With all of Scotland’s 32 local authorities having unveiled their 2017/18 budgets, Scottish Construction Now rounds up those which have announced infrastructure and capital spending plans for the upcoming year and beyond.
Aberdeen City Council
The £240m capital budget includes commitments to a range of key projects, including those within the City Centre Masterplan.
These include:
Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre: A £132m sum has been allocated in 2017/18 for the ongoing construction of the new facility; Roads infrastructure: Aberdeen City Council will contribute £12.5m in the forthcoming financial year to the creation of the bypass in addition to £3.25m in 2017/18 for ongoing work on the Berryden Corridor; City Centre Masterplan: Support for the vision will include £11m which has been budgeted for city centre regeneration in 2017/18;
Education: Significant investment in the school estate includes £6m for the Centre of Excellence and £9m for the new Stoneywood primary school; Environment: The capital budget includes £4.6m for the next phase of the Energy from Waste project and a £1m investment in waste collection; Digital: A total of £3.5m has been allocated to projects with an emphasis on improving the city’s digital infrastructure.
Officers have also been instructed to report to the full council in March on the potential to create 2,000 additional council homes.
Aberdeenshire Council
A total of £132m is to be spent on capital projects across Aberdeenshire in the coming year.
Programmes which will benefit include new schools such as the ones at Uryside and Kintore, the Hill of Banchory sporting facilities and significant investment in the AWPR.
There will be investment in street lighting, parks and open spaces, development of the council industrial portfolio and in waste collection services.
Meanwhile the council is also progressing toward the official opening of Midmill School by HRH Princess Anne and the full opening of the Banff and Macduff Sporting Facilities in the near future.
The plan also includes a number of projects to modernise the council office estate in order to generate financial efficiencies.
The City Region Deal features in the Capital Plan, with investment in transportation, digital infrastructure, and boosting our wider economy with a focus on oil and gas, food and nutrition and life sciences.
The future of the Capital Plan was also discussed, and there was recognition of the huge amount of projects coming down the pipeline, amounting to £878m up to 2031/32.
Argyll & Bute Council
£2m in roads capital improvement works £500k for footpath capital improvement works £200k for the stage 2 submission for the Rothesay Townscape Heritage Initiative project £700k towards the provision of 3G pitches at Islay High and Rosneath Primary schools, subject to production of satisfactory business cases £119k for the Cycling, Walking and Safer Streets initiative City of Edinburgh Council
Beginning construction on an additional school in South Edinburgh A new Meadowbank sports centre £12m refurbishment of North Bridge £7.8m to address the costs from rising school rolls An extra £2.5m on roads and pavements Clackmannanshire Council
Full consideration of the revenue and capital budgets will take place in the coming weeks. Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles) Council
Phase 3 of the Lews Castle project will be completed in March 2017 ready for Phase 4 to begin which is the fitting out of the upstairs apartments. There has also been an ongoing programme of investment in roads resurfacing.
Dumfries & Galloway Council
A £2m increase in spending in road infrastructure Plans to invest nearly £9m towards two new flood protection schemes in Langholm and Newton Stewart £500,000 will be invested in an inclusive play fund which will deliver fully accessible play parks across the region A £1m Town Centre Living Fund to bring derelict and empty properties into use for housing East Ayrshire Council
Pledge to maintain the momentum of its previously announced £500m Capital Investment Programme with an extra £300k to upgrade roads in residential areas. East Dunbartonshire Council
Capital budget of just over £9.9m will ensure the continued investment in current housing stock, improving kitchens, bathrooms, windows, roofs – and also includes over £6.7m for building new homes and £0.5m to purchase properties on the open market.
The housing capital programme for 2017/18 will ensure that the council can:
Maintain the Scottish Housing Quality Standard for all properties Make progress towards fully meeting the 2020 Energy Efficient Standard for Social Housing with the economic and environmental benefits that brings Progress a house building programme which will see construction begin on a further 121 new council homes and 123 new housing association homes in the coming year East Lothian Council
A major investment of £169m in capital projects across East Lothian over the next three years.
Schools
Work on four new schools, including new primary schools at Letham near Haddington and Wallyford, and a number of extensions will be supported by £97m.
Expansion or upgrade work at Law Primary School in North Berwick and Pinkie St Peters in Musselburgh.
