Building Briefs – May 31st

A £3m plan has been unveiled to reinstate the historic Old Royal Station building in Ballater that was devastated by fire last year.

The Aberdeenshire station was once used by the Royal family when they travelled to nearby Balmoral.

Although no longer used as a rail station, it housed a tourist centre, retail units and a restaurant - all of which were destroyed by the blaze.

Plans have now been submitted that would see the station recreated.

Parts of the Royal Waiting Room were salvaged from the fire and a replica Royal carriage which had been on display was relatively undamaged.

The new planning application would see the station building reinstated - including the VisitScotland information centre, public library and restaurant - as well as the waiting room and carriage.

There would be a new exhibition space extending along the old platform and over the tracks, taking the form of railway sheds.

A new public square is proposed in front of the station, linking it to the nearby Victoria and Albert Halls and creating a destination point for the Deeside Way.

The plans have been submitted to the Cairngorms National Park Authority by Aberdeenshire Council, Historic Environment Scotland and a firm of architects.

It is hoped that work could start in November, with the station and exhibition space expected to be open towards the end of 2017.

Selkirk Flood Scheme continues to progress

A site visit of Selkirk Flood Protection Scheme has allowed local councillors to see how the £31.4 million project is advancing.

Elected Members were shown a number of major activities within the scheme, which is still on course to be completed by December 2016.

They were firstly given an update on the flood wall in front of Corbie Terrace in Bannerfield where the last section of the Ettrick Water defences was completed in May.

Councillors were also taken to Dunsdale Haugh road, which is currently closed to allow for a new flood wall and culvert to be created.

It closed on 3 May for 20 weeks with a diversion route via Level Crossing Road currently operating in its place.

The works at Selkirk Community Recycling Centre were also part of the site visit, with councillors informed the facility will reopen in mid-July.

Argyll and Bute Council joins newly formed Clyde Marine Planning Partnership

Argyll and Bute Council has become a member of the new Clyde Marine Planning Partnership and will play a key role in the development of a regional marine plan for the Firth of Clyde.

This is part of the new Scottish marine planning framework which aims to manage the competing demands on Scotland’s seas. The new Marine Planning Partnerships (MPPs) will give local people the opportunity to be involved in the development of the plans for their region, ensuring that they take into account the particular economic and environmental needs of the area.

There are eleven marine regions in Scotland, with Argyll and Bute forming part of two: the Clyde region, which covers the coastal waters from the Mull of Kintyre to Helensburgh, and Argyll, which covers the rest of Argyll and Bute.

Honorary graduate Andy Scott to unveil exclusive sculptures at GCU New York

Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) honorary graduate Andy Scott is to host an exciting exhibition at GCU New York next month.

Andy is the sculptor behind some of Scotland’s most iconic landmarks; the Kelpies, the Heavy Horse, Arria in Cumbernauld, Ravenscraig’s Steelman and Rise in Glasgow Harbour.

His sculptures, which take form in his workshop in Maryhill, stretch locally from Glasgow’s M8 to Falkirk, and internationally from Queensland, Australia, to New York.

It is at GCU’s campus in New York where Andy will stage his first gallery show since his days at Glasgow School of Art in the late 1980s. Andy usually works in the outdoor public realm on a much larger scale.

The event will display 12 pieces in bronze, cast by Powderhall Foundry in Edinburgh, including a scale version of his famous Kelpies works, and two larger steel pieces, from June 10 to June 26.

Building new skills in Cupar

A training session is to be held for property owners and landlords in the repair and maintenance of traditional buildings.

The free information day in Cupar Corn Exchange on June 2 is part of the Cupar Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme and Townscape Heritage Initiative run by Fife Council and Fife Historic Buildings Trust.

Moses Jenkins, of Historic Environment Scotland, will provide training on maintenance techniques and energy efficiency improvements.

It is part of a series of workshops for those interested in learning more about the historic environment and use of traditional materials.