Building Briefs – November 29th

Plans to build 150 new houses in the Broughty Ferry area of Dundee have been rejected by councillors despite having been recommended for approval by council officers.

Kirkwood Homes had submitted plans to Dundee City Council’s development management committee which would have seen up to 150 houses built on a site north of the Arbroath Road.

Local objections had been raised prior to the committee meeting but there was no delegation from any of the objectors on the night.

Known as Balgillo Heights, the development would have offered a mix of three bedroom terraced and three, four and five bedroom detached homes at the development. A village green spaces would also have been introduced throughout the site to build and enhance the distinct character and identity of the area.

The plans had been recommended for approval by housing officers subject to conditions despite initially failing to “satisfy” the requirements of the city’s development plan.

Kirkwood Homes told councillors the company was willing to comply with all the conditions set out but this was not enough to convince the council to approve to plans.

Ferry ward councillor Laurie Bidwell tabled an amendment to the proposal which moved for planning permission to be refused.

Sixteen of the city’s councillors voted in favour of refusing the proposals, and 11 voted in favour of the motion which would have granted permission for building work to begin.

Plans approved for new £5m Whitburn Partnership Centre

A new £5 million Partnership Centre is to be built in West Lothian.

Proposals for the project in Whitburn have been agreed by Councillors and work is underway to submit a planning application by spring 2017.

The scheme involves modernising and extending the existing Burgh Halls to create the new facility. The new extension would be built to replace the current arrangements to the rear of the building, creating a new entrance to the west elevation of the building.

In addition, a new open plan area for visitors would be created, incorporating the council’s Customer Information Services (CIS) office, including Access2employment, together with an open plan library and community museum. Other features include relocating the community hall to the front of the building, with the first floor providing modern open plan office accommodation for Housing Services and a number of other council and potentially partner services.

The council will now engage an architect, quantity surveyors and technical advisors to finalise the plans.

Bam Nuttall submits plans to close A71 road in West Calder

Bam Nuttall has submitted plans to close a major West Lothian road as part of a railway bridge reconstruction scheme in West Calder.

The project, which is being delivered by Network Rail, involves demolishing and replacing the structure on the A71 next to West Calder railway station.

The scheme is part of wider work on the Shotts line ahead of the electrification of the route by 2019. In addition, it is part of a Scottish Government programme of electrification which is being delivered by Network Rail.

To facilitate construction works, Bam Nuttall is seeking to close the route on 05 January 2017. The road will not fully reopen until 16 May 2017.

As part of the development, significant diversions and traffic management will be implemented, including temporary speed limits and weight restrictions on HGV’s.

Boost for new rail station at Kintore

The Scottish Government has offered an increase of its share of funding to enable construction of a new rail station at Kintore in Aberdeenshire.

The offer made will increase the proposed Scottish Government contribution to 60 per cent, up from 50 per cent, with the remainder of funding to be provided by the scheme promoters Aberdeenshire Council and North East Regional Transport Partnership (Nestrans).

Road improvement options to Sheriffhall on display

Road users will get the chance next week to see the emerging options for improving the busy junction on the Edinburgh City Bypass at A720 Sheriffhall Roundabout.

Public exhibitions will be held at the Sheriffhall Park and Ride Terminal Building on 6 and 7 December 2016.

The exhibition material for the A720 Sheriffhall Roundabout Improvement scheme will be available to view from December 6.

Former Moray hotel to be demolished

Plans have been approved for a hotel demolition project in Moray.

The former Lhanbryde hotel is to be levelled after Councillors gave the go-ahead for the works on Friday, 25 November.

Developer Tahir Pervaiz is planning to build a new Co-op convenience store on the site.

More than 120 objections were submitted against the application by local villagers. Several objectors were in favour of the hotel building, whose original part dates from the mid-19th century, being preserved.

In addition, some claimed the development would impact road safety in the region by creating more traffic and congestion through Lhanbryde.

Union Terrace Gardens proposals to be unveiled

Proposals for the revitalisation of Union Terrace Gardens (UTG) – a City Centre Masterplan (CCMP) project – are to be unveiled this week.

The designs are being drawn up by landscape design consultancy LDA Design based on concepts in the CCMP.

A public engagement exercise will run from December 2 to December 9 and residents will be asked to share their views by completing a survey.

Members of the design team will be present to answer any questions.

An online survey will be launched on December 2.

Priorities identified by the public and stakeholders during the Masterplan consultation are the basis for the proposals, namely:

LDA Design’s proposals aim to meet modern expectations and standards around usage and inclusiveness while respecting UTG’s setting and history.

Scottish Water starts West Lothian network improvement project

Scottish Water has started work on a £2.3 million water network improvement project in West Lothian.

Around 46km of new water main pipes will be revamped to benefit communities in Broxburn, Armadale and Blackburn. The scheme is part of £3.5 billion six-year investment programme to upgrade water services across Scotland.

Features include replacing some sections of water main with new pipes, while others will be flushed to remove any deposits built up over time. Other sections will be coated in a special plastic PU-lining to improve water flow and prevent corrosion.

Plans for A96 Nairn Bypass set to go on public display

Road users will get the chance next week to see the proposals for dualling the A96 between Inverness and Nairn including the Nairn Bypass.

Following the publication of draft orders today confirming the line of the proposed route for formal comment, a series of public exhibitions will be held, starting in Nairn on 7 December 2016.