Building Briefs – May 13th

CCG has commenced work on a £12 million contract for charities Royal Blind and Scottish War Blinded to deliver a new 54-bed care home and an activity and support centre for visually impaired veterans, which are being built on the site of a former garden centre in the south-east of Paisley.

The two storey 54-bed Royal Blind care home is designed by Unum and has been organised in a layout of three ‘pavilions’ to the north east and west and a ‘gatehouse’ building to the south east providing access. Linking these ‘pavilions’ is a glazed passageway enclosing an inner sensory garden providing the sense of a ‘home-from-home’.

The Scottish War Blinded centre design, by Page/Park Architects, focuses on offering visually impaired veterans a layout that is easy to navigate. It offers a new gymnasium hall, a workshop, art room, living skills kitchen, IT room, therapy room and quiet garden room for the veterans to relax within. Outside, Scottish War Blinded members will be able to enjoy ample green space that includes a bowling green, along with raised planting beds, benches, a greenhouse and a more informal path through the existing woodland to the west of the building.

CCG will utilise a mix of traditional construction methods to deliver the project to full completion by summer 2017.

McGregor delivers student accommodation refurb project

McGregor Construction has completed a student accommodation refurbishment project in the Highlands.

The contractor has handed over the keys of the new pupil residence at Portree High School to the council.

Previously, the building was opened in 1933 as a school hostel for boys.

The renovated structure will provide modern accommodation to students and is part of an overall project to establish a standalone Gaelic School in Portree.

Homes plan lodged for derelict land in Dundee

Plans have been submitted to build 40 homes on a derelict piece of land in Dundee.

The patch of land on Eliza Street has been lying empty for decades and the proposal to build affordable homes is “much-needed” according to Alan Whitelaw of legal firm Eden Law.

The application was submitted to the council as a joint application between Eden Law and Hillcrest Housing Association.

Plans to build homes on the site were first given consent in August 2005.

The plans consisted of the refurbishment of shops, flats and a children’s nursery but the houses which were included in the redevelopment were not built due to the economic downturn.

Renfrewshire Council invites public to view plans for £274m City Deal

Renfrewshire Council are inviting residents to community events showcasing plans for the £274 million Glasgow City Region City Deal.

The meetings will take place between 10am – 7pm in Renfrew, Paisley and Intu Braehead on 17, 18 and 19 May.

The multi-million scheme is an investment in three infrastructure projects throughout Renfrewshire.

The £78m Clyde Waterfront and Renfrew Riverside project will build a new bridge across the Clyde linking Renfrew and Yoker, including new roads to improve traffic flow and increase accessibility.

In addition, the £51.39m Glasgow Airport Investment Area (GAIA) project will improve connections between the Westway, Inchinnan and Airport Business Parks, with plans for two new bridges across the White Cart and a new ‘Gateway Route’ between Paisley Town Centre and the Airport.

The third City Deal investment is in the £144m Airport Access Project (AAP), a new fixed link connection between Glasgow Central, Paisley Gilmour Street Station and the airport.

Work continues on AWPR/B-T project

Work is continuing on the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route/Balmedie to Tipperty (AWPR/B-T) project, Transport Scotland has announced.

A total of 20 bridge beams are set to be lifted into place over the A96 Aberdeen to Inverness trunk road to form a new bridge.

Overnight closures will be in place on the A96 near Craibstone over the next three weekends for safety reasons and to allow the beams to be lowered into place.

Each closure will take place between 8pm - 6am on:

• Friday 13 May and Sunday 15 May

• Friday 20 May and Sunday 22 May

• Friday 27 May and Sunday 29 May

Council launches consultation on Ayr Grammar School relocation

A consultation has been launched on proposals to relocate a grammar school in South Ayrshire.

The council is inviting residents to put forward their views on plans to move children and staff from Ayr Grammar into the Ayr Academy building when it becomes vacant.

In addition, Early Learning and Childcare services would be introduced as part of the move.

The £11.6 million project would turn the Ayr Academy building on Fort Street into a new home for Ayr Grammar.

The building would also be redeveloped into a learning hub, featuring additional facilities to help preschool learning, childcare and help Ayr expand as a centre for arts and culture

Plans include building separate dining and PE facilities, improved learning and teaching space and modern ICT / resources. There would also be increased parking and additional multi use outside play areas.

A community art gallery would also be installed under the plans, along with facilities catering for 20 children from 2-3 years of age and 60 places for 3-5 year olds.

The consultation will run until Wednesday, 29 June.

Plans for wind farm over Loch Ness scrapped

Plans to install 415ft wind turbines in the hills above iconic Loch Ness have been scrapped, much to the joy of local residents.

Plans for the 13 turbine Cnoc an Eas development were rejected by Highland Council as they would have had a “significantly detrimental visual impact” at the tourist hotspot.

New powers for Aberdeenshire Council to tackle housing shortage

Aberdeenshire Council officers have been handed new powers to buy property in a bid to increase the supply of affordable housing and tackle homelessness.

Councillors approved a proposal from director of infrastructure services, Stephen Archer, for new powers to fast track the acquisition of homes from the open market.

The local authority already had protocols in place to acquire properties, however, Mr Archer said it was “necessary to review and refresh” the current system in order to ensure the council continued its commitment to addressing homelessness and meeting the Energy Efficiency Standards for Social Housing (EESSH) by 2020.

Under the new powers, Mr Archer and designated members of his team would be licensed to buy properties on the open market to meet affordable housing needs as long as key members of the housing committee are consulted.

This would include consulting with the chairwoman and vice-chairman of the social work and housing committee, as well as the opposition’s housing spokeswoman. Councillors from the affected ward would also need to be notified.