Building Briefs – March 31st

Developers have submitted plans to Glasgow City Council to develop an eyesore on Trongate that has lain derelict for over a decade.

Candleriggs Ltd hope to tear down four unlisted buildings on Trongate, Hutcheson Street and Brunswick Street to make way for student accommodation, a hotel and retail.

The new development could include:

Havelock boss Prescott leaves firm

Havelock Europa has announced that Eric Prescott has left his post as chief executive with immediate effect and resigned as a director of the company.

It comes after the Fife-based interior specialist revealed in January that Mr Prescott planned to step down this year.

Havelock said the process of identifying a successor, which it began in January, is continuing as planned, adding that an announcement will be made in “due course”.

The company also said that David Ritchie has been appointed to the board as chief operating officer. Mr Ritchie joined as group commercial manager in 2013.

Consultation begins as Aberdeenshire planning blueprint published

Aberdeenshire’s Proposed Local Development Plan has now been published and is available for public comment until May 8.

It represents the “settled view” of Aberdeenshire Council and identifies sites for development and the policies to be used when making decisions on planning applications.

For the next six weeks, communities, developers and other interested parties have a chance to have their say.

A series of drop-in events will be held in communities across the area and a dedicated online portal has been set up to allow people to take part easily.

The plan will ultimately govern what will and will not be granted planning permission in the future.

Significant amendments have been made to the new plan to accommodate national changes introduced by Scottish Planning Policy, including the publication of a new framework for wind turbines.

It is considered there is ample housing and business land in the plan to meet needs for the next five years, and the five years beyond that.

Flats plan to bring life to derelict Kinross health centre

Revised plans to breathe new life into a derelict Kinross health centre have been lodged by developers.

GS Brown Construction scrapped its original bid to transform the prominent Loch Leven complex after criticism from local groups.

Proposals to build a three-storey block of flats at the edge of the site were opposed by community councillors and members of the Kinross-shire Civic Trust who claimed it was out of character for the location.

GS Brown has submitted a fresh set of plans, including a scaled-down two-storey block of flats.

As before, the new proposal involves re-using the two-storey hospital building to create a shop, nursery and five private apartments.

But the block of flats on the north-eastern edge of the development site has been reduced to 10 homes, instead of 15.

Designed by architects at Yeoman McAllister, the new proposals are being considered by council planning officers and are expected to be brought before councillors for a final decision in the coming months.

£1m plan to dual Aberdeen route

A developer has agreed to pay more than £1 million to dual part of Aberdeen’s Parkway.

The Grandhome Trust, the group behind the creation of a new 7,000-home scheme in Bridge of Don, will pay £1,177,500 to upgrade the road.

The money, which is part of the developer’s contributions for the area, would be used to dual the route between the roundabout at Buckie Farm and the end of the crawler lane heading northbound.

If the plans go ahead, this would still leave a section of the road, to Persley Bridge, single carriageway.

City council finance convener Willie Young said it would be “daft” for the council not to dual the remainder of the road near the roundabout.

Kilmac given green light for £55m Skye windfarm

Perth-based construction-to-renewables group Kilmac has been given the green light for a £55 million windfarm development on the Isle of Skye.

Crofters, who have been working with Kilmac on the project, welcomed Highland Council’s decision to grant consent for the Glen Ullinish array, which is to be created on a picturesque site between Ose and Stura and Allt Dughaill.

The local authority’s north planning applications committee unanimously granted consent for the scheme last week.

The development will be able to generate 42MW of power, enough electricity to supply 23,000 homes per year.

Kilmac Construction opened an office in Dundee last year and plans another in Inverness to take advantage of the growing business opportunities in the Highlands.

The company employs around 60 permanent staff.

Green light sought for 60 Aberdeenshire homes

Aberdeenshire councillors are being asked to approve up to 60 new homes near a golf course.

Members of Aberdeenshire Council’s Marr area committee have been asked to approve a masterplan for Inchmarlo near Banchory.

If approved, the proposed properties would be part of the Inchmarlo Continuing Care Retirement Community development.

The development allows independent living for those aged 55 and over, but in close association with care home facilities which can provide support and nursing care as the needs of the owners change.

The plans for up to 60 homes are earmarked for Inchmarlo estate, situated north of the A93 Aberdeen to Braemar road – and close to Inchmarlo Golf Resort. If the new proposal goes ahead it will take the total number of homes on Inchmarlo estate to 200.

A total of three different areas within the estate have been identified for development.

Care group helps 4,500 people repair and improve homes

A social enterprise has helped around 4,500 elderly and disabled people repair and improve their homes in the past year.

Aberdeen Care and Repair is a social enterprise service providing free advice and technical assistance on home repairs, improvements and adaptations for over 60s and disabled people in Aberdeen.

It is partially funded by Aberdeen City Council and the remainder is generated by the company itself.

Any profit is reinvested within the service to help those older or disabled people who have low incomes.

The trades available at subsidised rates include joinery, plumbing, electrical, small building work, gardening and minor roof repairs.

The service also provides free advice by getting quotes, assisting with paperwork and advising on possible benefits or grants that may be available.

The organisation also holds its own Trusted Trader list made up of 26 companies, if they are unable to provide one of their own tradesmen.

Councillors approve consultation on new Turriff school

Aberdeenshire Council has agreed that consultation is to take place with the public on a replacement school for Markethill Primary School in Turriff.

A replacement school for Turriff at Meadowbank Road was agreed in September 2011 and initial consultation with residents has taken place with feedback indicating the new facilities are welcomed.

The existing Markethill Primary School building rates as B in terms of condition and C in terms of suitability as outlined in Aberdeenshire Council’s School Estate Management Plan and submitted to Scottish Government.

The facilities within the existing school are not sufficient for the increasing pressure on the school roll in terms of classroom size, dining facilities and physical education provision.

All pupils in the new build Markethill, which will be built at a cost of around £12.2 million, will be taught in the main school building with an indoor sports hall, 7-a-side grass pitch and all-weather pitch.

In addition the new school will have a larger nursery facility on site, increasing the quality and availability of pre-school provision for parents.

University study to record social history of Glasgow’s high rises

A two year project has started to record the social history of Glasgow’s notorious high-rise flats for the first time.

Researchers from Glasgow University will collect experiences from the residents of the tower blocks that have left their mark on the city skyline.

The project will focus on four areas in the city: Moss Heights in Cardonald, Wynford in Maryhill, Castlemilk and the Gorbals.