Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
Scotland Construction News Archive for October 2008
31/10/2008
The Scottish Government has announced plans to undertake a strategic environmental assessment (SEA) of offshore wind power in Scottish territorial waters. It is hoped the study will help form a consistent approach to future offshore wind developments for Scotland. Energy Minister Jim Mather commen
31/10/2008
James Frew, one of Scotland's leading building service companies, has been awarded a £2.5m contract to carry out building services works on behalf of Barr Construction Ltd for the new Girvan Community Hospital. Located on Girvan Road at the edge of the town, the hospital will comprise in and out pa
31/10/2008
Robertson Highland has completed its first project, the Mash House extension at The Glenmorangie Distillery in Tain, two weeks ahead of schedule. It is the first phase of the largest expansion project in the history of the Glenmorangie Distillery where the iconic whisky brand was first created in 1
31/10/2008
Furniture repair and restoration experts Gatts is moving to new premises as it expands its services. The Aberdeen company, which was established 25 years ago, specialises in French polishing, upholstery, furniture repair and restoration. It is now set to launch Gatts Contracts, in addition to its '
31/10/2008
Robertson has been positioned in the latest Sunday Times HSBC Top Track 250 league table. Now in its fourth year, the table ranks Britain's 250 biggest mid-market private companies by sales in their latest audited accounts. Robertson features in the 2008 listing alongside 24 other Scottish busines
31/10/2008
South Lanarkshire Council has been presented with a statue to mark the creation of Scotland's largest modern university - the University of the West of Scotland (UWS). The statue was created by internationally-renowned Scots sculptor Alexander (Sandy) Stoddart. Sandy chose to produce a small statue
31/10/2008
Bruichladdich Distillery has won the Enterprise 250 Award for Innovation & Design. The Enterprise 250 awards recognise exceptional achievement by Scotland's best performing smaller companies in areas such as leadership, innovation and focus. Only top 250 companies owned and headquartered in Scotl
31/10/2008
J&E Shepherd Chartered Surveyors has been appointed by Whiteford Property to market a commercial/industrial building at Hillington Park which offers tenants the prospect of reducing the cost of their business premises at a time when many companies are seeking to cut their overheads as the UK economy
30/10/2008
Interest from another Danish company has put the closure of the Vestas wind turbine plant at Campbeltown on hold. Jim Mather, the area's local MSP and Scotland's Enterprise minister said talks with a potential new operator are in process. The talks have been taking place for a number of weeks. Mr
30/10/2008
Robertson Northern's specialist works team has begun work on a £700,000 refurbishment project at Elgin Sheriff Court. The work will see the development of a new courtroom and a full upgrade of the existing office facilities. All works are being carried out between 5pm and 2am to allow the court to
30/10/2008
The Highland Council has taken action to assess the extent of the problem caused by the collapse of a sewer buried under Market Lane in Inverness. The problem was noticed on Sunday when part of the pavement began to sink. Council officials acted quickly to section off the area and to start investig
30/10/2008
Scotland's leading business representative group has published its recommendations for changing the Scottish Government's spending plans, in order to provide a much needed boost to firms and the economy. CBI Scotland's 15-point plan is its response to the request from Cabinet Secretary for Finance
30/10/2008
A refurbishment of the Telford Centre in Fort Augustus is due to start next week. The £1.1m project will see the upgrading of the residential accommodation and improved facilities for everyone who uses the centre. The Telford Centre, which is also a base for day care services in the area is one of
30/10/2008
Work has started on the refurbishment of the King George V Play Park adjacent to Port Seton Centre, East Lothian. Contractors are busy resurfacing and removing the old damaged equipment and installation of the new equipment, weather dependent, will take place throughout November in time for Christma
30/10/2008
UNITE, one of Scotland's largest student accommodation providers, has announced the completion of a major milestone in the construction of its new 93 bedroom student development in the heart of Glasgow. To mark the occasion Geoffrey Maddrell, UNITE's Chairman and Chris Birrell, Glasgow University U
30/10/2008
Scottish plumbers and fitters are ignoring regulations to fit anti-scald devices to new bathrooms according to a survey conducted by Intatec. Since 2006, every bathroom refurbishment and new build bathroom in Scotland should be fitted with a thermostatic mixing valve to prevent serious injuries an
29/10/2008
Statistics published today by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reveal that in Scotland 32 employees were killed and almost 12,000 other employees were injured at work during 2007/08. The report also reveals that over the same period 113,000 people in Scotland were suffering from an illness the
29/10/2008
The National Construction College (NCC), Europe's largest construction training provider, has appointed Allen Robertson as Training Manager of its newest site at Inchinnan near Glasgow, one of the College's six sites around the UK. Allen brings with him strong management experience, which will help
29/10/2008
