Building Briefs – October 16th

An image of a planned first Ikea store for Aberdeen has been released, as the Swedish furniture retailer begins recruiting staff.

Councillors paved the way for the order and collect store at the Wellington Road industrial estate last month.

Ikea hopes the store which will also have a cafe will be ready to open in Spring next year, subject to final approvals.

Luxury flats plan at lap dance club

A lap-dancing club once billed as “Edinburgh’s answer to Stringfellows” is set to be turned into luxury flats.

Fantasy Palace, in Shandwick Place, could be transformed into 11 upmarket apartments if new plans get the go-ahead – with an extra floor added to the top of the building to make room for three penthouse flats and a roof terrace.

The scheme would see balconies installed on the second, third and fourth floors as well as the demolition of the building’s existing dance floor enclosure.

The plans are almost identical to ones lodged by club owner Tommy Diresta nine years ago, which were granted planning permission but never acted upon – and have now lapsed.

Stirling roundabout complete weeks ahead of schedule

A new roundabout at the junction of the A905 and Station Road has been completed weeks ahead of schedule.

The project to construct a new roundabout at the junction was a condition of the Planning Application when the new Polmaise Waste Management Facility was built.

In addition to providing improved access to and from the facility, the roundabout will also improve road safety at the junction and contribute to a reduction in vehicle speeds on the A905.

Stirling Council’s Roads Services Team were awarded the contract after successfully completing a rigorous competitive tender process. This meant that both the design and the construction have been carried out in-house so the core site team was supplemented by other specialist council staff to carry out such operations as road surfacing, fencing and street lighting installation.

Edinburgh’s Hermitage golf course to receive new club house

INCH Architecture have submitted plans for a new club house and mountain bike trails at The Hermitage Scotland, an existing public golf course in Edinburgh.

The £3.4 million project will see removal of an existing temporary clubhouse to be replaced by a café, seminar room, gallery and offices with changing rooms, workshops and stores located in a basement sub-level.

Developer lodges plans for 300 new Carnoustie homes

Plans have been submitted for 300 new homes in Carnoustie.

If approved, the development will see a mix of affordable, private and retirement homes built on farmland west of Carlogie Road.

Previously, a developer put forward plans to build 50 more houses in the same location, though concerns were raised about overcrowding in the town and increased pressure on its infrastructure.

The plans were submitted by Angus Estates Ltd and Muir Homes Ltd, who propose to create access, infrastructure, open space and paths alongside the homes, with vehicular access through Carlogie Road.

The land is currently used for growing cereal crops and cultivation of turf.

Revamped historic footbridge reopens

A bridge bordering the Queen’s Scottish estate has reopened following extensive repairs.

The B-listed Polhollick footbridge across the River Dee was built in 1892 and is a vital link for walkers trekking across the Cairngorm National Park.

The local council and Historic Environment Scotland funded the project.