Building Briefs – May 29th

A structure that would tilt gently up and down as people walked on it has been put forward as an idea for public art on a Scottish river.

The Gathering Place is one of six ideas for the River Ness where it flows through Inverness.

The public art project forms part of the River Ness Flood Alleviation Scheme, a multi-million pound effort to better protect the city from flooding.

Highland Council has invited the public to pick their favourite idea.

River Connections, another of the proposals, includes seating areas and poetry set into stones.

Sculptural Destination would see a new “iconic landmark” installed on the riverside, which people could visit and also view from a distance.

Rest Spaces involves “relaxation areas” for individuals or small groups, while The Trail would encourage people to explore the riverside from the Ness Islands to the river’s mouth using a paper map or an app.

Children’s Riverside Feature is an idea to involve secondary school pupils in helping to create an interactive play space.

Highland Council, City of Inverness Common Good Fund, Creative Scotland and Highlands and Islands Enterprise are funding the arts project.

Work starts on Dalmore affordable homes for Albyn Housing Society

Work has started on the first phase of a much-anticipated affordable housing development which is set to bring 37 quality new homes to the Alness community by May next year.

The £4.7 million Dalmore development will be delivered on behalf of Albyn Housing Society and the Highland Council by O’Brien Properties. It will deliver a mix of two, three and four bedroom homes for rent, mid-market rent and sale under Albyn Enterprise’s low-cost home ownership scheme (LIFT).

As well as providing much needed affordable new homes, the project will provide a welcome boost to the local construction industry. A range of Highland consultants, including Bracewell Stirling, Horner & Maclennan, Cameron & Ross, KLM Partnership and Armour & Partners, will work alongside O’Brien Properties to provide design, engineering and consultancy services.

Archaeologist Stuart Farrell was contracted during early site preparations to carry out a watching brief of the site during which some interesting archaeological artefacts were found, including the remains of a Bronze Age roundhouse.

To support construction costs, Albyn Housing Society was able to secure £1.4m in funding from the Scottish Government.

Armadale Partnership Centre consultation to be held

West Lothian Council has announced a consultation will be undertaken for a new centre in Armadale.

Initial proposals for the Armadale Partnership Centre include:

The council has urged residents and community groups in Armadale to take part in the consultation.

£125,000 programme of repairs for Kirkintilloch

East Dunbartonshire Council is to carry out a programme of repairs to properties in Kirkintilloch.

The £125,000 scheme in the Waterside area will include external painting, gutter repairs and replacement, render and brickwork repairs along with planned preventative maintenance.

Works are expected to take approximately six months to complete.

A915 roadworks to begin in June

Fife Council has announced roadworks are due to commence on the A915 south of St Andrews.

Work will begin on 1 June and last for three weeks.

Council announces improvements for Barrhead Centre

East Renfrewshire Council has announced work is due to start on improvements to a centre in Barrhead.

A total of £270,000 in improvements will be carried out to the sports area at the Barrhead Foundry.

Works include refurbishing the sports hall changing rooms along with installing new lockers and showers.

New doors, lighting and paintwork will also be carried out on the corridor.

Work will commence on 1 June and is expected to take approximately 11 weeks.

The £3.8m centre was officially opened this month by HRH The Princess Royal.

Charity boost thanks to West Scotland builder

A local foodbank has become one of the first charities to be given a cash boost by a regional builder as part of its year-long initiative to support local communities.

Airdrie Foodbank, which provides emergency food supplies to individuals and families who are in crisis and struggling to purchase food, received £1,000 from Persimmon Homes West Scotland.

The donation kickstarted Persimmon’s Community Champions project, which will see a pot of £24,000 donated to local groups and charities over the next 12 months throughout the region.

Two groups will now be chosen every month to receive a match-funding donation and charities are being encouraged to apply by completing an online form at www.persimmonhomes.com/charity.

This month, money was also donated to Your Voice – Iverclyde Community Care Forum.

Airdrie Foodbank, in conjunction with the Trussell Trust, launched in August 2014 to provide emergency food parcels and also offer “signposting” onto other agencies who are able to help clients overcome their particular crisis.