Finance Secretary John Swinney has today officially launched Scotland's first ever national portal for public contract opportunities, part of the Scottish Government's economic recovery plan. Public Contracts Scotland will act as a free online service for suppliers and will give them easier access
29/10/2008
Around 1,000 jobs will be created or safeguarded with support from Regional Selective Assistance (RSA). The Enterprise Minister Jim Mather said the latest quarterly report demonstrates the Scottish Government's commitment to help businesses of all sizes through the problems caused by the global eco
29/10/2008
Work has started on 50 social rented homes being built in Raploch, backed by £3.4m of Scottish Government funding. The phase of housebuilding, which will create new properties for rent as part of the area's £120m regeneration, is now underway on site with homes expected to be completed and availab
29/10/2008
Work has started on the £80m Inverclyde PPP Schools Project just two days after financial close was reached. With the ink barely dry on the documents, Miller Construction UK, the main contractor for the schools was on site and ready to begin works, which will see the delivery of two secondary and t
29/10/2008
Five landlords have been hit with rent penalty notices for failing to register with Renfrewshire Council. The notices are the council's latest weapon in its drive to actively identify and act against rogue landlords. The penalty notices hit unregistered landlords in the pocket by banning them from
29/10/2008
Dundee City Council's housing department is to take action against tenants who refuse access for gas safety checks. People who persistently do not allow engineers into council tenancies will be warned that they face entry being forced to enable the checks to be made. They will be given advance war
29/10/2008
The Highland Council are hosting a summit in an attempt to tackle the slump in property development in the Highlands. The meeting to be held in the Lochardil Hotel, Inverness, will be attended by Construction firms and financial representatives. In February the council reported that the building o
29/10/2008
The new Alloa Academy school building is now nearly finished. Over the next few weeks, contractors will be working longer hours than usual on the site to prepare the building for the handover to Clackmannanshire Council. As a result, observers may see people on the site and lights on in the buildin
28/10/2008
The home building industry has welcomed the reforms aimed at improving the efficiency of the planning system announced today by John Swinney but stressed that their success was dependent on adequate resourcing and culture change at a local level. Jonathan Fair, Chief Executive of Homes for Scotland
28/10/2008
Scottish Ministers today launched their policy on Listing and Listed Building Consent (LBC) for the country's 47,000 listed buildings, and launched a consultation with local authorities on a new joint working agreement. Speaking about the policy paper, Culture Minister Linda Fabiani MSP said: "The
28/10/2008
Renewable energy capacity in Scotland has now surpassed the landmark three Gigawatts (GW), enough to power 1.5 million homes with clean, green energy. Energy Minister Jim Mather celebrated this year's Green Energy Day by officially opening SSE's Dalswinton and Minsca wind farms in Dumfries and Gall
28/10/2008
Alexander Dennis, a leader in the development of low/zero emission transport technologies, is helping Scotland to meet our 80% target to reduce emissions, First Minister Alex Salmond said yesterday. The First Minister was speaking as he visited the bus manufacturer's facility in Falkirk. The vis
28/10/2008
A new £12m security area has been opened at Glasgow airport. The facility will route all departing passengers through one central search area replacing the existing three security zones in the east pier, international and domestic areas. The new facility is part of a £31m extension to the terminal
28/10/2008
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar will make significant progress on the Western Isles School Project (WISP) this week as it agrees a site for the new Nicolson Institute. In addition, following discussions with the Scottish Government initiated by Comhairle Vice-Convener Angus Campbell, the building of Bali
28/10/2008
A complex replacement of the Montgarrie Bridge, near Alford, has been completed four weeks ahead of schedule. A major project to rejuvenate the 110-year-old bridge over the River Don at Montgarrie started at the beginning of April and was due to finish on November 21. The bridge was dismantled an
28/10/2008
Robertson Northern's specialist works team has begun work on a £700,000 refurbishment project at Elgin Sheriff Court. The work will see the development of a new courtroom and a full upgrade of the existing office facilities. All works are being carried out between 5pm and 2am to allow the court to
28/10/2008
Motherwell residents have had their first look at the proposals for a £2m streetscape improvements scheme being delivered by North Lanarkshire Council. Detailed designs for the first phase of the proposed scheme, which covers Merry Street from its junction with Muir Street up to Menteith Road, have
28/10/2008
Members of The Highland Council's Inverness City Committee have agreed to spend £120,000 on updating play equipment at Bellfield Park, Inverness, work will begin immediately. Equipment was chosen following public consultation, which attracted almost 500 responses. The final designs show a new and
27/10/2008
Scotland will be at the forefront of global action on climate change, Finance Secretary John Swinney said today as he set out the key components of the Scottish Climate Change Bill. By including international aviation and shipping, emissions from all six greenhouse gases, and annual targets, Scotl
