Building Briefs – October 26th

• Work begins on new housing development set in Perthshire countryside

The Forgan Grove site was initially planned for homes worth in excess of half a million pounds. 

Following the recession a new approach has been taken to reflect the demand for smaller, more affordable housing in the area.

Seven detached homes are on the market with Bell Ingram, the mixture of four and five bedroom properties range from £325,000 to £395,000 in price and are due for completion in February 2019.

• New Hawick site for Richardson & Starling

Building preservation company Richardson & Starling has opened an office in Hawick, bringing its total network to 14 branches.

The Cambuslang firm created five posts and is now recruiting in the local area.

• City Gate Construction hosts 1940’s-themed event at Ayrshire Women’s Hub

Tea was served at the Ayrshire Women’s Hub this week with a vintage 1940s theme.

The City Gate Construction-sponsored event took place at the Hub in Ayr and was a great success.

CGC’s Ayr office offered the Ayrshire Women’s Hub money to stage the afternoon tea and even provided cake stands to give it an authentic feel.

Neil Whyte who runs CGC’s Ayrshire operation from Crown Street in Ayr said it marked a further means of support for the Hub which has been an instant hit in Ayrshire.

CGC were among several contractors who delivered free help to get the Hub up and running earlier this year.

This included providing the skills of its Ayrshire workforce on such things as plastering and tiling to make it ready for the opening in May.

It also fits perfectly with CGC’s long-established commitment to helping communities wherever it is working.

Leo Reilly, managing director of CGC, said: “This is another example of our commitment to helping communities across Ayrshire.”

The Ayrshire Women’s Hub in Alloway Street in Ayr offers a range of services including a café, therapies, workshops and classes.

• Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries wins UK Civic Building of the Year Award

Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries (DCL&G) has scooped the prestigious UK Civic Building of the Year Award 2018 at the UK ‘Oscars’ for buildings in the public sector.

It was a double celebration at the SPACES ceremony when the venue won a second award for the best in Heritage category.

The building has given the town its first dedicated gallery space to a standard which can accept national collection loans. It has reinvigorated the public library area and has a dedicated children’s library and has increased public access computers.

Designed by Richard Murphy Architects and delivered by BAM Construction, DCL&G now joins two B-listed buildings – the existing Carnegie library and a former bank branch – and has a purpose-built modern extension which overlooks the grounds of Dunfermline Abbey.

The facility is home to a museum over two floors, three temporary exhibition galleries, a café, a shop, a new children’s library and the Reading Room – a local history, study and archives space.

Michelle Sweeney, Director of Creative Development & Delivery and Dallas Mechan, Museums, Archives and Galleries Manager from ONFife Cultural Trust, which manages the venue, collected the awards at Hilton City Centre in Cambridge.

• Argyll And Bute heritage projects win major restoration awards

Two heritage projects from Argyll and Bute have been named as winners at the Scottish Heritage Angel Awards 2018.

Dunoon Burgh Halls and Campbeltown Picture House won the award for Best Rescue of a Historic Building or Place; under £2m and over £2m respectively.

Hosted by broadcaster and writer Sally Magnusson at the City Chambers in Glasgow, the ceremony saw winning projects in each of the five award categories crowned in a celebration of the groups, individuals, volunteers and professionals who have played a special part in caring for the nation’s historic environment.

Dunoon Burgh Hall has been at the heart of the community since it was funded and built in 1874 by the town’s people. Falling into disrepair, it closed for 25 years until 2009 when it was rescued, reopened and work began to plan its ultimate restoration into a much-needed arts-led venue and destination.

Campbeltown Picture House was built in 1913 and has continued as a cinema ever since. In 1987 Campbeltown Community Business took over ownership and operation of the venue which, by this time, was clearly in need of restoration and upgrading to suit a modern audience.

Launched in 2014 and funded by the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation (ALWF), and run by the Scottish Civic Trust in partnership with Historic Environment Scotland (HES) and Archaeology Scotland, the Scottish Heritage Angel Awards seek to celebrate both groups and individuals who have gone above and beyond in their efforts to promote, protect and, in many cases, rescue Scotland’s heritage.

• Rural sites benefit from council and tourism fund investment

Six Rural Infrastructure Fund projects have been successful in attracting £1.1 million of funding from the £3m available in the first round of the Scottish Government’s Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund.

These funds are in addition to significant council and LEADER funding for new facilities to help meet the needs of growing visitor numbers.

Some of the RTIF funding will be used by Highland Council to create scenic lay-by viewpoints along the Bealach na Ba (Lochcarron North Coast 500). This project will receive £129,325 from RTIF and a further £55,425 from Highland Council.

To address the current issues at Storr the Highland Council is investing £200,000 to expand the car park together with £200,000 from LEADER and an addition £128,571 along with the £300,000 from the Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund to improve the facilities that are currently available with the addition of public toilets, motorhome facilities, interpretation, visitor information and improved access to a wider public.

A John Muir Trust community project involving composting toilets and additional car parking at Blabheinn, Skye was another successful application.

Additional money has also been invested by the council in the other iconic sites on Skye, including the Fairy Pools (£100k from the council and £200k from LEADER), Quiraing (£90k from the council) and Neist Point (£65k from the council).

Glenfinnan in Lochaber secured £269,906 of funding for additional parking to cater for 100 cars and 10 motorhomes and buses. This will improve the visitor experience to the large number of visitors attracted to the viaduct and steam-train after seeing the location featured in the popular, Harry Potter films.

The Glenfinnan project is still awaiting a decision from the LEADER to secure its match funding which is due to be announced on the 31st October.

• Community development group takes ownership of Shetland nesting school

A local community development group has take over the former Nesting School - the first time property has been obtained from Shetland Islands Council using new asset transfer legislation.

The Community Development Company of Nesting (CDCN), a registered charity, has successfully acquired the Aald Skül and surrounding land in Vassa, South Nesting. The group plans to use it as a multi-functional space for a range of community activities such as childcare, a community gym and workshop space.

The transfer follows a request made to the council under Part 5 of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015. This legislation introduces a right for community bodies to make requests to local authorities for assets that they feel they could make better use of.

Council officers have worked closely with CDCN to help progress their ambitions for the school and the group has worked hard to complete community consultations, a feasibility study, business planning, and funding applications to the Scottish Land Fund, Shetland LEADER, and others.