homes, our aim is to become an extension to the communities in which we operate and events like this one allow us to do that.

“World Book Day has become very special to us. It was lovely to see the wonder in the kids’ faces as Michael brought the story to life on screen. I think my team enjoyed it just as much as they did.”