27/10/2008
The Scottish Government has refused permission for the Kyle wind farm due to impacts on aviation safety and on the landscape. Ministers agreed with the report of the public inquiry that the development would affect the safe operation of radar at Prestwick airport and have significant landscape and
27/10/2008
Now that the clocks have gone back, and winter is approaching, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is offering some timely guidance to ensure workers remain safe during the colder, darker months ahead. HSE Principal Inspector of Construction Peter Black said: "For those working outdoors, the wint
27/10/2008
Construction company Graham has finished the first of three successful contracts for North Lanarkshire Council's £300m Schools and Centres 21 Framework. The news follows the recent announcement that Graham has been appointed as the sole Supply Chain Partner for a £22m healthcare framework for NHS L
27/10/2008
Scotland's seaweed could be the latest weapon in the fight against climate change, according to a new report commissioned by The Crown Estate and conducted by researchers at The Scottish Association for Marine Science. The report details the potential of farming marine algae to be used to produce
27/10/2008
Small and medium-sized businesses across the Highlands and Islands are being urged by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) to explore opportunities arising from the 2012 London Olympics and 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games alone are expected to gene
27/10/2008
RB Farquhar, the manufacturer of pre-fabricated bathroom pods, is officially opening its doors in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the first time, bringing over half a century of international expertise to the region's ever-growing construction industry. A Scottish, family owned, company, RB Farq
27/10/2008
Edinburgh's Grassmarket is to receive a multi-million pound refurbishment. The Covenanters' Memorial which connects Victoria Street with the Grassmarket shows the 100 Covenanters who were executed between 1661 and 1688 for continuing to preach despite being "outed" from their parishes due to their
27/10/2008
The nationwide push to rebuild and improve Scotland's schools received another boost on friday as the Scottish Government confirmed £80m of funding to build four new low energy schools in Inverclyde. The Inverclyde Council Schools PPP project will deliver two new primaries and two new secondaries,
27/10/2008
The First Minister celebrated the continuing success of Scotland's renewable energy sector at the official opening of SgurrEnergy's HQ in Glasgow on Friday afternoon. SgurrEnergy is the latest success story in Scotland's vibrant renewables sector. Launched by Ian Irvine and Steve McDonald in 2002,
24/10/2008
Miller Construction has secured financial close on the £80m Inverclyde Schools PPP project during the most challenging economic period in the last decade. As the main stakeholder in the e4i (Education for Inverclyde) consortium, Miller Construction has played a key role in securing the significant
24/10/2008
Federation of Master Builders (FMB) Director General Richard Diment, speaking at the FMB Scotland annual conference in St. Andrews gave a powerful speech detailing the difficult situation faced by builders across Scotland and called on both Holyrood and Westminster to do much more to help Scottish b
24/10/2008
The Secretary of State for Scotland, Jim Murphy, has given his backing to a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) campaign that raises awareness about the hidden dangers of asbestos. Entitled 'Asbestos: The Hidden Killer', the campaign has been launched in Scotland today and is set to run through Octob
24/10/2008
First Minister Alex Salmond will conduct the topping out ceremony at the £330m Maxim centre under construction at the Eurocentral complex in Lanarkshire. Located at the former Chunghwa Picture Tubes factory site the Maxim centre will provide up to 8,000 jobs over 756, 000 sq ft of office space maki
24/10/2008
Rok has signed a new agreement with airport operator BAA. The five year framework agreement will cover a number of building improvement projects valued between £2m and £20m. The award, which could be worth in the region of £130m, is in addition to the long term framework agreement Rok already has
24/10/2008
David Burke has been appointed as Executive Director of Housing and Community Care at Perth & Kinross Council. David has been Depute Director of the service for the last four-and-a-half years, during which time he has also held the post of Chief Social Worker. He will take over from current Execut
24/10/2008
Prime Minister Gordon Brown met with City Building representatives recently at the National Labour Party Conference in Manchester to congratulate the company on their excellent promotional stand and to present an award to delighted staff. Mr Brown was joined by his wife Sarah in acknowledgement of
24/10/2008
The SNP has welcomed the announcement by the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) that plans are now underway to find sites for the replacement of both Greenock and Inverness prisons. However, the announcement has not been as warmly welcomed by Labour or the Conservatives. Conservative MSP John Lamont
24/10/2008
Businesses throughout Bishopbriggs Town Centre have been invited by East Dunbartonshire Council to apply to a brand new Shop Front Improvement Grant Programme. The cash grant is part of the Council's commitment to work with local traders to regenerate town centres, keeping them vibrant and viable.
