Building Briefs – November 19th

• Heat energy storage firm Sunamp raises £2.2m late seed funding

The late seed round included further participation from Scottish Investment Bank, Equity Gap, PAR Equity and a number of new investors including Japanese energy utility Osaka Gas. This round completes the seed investment stage, positioning the company well to raise a ‘series A’ round early next year. The company plans to use the funds towards expansion of its international footprint and further scaling its operations.

Established in 2006 by technology entrepreneur Andrew Bissell, Sunamp has spent much of the early stages of development refining its product and establishing manufacturing facilities in the Edinburgh City Region.

• Three new early years facilities for East Dunbartonshire

East Dunbartonshire Council has announced plans to build three new early years facilities, representing an investment of more than £4.5 million.

The three centres, in Bearsden, Kirkintilloch and Milngavie, will help the council deliver on the Scottish Government pledge to increase early learning and childcare hours for each child from 2020.

The new buildings will create spaces for 272 children: 88 in Bearsden, 96 in Kirkintilloch and 88 in Milngavie.

Councillors agreed last week to progress the development of the Kirkintilloch site, having already given the green light to the others in the summer.

The development sites are the former Brookwood Library in Bearsden, land across from Kirkintilloch Police Office at Southbank Marina and the former St Joseph’s Primary in Milngavie.

• CityFibre breaks ground on Stirling’s digital transformation

Work to transform Stirling into one of the world’s most digitally connected cities kicks off today.

Almost every home and business across Stirling will be able to access the ultrafast connectivity, which is being delivered via a £10 million private investment from CityFibre as part of its strategic partnership with Vodafone. 

Stirling is among the first locations in the UK to benefit from the digital transformation, along with fellow Scottish cities Aberdeen and Edinburgh. Construction work has officially commenced in the Cambusbarron area, with Bannockburn set to follow in the New Year.

As part of the project, CityFibre will also be extending its network to Bridge of Allan.

The first homes and businesses will see their full fibre services ‘go live’ in spring next year, with construction work expected to continue throughout next year and into 2020. PMK Civil Engineering is delivering the construction programme on CityFibre’s behalf.

The company will use modern build techniques to deploy the network quickly, while working closely with Stirling Council and local communities to ensure a fast and successful roll-out with minimum disruption to residents. 

• Work to Commence on Point and Sandwick Coastal Path

Work is getting underway on the first phase of the Coastal Path project around Point and Sandwick.

The path will help to open better access and stimulate economic/social activity including new nature, cultural and historical based tourism and in particular out of season tourism as a rural development catalyst. This phase prioritises a new enhanced extension of path and coastal defence past Eaglais Na H-Aoidh towards Aiginis. 

When completed the whole path would add an additional optional 40km to the Hebridean Way with benefits for new tourist services, exercise for local people, access to wildlife and is a potential “core” path.

The total project cost is £114,152.20 with 50% coming through LEADER funding. The other 50% is being provided by an early distribution from the Stornoway Trust Community Fund, derived from the income from the Ben Ghrideag Wind Farm.

• Council seeking views on proposed Ayr development

South Ayrshire Council has announced a public consultation on proposals to transform Ayr town centre “for many years to come”.

The council want the public to have their say on ideas which include high-quality and attractive public spaces, a new town centre leisure facility, new housing adjacent to the High Street, and dedicated event and community areas.

The council is holding two consultation events in Ayr Town Hall on Tuesday 27 and Wednesday 28 November between 2:00pm and 7:30pm.

The proposals on show will complement the consultation work which has taken place so far and people will be able to discuss their views with Council Officers and have their say.

The deadline to complete the online survey is Friday 14 December at 5:00pm.

• Kirkwall harbour flood protection scheme to be tested

Orkney Islands Council has announced that it will run a test of the new Kirkwall Harbour flood prevention scheme.

The council is advising that flood gates will be deployed for a short time on Tuesday 20 November.

This will have a temporary impact on the Waterfront West-Shapinsay Slip carpark and the wider Kirkwall harbour area.

The scheme, built with the majority of costs funded by the Scottish Government, is designed to protect low lying parts of Kirkwall against flooding from the sea.

When forecasts predict there a flooding risk, flood gates will be fitted across gaps in the stone wall along the harbour front - creating a 1.1-metre-high uninterrupted barrier between Ayre Mills and St Catherine’s Place roundabout.

• Council welcomes government commitment to A83 solution

Argyll and Bute Council has welcomed the Scottish Government’s commitment to identify a permanent solution to bring an end to disruption on the A83 Rest and Be Thankful, in addition to the current mitigation measures.

Cabinet secretary for transport, infrastructure and connectivity, Michael Matheson, made the commitment at the A83 Taskforce meeting in Inveraray.

Speaking after the meeting, which was also attended by private sector and community representatives, Argyll and Bute Council leader, Councillor Aileen Morton, said the frequent closures of the A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful need to be substantially addressed as a matter of urgency.

Landslides cause the road to be closed for repairs, meaning the adjacent Old Military Road has to be used as an alternative. However, as was the case when the A83 was most recently closed last month, the Old Military Road is not always available – essentially cutting large parts of Argyll and Bute off from the central belt.

At its meeting in October, Argyll and Bute Council agreed unanimously to call upon the Scottish Government to identify and fund a permanent solution at the Rest and Be Thankful. Following this, and after last week’s A83 Taskforce meeting, a council delegation met with Mr Matheson to discuss the future of the A83.