Investment in the Red School, Prestonpans, for early years provision and a replacement for Levenhall Nursery, Musselburgh at Pinkie St Peters.
Money for work on schools to reflect housing growth in line the council’s proposed local development plan, which is subject to a period of formal representation, including a new primary school at Craighall near Musselburgh.
Initial resources have been allocated towards the commencement of an additional secondary school to serve the Musselburgh area.
Money has also been set aside to commence the facilities upgrade at the existing Musselburgh Grammar School.
Resources have been allocated for expansion or upgrade work at a number of primary schools: Pinkie West Barns, Dunbar, Aberlady, Gullane, Ormiston, Windygoul (Tranent), Elphinstone, Longniddry, Prestonpans Infant and Whitecraig.
Extensions of Ross High School, North Berwick High School and a further expansion of Dunbar Grammar, and are also planned.
Housing
A £144m package of investment in council housing over the next five years.
The budget allocates resources between 2017/18 and 2021/22 for an £85m programme of new council housing and almost £59m of investment in modernisation and extensions to existing homes.
In 2017/18, 35 new homes are expected to be completed at Pinkie in Musselburgh, as well as a further 18 at Russell Walk in North Berwick.
Further new council housing developments are planned for Tranent, Cockenzie and Haddington.
The purchase of some former council homes for sale on the open market will also continue.
Rolling programme of improvements to existing council houses including refurbishments of bathrooms, kitchens and roofing and the installation of energy efficiency measures.
Community Facilities
New or upgraded community and sports facilities
More than £1m earmarked for both a new Port Seton Sports Hall and Whitecraig Community Centre.
Haddington’s popular Corn Exchange will benefit from £850,000 of resources towards a refurbishment, while around £400,000 has been earmarked for East Saltoun School/ Community Hall.
Around £825,000 will be invested in sports centres and synthetic pitches, with a further £163,000 going towards the restoration of Tranent’s Polson Park.
Transport
More than £16m will be invested in the county’s network of roads, with around £1.3m identified for parking improvements.
A £1.5m allocation of its total £3.44m contribution towards development of the new East Linton railway station.
£300,000 towards upgrade work at town centre toilets.
£1.4m set aside for the development of employment land at Gateside, Haddington and more than £3m in total for business support and town centre regeneration.
East Renfrewshire Council
An extra £1.6m for improving local roads and footpaths £84,000 for improvements to Town and Village centres £755,000 for a broad range of wider environmental improvements, including major improvement to Cowan Park by creating a new playpark and enhancing the War Memorial. Improvements to Kingston playing fields and a playpark are also planned. This money will also include improvements to mixed tenure house sites. Some of the key capital projects that will be delivered over the next eight years as part of the £131m capital investment plan include:
Completion of the new Barrhead High School - £30.8m Construction of a new railway station for Barrhead South - £11.5m Investment in Eastwood Park Leisure and Theatre complex - £6m Dams to Darnley Country park visitor centre and infrastructure - £4.8m New Maidenhill Primary School and nursery - £14.7m Completion of world’s first faith schools’ joint campus - £17.5m Replacement of Arthurlie Family Centre with new community hub in Auchenback - £5.3m Upgrade of Barrhead Foundry pool and gym - £1.9m £32m investment into social housing will include:
£4m in upgrading central heating in social rent accommodation by 2021 £1.4m to rewire 400 properties £8m on external structural projects including roofs and rendering £3.2m invested in new internal elements such as kitchens, bathrooms, windows and doors £1.4m upgrading sheltered housing £14.4m on new build council housing Falkirk Council
Approximately £30m will be invested in the next year including:
£14.3m for Development Services (including roads investment and flood prevention work) £7m for Children’s Services (including property extensions and new build) £5.6m for the (TIF) Tax Incremental Finance Scheme (including roundabout works) £3m for Corporate and Housing Services (including technology improvements to bring efficiency gains) Specific investment plans include:
£5.6m for TIF project progressing the plans to bring more than £400m investment and 6000 jobs to the area over the next 25 years £5m for roads and street lighting improvements £3.7m for completion of a new school for children with additional support needs £2.5m for technology improvements to deliver more efficient services and education £1.7m for Grangemouth flood prevention work £1.6m school improvements £1m in Falkirk and Denny town centres £810k for the continuation of the Denny Eastern Access Road In 2017/18 alone, £17.15m will be spent making improvements to around 6,000 properties across the area, such as:
£8.7m for re-roofing and roughcasting; £2.2m for replacement kitchens and bathrooms; £2m for electrical improvement works. £2.2m will also be allocated for an on-going programme of heating system upgrades, which will improve the energy efficiency of around 750 homes. A further £1.5m will be spent on improving local estates.
