Building Briefs – March 5th

Aberdeen’s city leaders are set to debate the controversial Marischal Square scheme at a public meeting.

Politicians will gather at the Town House to discuss the £107 million development at 4pm today.

The meeting was arranged following a petition from fourteen councillors, including SNP group leader Callum McCaig.

The group plan to ask Aberdeen City Council to compile a report on the legal implications of withdrawing from their agreement with developers Muse.

They also want to invite Muse to discuss how the development could be redesigned to reduce its impact on nearby landmarks Provost Skene’s House and Marischal College.

Finally, the group will ask the council to shelve powers which allow it to make decisions about Marischal Square without a committee.

New skate park planned for Dundee

Plans for a new skate park have been unveiled for Dundee.

It is understood Dundee City Council’s environment committee will hear proposals for the £70,000 South Road facility next week. Members will be asked to support the project, and award the tender to build the park to a specialist firm.

Half of the cost would be met through a grant award from sportscotland’s Legacy 2014 Active Places Fund.

UK house prices down 0.3 per cent in February - Halifax

Latest data released by the Halifax has revealed UK house prices fell 0.3 per cent last month.

The average price of a British house is now £192,372, according to the bank.

The fall, the first since October, followed a rise of 1.9 per cent in January.

However, prices in the three months to February were up 2.6 per cent compared with the previous quarter.

Quarterly measures are often seen as more reliable as they tend to smooth out monthly

volatility. The Halifax said the underlying trend indicates prices are firming.

Martin Ellis, the Halifax’s housing economist, said recent rises in people’s earnings and spending power, coupled with low mortgage rates and recent stamp duty changes were likely to be underpinning the market.

December’s changes to the stamp duty system reduces the amount of duty that the majority of buyers have to pay.

Mr Ellis also said demand for properties remained higher than the number coming on to the market.

Barratt Homes donates £1,400 to Ayrshire Hospice

Barratt Homes has made a donation of £1,400 to Ayrhsire Hospice to support the invaluable work of the organisation in the local community.

The firm pledged £100 to the local hospice for every reservation made at Westlin Walk in Kilmarnock between its launch in autumn and the end of 2014.

The initiative is part of the housebuilder’s Pride of Place campaign – a commitment to supporting and developing local communities - and will support the hospice as it celebrates its 25th year of delivering quality care and services throughout Ayrshire and Arran.