Building Briefs – November 28th

Queensferry Crossing to partially close for snagging works

Upcoming works required on the new Queensferry Crossing to enable it to open to vehicles travelling at speeds of 70 mph.

Having closely monitored the new bridge since traffic started using it, the contractors have identified snagging works which require the lifting of the surfacing around the bridge expansion joints. The works will allow the bridge to achieve its next key milestone - opening at a 70 mph speed limit - as planned by the end of December subject to weather conditions.

The five day programme of works is weather sensitive and if the weather is unfavourable this may result in having to reschedule the start of the work or an element of the work once it has begun.

The snagging works are planned to commence at 22:00 hours on Thursday November 30 and finish by 06:00 on Wednesday December 6, 2017.

For the duration of the works southbound traffic will use the Forth Road Bridge and northbound traffic will use the Queensferry Crossing.

A9 dualling draft orders published for Killiecrankie and Glen Garry

The draft orders and Environmental Statement confirming the line of the 13 mile stretch of the route between Killiecrankie and Glen Garry have been published.

Locals and road users will get a chance to see the plans at public exhibitions next month.

Details of the Killiecrankie to Glen Garry public exhibitions:

Draft Orders for further dualling projects will be published over the coming months along with additional public exhibitions.

Link completes new development of 161 affordable homes in Edinburgh

Link Group Ltd’s new affordable housing development at City Park, Edinburgh has been officially opened by the minister for local government and housing, Kevin Stewart.

The development, located off Ferry Road in Crewe Toll, was built over three phases and benefitted from £7.3 million funding from the Scottish Government.

Built by J Smart & Co (Contractors) Plc, City Park comprises 161 homes for social rent, mid market rent and New Supply Shared Equity. J Smart also built 40 homes for outright sale.

Link worked with two support organisations throughout the construction of the development to facilitate housing provision suited to specific needs.

Six wheelchair accessible properties from phases one and two were purchased by Scottish Veterans’ Garden City Association (SVGCA) Houses for Heroes on a shared equity basis. Leonard Cheshire Disability then leased two ground-floor wheelchair properties in phase three for mid market rent.

The properties have been built to the Silver Standard of Sustainability, with ‘A’ rated gas combi-boilers, high levels of insulation and solar panels, creating warm, comfortable, energy efficient homes that are easy and economical to run.

All of Link’s construction tenders include a commitment from contractors to deliver employment and apprenticeships as part of its CITB Construction Skills Client-Based approach integrated in its procurement process. J Smart exceeded Link’s requirements with the number of new jobs created, employing 155 people and 21 local subcontractors since the project began in March 2014.

Wind farm specialist Ventient Energy eyes acquisitions

Edinburgh-based wind farm specialist Ventient Energy has signalled its interest in acquisitions.

Ventient operates 34 wind farms making it the UK’s third largest generator of onshore wind energy.

Noting the UK market is fragmented, chief executive Scott Mackenzie said: “Ventient Energy owns only 6 per cent of market capacity at present, so we see plenty of opportunities to grow our installed capacity through consolidation.”

Ventient supplies the equivalent of 420,000 homes annually, with around two-thirds of its power generated in Scotland. The company employs 31 people in Edinburgh, of a group total of 44.

Inverkeithing primary pupils to be involved in new homes project

Pupils from Inverkeithing Primary school are to be involved in Kingdom Housing Association’s regeneration project in East Inverkeithing, where the first phase is underway to provide 53 new homes at Fraser Avenue.

The project will deliver employment & training opportunities, along with various community benefits including environmental, arts, community and education initiatives.

The latest education project is the partnership agreement between Inverkeithing Primary, the local school, Campion Homes, the developer partner for Fraser Avenue and Kingdom.

The partnership agreement was signed when representatives of Kingdom and Campion visited the school to discuss the project.

A comprehensive programme of events will be delivered over the next few years including site visits, design workshops, arts projects, health and safety talks and construction and employment sessions.

Campion Homes is developing the new homes for Kingdom and the first phase of the regeneration project is on site and due for a phased completion beginning in the summer through to December 2018.

The regeneration project has been possible as an outcome of the development partnership between Kingdom and Fife Council, in which 236 common access flats are being demolished and replaced with 189 new social rented homes, designed to high standards, by 7N Architects, to meet the needs and aspirations of the tenants and local community.

The total project cost, for phase 1 is around £7.9 million and the Scottish Government have provided £4.3m to part fund the first phase of the project, with additional funding programmed for the future phases.

Argyll and Bute residents invited to submit views on future development

Residents are being encouraged to submit their views on how future development should look in Argyll and Bute.

The council is in the process of consulting on a new Local Development Plan (LDP) and people are being invited to ‘have their say’ before the consultation deadline on 11 December.

The new LDP will set out the council’s planning and development proposals across the region for the 10 years from 2020, along with a vision for the next 20 years.

Among the main ideas posed by the consultation are supporting the growing sectors of tourism, seafood and marine-related industries, distilling, forestry and energy; taking advantage of the opportunities presented by the increasing investment and activity at HMNB Clyde; and exploring the possibility of a coastal National Park on Argyll’s west coast and its islands.

Following the current consultation, feedback will be review and used to develop a formal LDP2 that will then go out to public consultation.

Plans unveiled for new Galashiels play-park

A new £290,000 play-park will be installed in Galashiels next year.

The improved facilities in the Public Park will be on a par with new play-parks in Tweedbank and Wilton Lodge Park in Hawick, which have proved hugely popular with the local community.

The upgraded play-park will include dedicated areas for children up to six years of age and for older children, both including a number of new items of equipment not available elsewhere in Scotland, including a special play train.

The park, which will be on the site of the current Public Park play equipment and will be enclosed by fencing, will include wet pour rubber safety surfacing throughout and specific facilities for children with additional needs.

Work on the play-park is likely to commence in March 2018, with a grand opening party planned for June in order that the park is ready in time for next year’s school summer holidays.

The project is jointly funded from Scottish Borders Council’s play parks budget, Galashiels Pay and Display car parking fund surpluses and a £10,000 grant from Tesco’s Bags of Help scheme.

Christmas comes early for children’s charity thanks to Knight Property Group

Commercial property developer Knight Property Group has continued to support Cash for Kids by providing headquarters for its toy appeal, Mission Christmas.

Last month Cash for Kids were given access to Southpoint House free of charge for Mission Christmas which will run until the end of January. Mission Christmas works closely with social workers, head teachers and the emergency services throughout the North East who will nominate families in crisis to be supported by the appeal, ensuring that all local children wake up with a smile on Christmas morning.

In addition to Mission Christmas, the charity is continuing its Winter Coat Appeal which sees new coats, boots, hats and gloves bought for children. Without this appeal, many children would not be prepared for the harsh cold weather that the North East faces, having the correct clothing will allow them to maintain good health and enjoy the holiday season to its fullest.

In 2016 Cash for Kids raised over £420,900 through gift and cash donations and made Christmas special for over 7,100 local children throughout the North East, but this year the team want to do more.

In addition to the full use of their facilities, Knight Property Group has donated £1,000 to the Winter Coat appeal so that the charity can support another 20 children this winter.