Building Briefs – November 9th

Average private rents up in most areas across Scotland

The average cost of renting a standard-sized private home has increased in all areas of Scotland apart from one, according to new figures.

Private Sector Rent Statistics, Scotland, 2010 to 2016:

Statistics released yesterday by the Scottish Government revealed that 17 out of 18 areas of Scotland saw increases in average rent levels for 2 bedroom private rental properties between 2015 and 2016, ranging from 4.6 per cent in West Dunbartonshire to 0.1 per cent in Dumfries and Galloway.

Aberdeen and Shire saw a decrease of 13.7 per cent, the largest annual drop in average 2 bedroom rents since the data series began in 2010, and which is likely to reflect decreased demand for rental properties following the downturn in the oil industry. These regional trends combine to show a 1.0 per cent increase in average 2 bedroom rents at a Scotland level, the lowest annual increase since 2010.

Over the longer 6 year period from 2010 to 2016, the areas of Lothian, Greater Glasgow and Aberdeen and Shire have all seen 2 bedroom average rents increase above the rate of inflation over the full length of this time period, with all other areas of Scotland seeing cumulative rent increases below the rate of inflation.

Up to 650 affordable homes planned for Argyll and Bute

Argyll and Bute Council is planning to build hundreds of new affordable homes over the next five years.

The local authority has put forward proposals to the Scottish Government to develop up to 650 more houses as part of the Argyll and Bute Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP).

To date, 554 affordable homes have already been developed in the region over the last five years, exceeding the original Local Housing Strategy target of 550 units by 2016.

The current Argyll and Bute SHIP runs from 2015 until 2020 and was approved in November 2014. All local authorities are required to submit updated SHIPs every two years. The most recent plan was approved by the council last month and will now go forward to the Scottish Government for consideration.

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Free event: New design guides aim to remodel existing housing stock for older people

Trust Housing Association is launching a pioneering series of design guides that aim to improve existing housing stock so it is better catered to the changing needs of older people.

Entitled ‘Remodelling housing for older people’, a special launch event for the new design guides will take place at Forgewood Community Centre in Motherwell on Wednesday November 30 and is free to attend.

The design guides have been commissioned by Trust Housing Association in partnership with North Lanarkshire’s Health and Social Care Partnership. They include specific guidance on adapting and remodelling existing stock, better use of colour and signage in housing developments for older people and creating attractive internal and outdoor spaces with improved access to daylight.

Contributors to the guidance include UrbanPioneers, an Edinburgh-based landscape architecture and art practice, INCH Architecture & Design, a Glasgow-based architecture, design and research practice and Graphical House, a design consultancy also located in Glasgow.

The launch event will include an overview of the original brief for the preparation of the design guides and presentations from all three main contributors. It will conclude with a keynote speech by Professor June Andrews, formerly director of Stirling’s Dementia Services Development Centre and an internationally acknowledged expert on dementia care.

Full details and free tickets for the design guide launch event can be accessed here.

West Whitlawburn Housing Co-operative to embark on window replacement work

West Whitlawburn Housing Co-operative has secured funding to allow for a full low rise window replacement contract to be carried out this financial year.

CMS Window Systems have been appointed to carry out the works.

Co-operative staff will begin a survey of the low rise properties this month to help confirm window measurements, and to talk to tenants about any help they might need while the work is being carried out. They will also inspect the kitchens and bathrooms which will help plan future budgets.

An open day will be held in Whitlawburn Community Resource Centre to give tenants the opportunity to view samples of the window units that will be installed.

Scotland TranServ to begin £1m A78 resurfacing schemes

Scotland TranServ is to begin over £1 million worth of roads maintenance projects across Ayrshire.

The company will carry out three resurfacing schemes on the A78 trunk road to prevent the route deteriorating due to drops in temperature.

With over 4,000 vehicles using the route each day, operating company representative Andy Fraser said the works programme will enhance the condition of the road.

The dates and locations of works are as follows:

Contractors to begin Inverness water network upgrade

Contractors are to begin water infrastructure maintenance work in Inverness.

Engineers working on behalf of Scottish Water will start repairing apparatus located in part of MacEwen Drive in the Crown area from today.

For safety reasons, around 180 metres of MacEwen Drive will be closed from its junction with Kingsmills Road heading in a north east direction.

Traditional building skills courses to begin in Falkirk

A series of traditional building skills courses are scheduled to begin this month in Falkirk.

The workshops, which are offered by Falkirk Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI), are designed to benefit homeowners and building contractors across the region.

Funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Historic Environment Scotland, each course is free and will help homeowners carry out basic maintenance tasks as well as enhancing existing professional skills for contractors.

Subjects covered include roof maintenance; looking after exterior walls; general building repairs; using different types of mortars; traditional joinery skills and others. A bursary of up to £500 may also be available to contractors who qualify.

The courses will run between November 2016 and March 2017 at Falkirk Old Parish Church, Forth Valley College and the Scottish Lime Centre in Fife.

For more information, visit here.

Land Engineering begins Kirkcaldy improvement project

Land Engineering has started work to transform Charlotte Street in Kirkcaldy.

The contractor will carry out improvements to the road as part of a £1 million town centre fund for Kirkcaldy.

The project, which is set to be completed before Christmas, will see a direct link created for commuters to the waterfront.

The scheme had previously been delayed after Land Engineering told the council in summer it was running short of materials needed to complete the job.

Roller derby track plan for Dundee park

Baxter Park in Dundee could be the venue new roller derby track under plans revealed by the local authority.

A partnership involving Dundee City Council, Friends of Baxter Park, Stobswell Forum and the Dundee Roller Girls could take the initiative forward.

They would seek external funding, carry out consultation and progress procurement for construction of the track.

A smooth surface pad would be constructed which would be suitable for general roller blade use and would also accommodate a track suitable for roller derby.

The neighbourhood services committee on Monday November 14 will be told that the council was approached by Dundee Roller Girls, Friends of Baxter and Stobswell Forum in with the idea. It would be located to the south end of the park beside the tennis court and Multi-use Games Area.

A tender report would come back to the committee once the funding and consultation exercises have been carried out.