Building Briefs – September 14th

Work is now under way on a £3.6 million project to build new homes for North Ayrshire Council in Irvine.

A special groundbreaking ceremony was held on Thursday at Dickson Drive to mark the official start of construction work to build 24 new modern and energy-efficient homes.

The project will deliver 24 new homes, providing a mix of general needs, amenity and accessible homes.

This is the second phase of the Dickson Drive project which has already seen eight properties completed in 2015.

The groundbreaking ceremony was carried out by Provost Ian Clarkson.

The second phase of the Dickson Drive project will deliver 24 homes combining a mix of 14 general needs homes, seven wheelchair-liveable homes, and three amenity bungalows. This will ensure that tenants with a range of needs, including older people and families with complex requirements, are catered for.

The site will also include two unique ‘Sustainable Demonstrator Homes’. These homes will showcase the latest design and technology, and set a benchmark for building sustainable properties at both a local and national level.

Pat Munro to deliver final phase of Inverness junction work

Pat Munro Ltd is preparing to deliver the final phase of work on the Inverness water network at the junction of Kenneth Street and Tomnahurich Street on the A82.

The work involves four valves being relocated to help improve the network for customers in the Dalneigh and Ballifeary areas. It will take place over the weekend, from 7am on Saturday 15 September until 7am on Monday, 17 September.

Scottish Water’s contractor successfully completed the first phase of work in four days and nights at the end of August to install new valves, away from the centre of the busy junction.

Clearly signposted diversions will be in place for traffic using the A82 via General Booth Road and Muirtown; and via the West Link road and Sir Walter Scott Drive.

Forth Housing Association opens business and enterprise hub

Bruce Crawford MSP joined tenants and community members last weekend to help Forth Housing Association mark the opening of the Kildean Business & Enterprise Hub.

The new facility, which is based in a refurbished former hospital, not only provides a new home for the Association’s offices, but a training base for Stirling Community Enterprise, a social enterprise offering employability support and training opportunities to people from all across Stirling, and business premises for up to 12 small enterprises in a facility managed by STEP Scotland.

The opening was marked by a community fun day which combined an array of information and advice stalls with fun activities, ranging from a mini zoo to a beat the goalie competition.

The refurbishment of the buildings was funded through the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund from the Scottish Government.

Road improvement works to take place in Hamilton

A number of road improvement works are to take place in Sherry Drive, Hamilton, beginning on 01 October.

The work involves the removal of chicanes and a resurfacing of the area. Some safety features will also be implemented.

The upgrades were given the go-ahead after a consultation period when more than half of the respondents voted for option four.

Option four was to:

A number of responses also highlighted speeding traffic concerns, so a further two VAS signs will be introduced taking the number to four.

Preparatory works will be carried out at the beginning of construction followed by the carriageway resurfacing from Saturday 13 October for nine days. The road markings and signs will be implemented beginning from Monday 22 October.

Essential road repairs to be carried out in Mid Yell

Essential road repairs are to be carried out on the B9081 road near Mid Yell, Shetland Islands.

The repairs will take place on a 700 metre section of the road south of its junction with the A968.

Shetland Islands Council’s Roads Service will complete the works on 16 September, between 9am and 4pm.

The road will be closed during the resurfacing, meaning there will be no access to Mid Yell from the north, except for emergency vehicles. The diversion to and from Mid Yell will be from the south, via the East Yell road, through Ulsta, Burravoe and Otterswick – a route of approximately 22 miles (34 km).

Rugby star Hastings takes total raised through Aberdeen Standard Investments race to over £50k

Former rugby star Scott Hastings got a record number of runners under starter’s orders in Edinburgh this week in a 5K race that brought property professionals from all over the UK together in the Scottish capital.

The charity race – the fourth to be organised by Aberdeen Standard Investments – has raised £20,750 for the Scottish Association of Mental Health (SAMH) and a total including that raised by previous runs to more than £50,000.

Hastings and his wife Jenny officially started the race and handed out prizes in a show of support for the charity and the runners.

Scott won 65 caps playing rugby for Scotland and was twice a member of the British Lions, whilst Jenny was a swimmer, runner, biathlete and triathlete in Scottish squads.

Together they work tirelessly for many charities, especially helping to promote mental health awareness, an issue close to their hearts after Jenny was diagnosed with depression.

In all 400 property sector professionals signed up to take part, with the event’s reputation growing to such an extent that a waiting list was in operation for the first time after all places were snapped up well in advance.

The runners – many wearing fancy dress – gathered at Holyrood Park for a scenic run past some of Edinburgh’s most iconic landmarks, including the castle, Holyrood Palace, Royal Mile and Scottish Parliament.

Aberdeen Standard Investments colleagues Laura Hughes and Elaine McCann organise the event in their home city, bringing staff from more than 40 different companies together for a race that is full of fun, but with a serious side too having raised more than £53,000 for charities and good causes over the past four years.

The race, on Wednesday, September 12, was exclusively for property professionals. First over the finish line was Michael Wright of Watts Group Ltd with a time of 16:23.

First female was Lauren Hand of Umega Lettings in 20:37.

Fastest over 45 was Lorcan Mooney of Aberdeen Standard Investments in 19:43.

First team of four was Aberdeen Standard Investments – James Britton, Lorca Mooney, Cameron Mackay and Gary Sleator.

Ian Beattie, vice-chairman of SAMH, participated in the race and later spoke about the work of the charity which currently operates over 60 services in communities across Scotland providing mental health social care support, homelessness, addictions and employment services. These services together with its national programme work in See Me, respectme, suicide prevention, sport and physical activity; inform policy and campaign work to influence positive social change.