Building Briefs – October 23rd

• New restaurant in Uig nearing completion

Construction of the Uig Sands Restaurant is well underway and is being developed by owners of Uig Lodge in Timsgarry, Dickon and Elly Green.

The project has secured £175,000 investment from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and £125,000 EU LEADER towards the £650,000 project.

Located 500m from Uig Lodge, the new restaurant will have dramatic views across Uig Sands.

It is due to be completed in around six weeks, with a soft opening planned prior to Christmas. 

• Highland Housing Alliance completes City Region Deal developments

Eleven new homes across two developments have been completed by the Highland Housing Alliance with a further 10 homes due for completion at the end of October 2018. 

The new homes – six at Munlochy and five at Drumnadrochit and 10 at Raining’s Close in Inverness – will be rented out at mid-market rental levels to families and people living and working in the Highlands and those wishing to return to the region.

Raining’s Close brings much needed housing to local people and families, reinvigorating a brownfield area of Inverness. The development features 16 apartments built in three staged sections that flow to create a single contemporary development. The homes are fitted to a high modern specification including floor coverings and fully fitted kitchens. The development also features attractive residents’ walkways with landscaping and planting, natural stone walls and vertical timber cladding around the buildings and secure cycle storage is located behind the commercial unit.

The new developments at Drumnadrochit and Munlochy bring much needed housing to local people helping to meet high demand for homes in these areas. Drumnadrochit comprises one, two bedroom bungalow; two, two bedroom homes and two, three bedroom homes with a family sized turfed garden. Munlochy comprises six, three bedroom semi-detached houses. Each home benefits from fitted floor coverings, blinds, an oven, hob, extractor unit and a fridge freezer, designed from high quality, modern materials with good levels of insulation.

With funding from the Scottish Government’s City Region Deal, the developments by Highland Housing Alliance have been developed in partnership with The Highland Council and Albyn Housing Society.

The mid-market initiative is specifically targeted at people working in the Highlands. The rents for these homes will be below current private rental levels for similar properties in the area.

• A9 Dualling scheme on public display

Locals and road users will get the chance next week to see design refinements to the Killiecrankie to Glen Garry dualling scheme.

At the same time, the results of recent archaeological investigations on the Killiecrankie battlefield will be on display.

Public information events are being held in Killiecrankie Village Hall on 31 October and 1 November.

• Carriageway subsidence repair works in East Lothian extended

East Lothian Council has announced an extension of works to repair carriageway subsidence on the coal plant road (B6371) from Meadowmill roundabout to Alder Road roundabout, Port Seton.

A council spokesperson said: “The Coal Authority has advised that remedial works to tackle subsidence on the B6371 Coal Plant Road won’t be completed until early November. Given the area was a former mine working site the safety of road users and others  is paramount and East Lothian Council will be guided by the Coal Authority.

“The traffic order has now been extended until 8 November and the signed diversion route will remain in place until this time. The diversion is the safest route taking into account traffic volumes, flow and road speeds, and we would encourage all drivers to use it, instead of a satnav system or their own local knowledge.

“The road closure is necessary for these essential works to the Coal Plant Road to be carried out safely and with minimal disruption.”

• Orkney Islands Council announce flagstone repair works

Orkney Islands Council has announced that flagstone repairs are to be carried out this week in Stromness.

Today will see the area from the bottom of the Back Road to the Pierhead closed.

Work will move then to the stretch from the Pierhead to Church Road from late Tuesday until Wednesday (24 October).

The final piece of work will see work done between Alfred Street and the South End from late Wednesday through to Friday (26 October).

The sections will be closed to vehicles from 09.00 - 12.00 and then again from 13.00 to 15.30. Pedestrian access will be maintained throughout.

Mended areas will be covered temporarily to allow the repairs to bed in, the council said.