24/10/2008
Walkers and cyclists will enjoy better and safer access to five paths across East Renfrewshire thanks to a £54,000 investment in banishing poor surfaces, cutting back bushes and improving lighting. The paths are at Nethervale Avenue, Netherlee; Library Lane, Thornliebank; Gateside Road, Barrhead;
23/10/2008
Figures issued by the Health and Safety Executive today revealed that every week 20 tradesmen die from asbestos-related diseases, and this number is set to increase. Secretary of State for Scotland Jim Murphy has given his support to help highlight the importance of the Health and Safety Executive'
23/10/2008
The Scottish prison Service (SPS) is exploring new sites to replace prisons built in the early 1900's in Greenock and Inverness. A recent review deemed facilities at both HMP Greenock and HMP Inverness "unfit". The SPS has ruled out redevelopment of the prisons. Mike Ewart, SPS chief executive,
23/10/2008
Lovell has been chosen by Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) to carry out modernisation work worth £5.2m to blocks of flats in the Bridgeton and Tollcross areas of Glasgow. The company has been awarded two contracts, together worth £4.3m by GHA, to upgrade a total of 21 blocks of flats between three
23/10/2008
Scottish Borders Council Leader, Councillor David Parker presented Denholm primary school head teacher Avril Gibson with the keys to the new school this week. Staff, parents, pupils and members of the community enjoyed a tour of the new five-classroom school and nursery, which replaces the building
23/10/2008
Midlothian Councillors have given planning permission for a new million hotel to be built at Shawfair Business Park beside the newly opened £1.9m Sherifhall Park and Ride facility on the A7. The new 4 star, 148-bed Hampton Hotel is designed to meet demand from the business and tourism market throug
23/10/2008
The Highland Council is holding a Credit Crunch seminar next week to see what can be done to stimulate the housing market locally and ensure that the Council meets its target for the provision of new private and affordable housing. The seminar will take place at the Lochardil Hotel, Inverness, on W
23/10/2008
The Housing Corporation's National Clearing House has funded Bloor Homes and Sanctuary Group to deliver 335 affordable homes with another potential 700 in the pipeline. Following discussions with Bloor and Sanctuary during the summer, support was given by the Housing Corporation to a wide range of
23/10/2008
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) yesterday launched a major blueprint for stabilising the UK economy, as well as its proposal for a £1bn Small Business Survival Fund. Calling on the UK Government to take urgent action to protect small businesses, the FSB is proposing the survival fund repla
23/10/2008
Following its recent review of property maintenance services, East Ayrshire Council is forging ahead with the redesign and refurbishment of its supported accommodation for older people and is nearing completion of the works at Ellisland Court, Mauchline. All eight of the Council's housing complexes
23/10/2008
Work is continuing to transform Dundee's former landfill site into a nature park. Dundee City Council will shortly be submitting proposals for the final landscaping of a large part of the Riverside site to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa). Over the last few years the council has b
22/10/2008
Mitie Engineering Services (Edinburgh) Ltd has been fined £300,000 after an electrician died while working on a live wire marked "not in use" at a JJB Fitness Centre. Michael Adamson, 26, from Bo'ness, died from electrocution. At Dundee Sheriff Court his employer was found guilty of breaching heal
22/10/2008
Despite the credit crunch plans for a "super campus" in Glasgow are to go ahead according to the Scottish Funding Council. The proposed campus will be the UK's biggest further education building project. It will involve Central, Stow, Metropolitan and Glasgow Nautical College and provide for 50,000
22/10/2008
Stirling Council's Planning Panel has given permission for a new hotel and leisure complex in Stirling's historic old town. The Panel welcomed the application by Glenbervie House Hotel Ltd, to change and convert the existing building on the site of the former Forth Valley Health Board Offices on Sp
22/10/2008