Falkirk Council is also continuing its new house building programme with 158 new homes to be built over the next three years in Falkirk, Denny, Hallglen and Grangemouth at an approximate cost of £23.4m.
Glasgow City Council
£8m in respect of roads and infrastructure £10m in respect of community assets, as part of the commitment of £50m over five years £10m in respect of schools, as part of the commitment of £50m over five years Inverclyde Council
The total proposed capital investment over this period is just over £86m, with £37m to be invested in schools including:
£5.0m on the refurbishment of Moorfoot Primary School £3.6m on the refurbishment of Lady Alice Primary School £9.1m on a new St Ninian’s Primary School £1.7m on an extension to Gourock Primary School £5.2m on the refurbishment and extension of St Mary’s Primary School £1.1m on the refurbishment of Bluebird Family Centre £3.0m on a new early years facility for Greenock’s west end £1.0m on providing a new home for Glenbrae Children’s Centre £1.0m on the refurbishment of Hillend Children’s Centre £0.35m on the upgrade of Larkfield Children’s Centre. The council has also set aside:
£350,000 to support match funding of a new indoor sports facility. The funding would support a bid to Sports Scotland and the Lawn Tennis Association for a new indoor sports facility suitable for tennis. £2.5m of support for the ongoing regeneration of town and village centres with funding reflecting the relative sizes and needs of each centre. Priority projects will be drawn up in consultation with the three town centre regeneration forums and relevant community councils. North Ayrshire Council
A £215m Capital Investment Programme, which includes planned investment in new schools, economic growth and environment including:
Additional investment of £1m in roads and £800,000 support for the Ardrossan Harbour development £25m for a new-build Additional Support Needs School £23m for flood protection schemes in the Upper Garnock Valley and Millport £5m to transform the former Red Cross House at Tarryholme Drive, Irvine, to deliver new learning disability services A housing revenue budget of £48m and a total capital investment programme of £53m will result in £33m invested in council house building as well as more than £11m to deliver 750 new kitchens, 700 new bathrooms, re-roofing and re-rendering of 800 houses, new central heating in 350 houses and rewiring of 200 houses.
North Lanarkshire Council
The continuation of a £250m investment in existing stock and a council house building programme which will provide more than 2,000 new homes. Perth & Kinross Council
An additional £10m contribution towards a replacement Perth High School, and a £150,000 investment in creating a new reception area at Perth Grammar School
£25,000 has also been committed to fund a feasibility study into future opportunities for Tulloch Community Centre
This investment is in addition to the £57m of investment in schools in the last five years, and the £125m of investment already planned for the next seven years.
As well as the £4m previously committed for 2017/18 and 2018/19 towards improving local roads, £1.62m will be invested to deliver a significant programme of road safety improvements across Perth and Kinross.
Renfrewshire Council
£6.7m for maintenance of key roads An extra £1.5m for a refurbishment of St Anthony’s primary and a new Spateston nursery in Johnstone. An extra £1m for investment in community facilities as well as £20,000 for each of the region’s Local Area Committees to expand the grants available to their local communities. Plans to spend £65m over the next three years (2017/18 to 2019/20) including £36.9m for planned investment programmes such as new roofs and external fabric improvements, internal improvements, and improvements to multi-storey flats and sheltered housing. The budget also makes provision for more than 300 new build council homes, including around 100 new homes at Bishopton and around 100 in Johnstone Castle, as well as capital investment to support local housing regeneration initiatives. Scottish Borders Council
A ten year £322m capital plan includes:
£15.6m additional funding for essential works to roads and key bridges, taking roads capital funding to £68m over 10 years £3.2m additional funding for the £38m Hawick Flood Protection Scheme £0.4m additional funding to improve parks and open spaces £0.5m funding to improve council commercial premises £6.2m additional funding for energy efficiency works in the council estate, to improve the efficiency and reduce carbon emission £7.5m additional investment to fund the works highlighted by the School Estate Review, taking total investment in the school estate to £77.7m over 10 years £1.4m additional funding to upgrade adult services facilities, including council-owned care homes £0.5m extra funding to upgrade council-owned public halls £0.5m extra funding for a 3G sports pitch in Jedburgh £0.8m to support the regeneration of Eyemouth £0.8m investment to renew the waste management fleet. South Ayrshire Council
A six-year capital investment programme of £145m for 2017/18-2022/23, which sets out total investment of £145m in children and families, adults and older people and communities, including:
£63m for improved and new build schools – including a new allocation of £7m to fund improvements at Carrick Academy in Maybole Additional investment of £3.5m for roads reconstruction and improvement – taking total investment in roads, bridges and street-lighting to more than £16m between 2017 and 2023 South Lanarkshire Council
A Capital Programme of £255m in investment by 2020 to:
replace three care homes improve community facilities, such as replacing Balgreen Hall extend roads improvement programme with another £5.5m progress City Deal projects. double the council’s house building programme to 1,000 new homes. Stirling Council
Over £17m of investment in capital projects, including flood schemes, renovation of school and community facilities, internet connectivity and sport.
