Building Briefs – October 2nd

Two Angus schools given the green light

Planning approval has been secured for the new Ladyloan Primary School and Muirfield Primary School for Angus Council.

Designed by Holmes Miller, both projects are being procured via hub East Central Scotland and delivered by Robertson Construction.

New A9 dual carriageway opens

The first section of dual-carriageway to be constructed as part of the A9 Dualling Programme is now fully open to traffic.

All remaining traffic restrictions were lifted early on Saturday morning to allow vehicles full access to the new 7.5km section between Kincraig and Dalraddy.

The 40mph speed limit was also lifted on the £35 million road which means drivers are able to experience the benefits immediately.

These include safer overtaking opportunities, reduced frustration, shorter journey times, less congestion and a better all-round experience travelling on the A9.

Opening the road also splits up what has been the largest section of single carriageway between Perth and Inverness.

As is usual for projects of this size and type, the contractor will remain on site for a period of time after the main traffic management is removed in order to undertake necessary finishing, snagging and landscaping works.

The Kincraig to Dalraddy route was delivered by Wills Bros Civil Engineering and John Paul Construction as part of a joint venture.

Montagu Evans expands Scottish residential land team

Planning and development consultant Montagu Evans has expanded its residential land team in Scotland with the appointment of John Hill as Partner.

Based at its Glasgow office, John joins Montagu Evans with 27 years’ experience in the development and disposal of residential and commercial land and property. Since 2001 John has been development director at Lambert Smith Hampton, where he was responsible for providing development disposal and acquisition advice for numerous high-profile public and private sector clients.

Throughout his career, John has been involved in the successful implementation and completion of a large number of residential, retail, commercial, mixed-use and industrial development schemes throughout the UK.

As a Partner at Montagu Evans, John will work closely with Colin Whyte to enhance Montagu Evans’ residential land team in providing advice to existing and new landowners clients throughout Scotland.

Work begins on new Westerton railway station footbridge

Construction work has started on a new railway station footbridge in Bearsden.

A 200-tonne crane began lifting and moving steel beams into position at Westerton station yesterday.

Work to improve accessibility at the station has been ongoing since June and is scheduled to complete in February 2018.

Once finished, the footbridge will include lifts and stairs and will replace the existing bridge which will be removed after the new structure has opened.

The project is being delivered as part of the Scottish Government’s Access for All scheme designed to improve stations for people with impaired mobility or those travelling with luggage, children or cycles.

Developer contributions to fund West Lothian projects

West Lothian Council has approved plans to fund five new projects in the region with developer contributions.

An additional tarmac road is to be installed at Boghead Cemetery in Bathgate which will allow access to new lairs and for vehicles to turn without damaging the landscape. The project is estimated to cost £50,000 and will provide adequate access to the first and second extensions, as well as providing capacity for the next 10 years.

In addition, approval has been given for replacement and new-build Pump Tracks to be developed at Balbardie Park Bathgate, Craigspark Livingston, Drumshoreland Park Pumpherston and Bridgend Park. The new tracks will be built with full tar surfaces which will provide a good surface for all wheeled sports equipment.

Up to £96,000 from developer contributions will be put towards the project, which is specifically earmarked for play areas, with the funding augmenting the approved 2017/18 budgets to provide full tar surfaces.

Kingdom’s Fife Works celebrates helping its 2000th client into employment

An apprentice sparkie has become the 2000th Fifer to be helped into employment by Kingdom Housing Association’s Fife Works project.

Philip Heather, from Glenrothes, is celebrating landing an electrician apprenticeship with Campion Homes after taking part in a Fife Works course.

Philip was one of 12 participants who underwent two weeks of practical training, including construction skills certification, working at heights, manual handling and asbestos awareness.

Once the candidates had completed all of the practical training they undertook work experience on one of Kingdom Housing Association’s affordable housing sites across Fife, where they could put the skills they had learned into practice by taking part in a practical work placement.

To secure his place on the academy, Philip attended a recruitment open day with the realisation that gaining a place on the academy might be his last chance at the age of 29 to enter the construction industry.

Philip undertook his work placement with the electrical team at Campion Homes where he impressed staff and was not just offered employment but has recently started with them as an Electrical Apprentice.

(Full story…. )

Work to start on Aberdeenshire water mains upgrade

Work is to start on a £300,000 water mains upgrade project in Strachan, Aberdeenshire.

Caledonia Water Alliance (CWA) will start installing a new water main near the village next week to secure water supply for Scottish Water customers in the local area.

The 16-week scheme will include a road closure on the B974 between Strachan and Banchory for a two week period from 16 October.

Gilston Hill wind farm rejected for second time

Plans for a wind farm on the same site in the Borders as a project previously rejected by the Scottish Government have been refused by councillors.

The BBC reports that Gilston Hill Wind Farm Ltd wanted to put up seven turbines on land north west of Gilston Farm, near Heriot.

A 16-turbine project in the same area - straddling the boundary with Midlothian - was turned down in 2013.

Scottish Borders Council’s planning committee unanimously rejected the new plan due to landscape impact concerns.

Developers said that the latest proposals had a “much smaller layout footprint”, which would “dramatically” reduce that effect.

However, a report to councillors recommended it should not proceed.

In addition to landscape impact, concerns were also raised about the effect on badgers and monitoring air traffic in the area.

More new council homes on the way in South Lanarkshire

A total of 18 new homes are to be built at the site of the former Lanark Baths.

Approval was given for three new blocks of three-storey amenity standard social housing flats in South Vennel, Lanark, at a meeting of South Lanarkshire Council’s planning committee.

Construction of the homes will begin towards the end of 2017 and they should be completed within one year of the start date.

(Full story…. )

More solar energy for Stirling Council tenants

Stirling Council has approved an investment of £2 million in the current financial year to drive forward the installation of solar panels to local authority houses.

The move to increase funding will provide a further 500 homes with solar panels.

So far a total of 1,513 solar panels have been installed on homes, with tenants free to use the energy generated.

This funding will bring the total number of Stirling Council houses with solar panels up to over 2,600 and will assist in ensuring the houses meet the new Energy Efficiency Standards which are to be introduced in 2020.

Councillors agreed to approve the acceleration of the Renewables Technology Programme by bringing forward the £2m allocated for 2018-19 into the current year.

(Full story…. )