Building Briefs – September 7th

Muir Walker & Pride Architects and Interior Designers have achieved planning consent for the redevelopment of 16 flats in St Andrews’s historic centre.

The old Police Station was famous for its history and recent special security service provided while Prince William was a student.

The proposed development includes residential lifts and underground car parking.

Cube submits plans for 50 new Dumbarton homes

Fifty new homes for social rent in Dumbarton are being planned by Cube Housing Association.

Cube wants to build on the former site of Bonhill Primary School, subject to planning and other approvals.

The planned project is part of a partnership between Cube, which is part of Wheatley Group, and West Dunbartonshire Council, which owns the site.

A consultation event is planned in September to let local people hear proposals for the site and have their say.

If approved, work is expected to start April 2016.

Continuing M74 investment

Road users are set to benefit from £93k of works on the southbound M74 when the stretch between junction 8 Lochead and junction 9 Draffan is repaired.

This is part of Transport Scotland’s continued investment on the M74 between junctions 6 and 12 this year.

The works will see Scotland Transerv resurface the route over two nights and every effort is being made to help keep disruption to a minimum during that time.

Council launches consultation on plans to create Alexandria education campus

West Dunbartonshire Council is seeking residents’ views on plans to create a state of the art education campus in Alexandria incorporating two schools, an early learning centre and a specialist language unit.

The council’s education committee approved the launch of a consultation on the proposals to develop a new Riverside Early Learning and Childcare Centre and new Renton Primary School and Language Unit along with a new co-located St Mary’s Primary School, incorporating St Martin’s Primary School, which would close.

If approved, the £17 million development would be constructed on an area currently occupied by a football pitch at the front of Vale of Leven Academy as well as the grounds of St Martin’s Primary School. A new all-weather pitch would be constructed at the rear of the Academy. The new campus would be further enhanced with an outdoor learning environment incorporating play areas and a multi-use games pitch.

Pedestrian access for parents and young people travelling to the new campus from Alexandria would be improved with the existing pathway leading from Milburn Park enhanced and extended to the new campus. A new car parking area at Milburn would also be built.

All three schools involved in the project as well as the language unit and Riverside ELCC would continue to operate in their current locations until the new campus opens in August 2018.

The consultation runs until Friday, 30 October.

New £10m port opens in Lochboisdale

The £10 million Lochboisdale development was officially opened by deputy first minister John Swinney on Saturday 5 September.

The major regeneration project being taken forward by community organisation Stòras Uibhist has created new marine and leisure facilities and provided access to land for community, residential and commercial development at Lochboisdale, South Uist.

Two causeways and two breakwaters have been completed as part of the project, a road along Rubha Bhuailt to Gasaigh Island, a new fishery pier, a slipway, pontoon berths and facilities for fishermen and leisure sailors.

Leading funder Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) supported the project through detailed feasibility and design stages and contributed £5m to the construction phase. Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has contributed £625k of grant funding and the project has also been supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Scottish Government and BIG Lottery.

Reporter sides with council in rejecting Dundee hotel conversion

Plans to develop a long derelict building in the west end of Dundee have been refused after the Scottish Government said a two-storey extension was unacceptable.

The decision is the latest in the long-running saga between Dundee City Council and building owner John Cape, who wants to turn 28 Roseangle into a hotel.

The listed building has been in a state of disrepair and on the Buildings at Risk Register Scotland for 10 years.

The council previously issued a repairs notice on the building, requiring the owner to bring it back to standard, but so far no repairs have taken place.

A77 essential road maintenance

Motorists using the A77 are set to benefit from over £100k of maintenance works taking place at Meiklewood on Wednesday.

Scotland TranServ, operating on behalf of Transport Scotland, will carry out the resurfacing works to repair defects to the existing road surface in a project which will last for three days.

Kingdom Housing showcases detailed plans for Cupar development

Kingdom Housing Association is to showcase detailed plans of its proposed development of 49 affordable houses at Pitscottie Road in Cupar, as part of a further consultation exercise with the local community.

Planning was approved in principle in April after Kingdom consulted with the community and secured the support of Cupar Community Council.

As promised at the time, the Association now wishes to consult on the detailed plans that have been drawn up, prior to lodging with the planning department at Fife Council and has organised a public drop-in event at Cupar Corn Exchange on Thursday 24th September from 3pm to 7pm to which all neighbours and other interested parties are invited.

The £6 million investment will provide a mix of single and two-storey housing. The aim is to help meet a range of needs for families and older people for affordable rent, from 1 to 4 bedroom properties.

The Association’s very high standards require low energy use; attractive and accessible design; and a secure environment. The layout includes a belt of public open space adjacent to Tarvit Drive. It is also the Association’s intention to promote wider community benefits through developing projects with local schools and establishing a construction training initiative.

North East firm gives to good causes

North East construction business Pert Bruce Construction Ltd has donated £6000 to charity at a presentation held last week at the company’s Montrose headquarters.

The announcement was made following the company’s annual fundraising Golf Day hosted at Royal Montrose Golf Club.

Joint managing directors, Jamie Pert and Craig Bruce selected four people-focused charities to support - British Heart Foundation, Tommy’s Charity, Radio Tay’s Cash for Kids and Dorward House Dementia Unit.

Each charity received a cheque for £1610 from the construction business with operations across Angus, Tayside and Aberdeen.

“Pert Bruce is a family-founded business, with roots in the Angus area dating back to 1871, so we are always keen to support charities with a local connection,” said Craig Bruce.

“Dorward House partially exists on the back of donations. We elected to support this Residential Care Home, particularly the Dementia Unit because they dealing with an issue which has become a very significant challenge for many,” added Jamie Pert.

Additional charity funds have been raised by Pert Bruce commercial director, Brandon Bryant and Ross Pert after taking part in two cycling endurance events.

Ross cycled from London to Paris on a single geared bike to raise money for British Heart Foundation and Brandon completed ‘Ride London-Surrey’ 100 mile cycle in August raising £1,769 for Tommy’s Charity.