Of this, £2m will fund projects to support the City Region Deal, including investment in both rural and urban areas.
West Dunbartonshire Council.
Among the projects to be launched in 2017/18 are:
a new Community Centre for Westbridgend a new changing facility in Duntocher a refurbished sports pavilion at Mountblow a new all-weather pitch at Levenvale Primary School a new games area and play area at St Patrick’s Primary a new play and recreation area at Radnor Park A £500,000 investment to create mandatory 20mph speed limits in estates across the area to improve safety for residents. Education continues to be a key priority with spending of over £90m on schools, nurseries, libraries and other services.
West Lothian Council
A spend of nearly £50m in local services this year through its capital programme – taking the total amount of capital investment since 2013 to over £257m.
Unanimously approved by councillors this week, the council’s capital programme provides funding for projects and improvement programmes for school buildings and other council properties, open spaces upgrades, IT assets, road improvements and investment for town centres.
The £50m investment includes:
£2.5m on improving the school estate £6m on general school projects including work on the new £32m West Calder High School and extensions to Torphichen Primary, St Mary’s Primary, Bathgate, new nursery accommodation at Mid Calder Primary, £600,000 to extend Boghall Primary nursery. An additional £4.1m on improving West Lothian’s roads with over £3m being spent on flood prevention and drainage works £1.2m in the Broxburn Flood Prevention Scheme Over £550,000 in West Lothian’s cycling, walking and safer streets projects A total of £2.3m on improvements to West Lothian’s bridges and £1.5m in improvements to West Lothian’s town centres and villages. Over £3m in improving West Lothian’s open spaces, sports facilities and children’s play areas including Drumshoreland Park, Craigspark and Marrfield Park. A £6.3m investment in improving the council’s Information Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure, including £1.3m in school ICT infrastructure, improving connectivity within schools and upgrading ICT hardware. Over £12m in community buildings and council depots, including ongoing delivery and development of Partnership Centres throughout the area (Linlithgow, East Calder, Whitburn, Armadale and Blackburn) and completion of a new service centre at Whitehill, Bathgate which will include a new fleet maintenance garage, waste transfer facility and salt store. In addition to the infrastructure funding, the council has announced plans to spend over £123m next year on housing.
The investment includes:
The council’s largest ever investment of £77m on the council’s housing capital programme, which is currently building 1,000 new council homes spread across all nine council wards including 117 new homes at Deans South Planned improvements in existing council housing will total over £6.7m whilst investment in major refurbishment and repairs will total over £5.3m, including a £1.2m investment at Mayfield in Armadale There will also be major works at Bathville Flats, Armadale and at Harrison House, which forms part of the Loch Scheme in Whitburn. Planned programmes also include investment in energy efficiency measures and replacement of central heating systems to help reduce fuel poverty. These works are in addition to planned maintenance programmes, as well as kitchen and bathroom replacements and window refurbishments. A total of £100,000 will be spent to enable a pilot District Heating project in Westfield for a Heat Exchange Pump system.
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With all of Scotland’s 32 local authorities having unveiled their 2017/18 budgets, Scottish Construction Now rounds up those which have announced infrastructure and capital spending plans for the upcoming year and beyond.
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