Larbert-based James Jones and Sons have said the £20m expansion plans for the Lockerbie sawmill plant are on schedule despite a downturn in the timber trade. The firm was forced to close its Dumfries site for a week to temporarily halt production in the face of the manufacturing slowdown however th
22/10/2008
New GDP figures show that the Scottish economy continued to grow in the second quarter of 2008, despite uncertainty in the global economy. Announced by Scotland's Chief Statistician, the figures for April to June 2008 show Scottish GDP increased by 0.1 per cent, and by 1.8 per cent over the year. H
22/10/2008
A £120,500 plan to develop a new pontoon system at Kinlochbervie Harbour is to go ahead following funding approval from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and Highland Council. Pontoons to berth an additional twelve boats will be built for small yachts, pleasure boats and commercial crafts, hel
22/10/2008
Repair work to a West Lothian bridge thought to have been smashed by vandals using sledgehammers, is to begin next week. An estimated £7,000 worth of damage to New Farm Bridge at Dedridge was discovered on Monday 13 October. Following the incident temporary barriers were erected for safety reasons
22/10/2008
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum has been commended in the global final of the RICS awards, which brought together outstanding building projects from the UK, Europe and Australia. Kelvingrove was commended in the building conservation category of the awards narrowly missing out on the top spot to
22/10/2008
Argyll and Bute Council are launching a public consultation on a plan which will guide the future development and use of Loch Fyne. The Loch Fyne Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) plan has been drafted in response to the transfer of planning powers over aquaculture from the Crown Estate to
22/10/2008
Phase one of the Glenmorangie Distillery expansion has been completed. Extensions to existing buildings to house additional fermentation capacity at the plant in Tain, Ross-shire have been finished. Phase two of the project will see a range of malt whiskey distillation equipment being added to all
21/10/2008
A new campaign offering hard-pressed families advice on how to cut their fuel bills and help save the planet in the process was launched today. Fronted by Mr Earth, the 'Go Greener' campaign will be using radio, TV, outdoor and online advertising to promote energy saving messages. Launched to coin
21/10/2008
ScottishPower, one of the UK's leading renewable energy developers, has announced a deal with Debenhams to supply all of its 178 properties in the UK with electricity generated from green sources. The two-year deal will see ScottishPower supply 35MW (megawatts) of electricity per month to Debenhams
21/10/2008
A Transport Scotland improvement project that will boost safety on one of Aberdeenshire's main routes, the A96, has taken a significant step forward with the publication of the Draft Compulsory Purchase Order, the Draft Road Orders and the Environmental Statement. This marks the start of the formal
21/10/2008
The Miller Group, the UK's largest, privately-owned housebuilding, property development and construction business, has appointed Stephen Dunn as its new Group HR Director. Mr Dunn, 48, was Corporate Services Director at ScottishPower, a part of the Iberdrola Group, one of the world's five biggest e
21/10/2008
Responding to Saturday's clarification on the Scottish Government’s support package to help First Time Buyers, the home building industry has called for the temporary extension of the Open Market Shared Equity Pilot (part of the Low-Cost Initiative for First Time Buyers) to become a permanent featur
21/10/2008
Two Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) employees will support the government's drive to improve the access of financially excluded people to affordable credit, home contents insurance, bank accounts and savings. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has appointed CIH to build a team of Finan
21/10/2008
A significant milestone has been reached in the preparation to build a new primary school in Clovenfords, with confirmation that land for the new school site has been acquired by Scottish Borders Council. The new school will replace the existing Caddonfoot school, which lacks many of the facilities
21/10/2008
Glasgow Housing Association's (GHA's) Tenant Chair was awarded a coveted housing gong on Friday for her part in improving Glasgow's housing conditions. Sandra Forsythe was declared the winner of the Scottish Housing Committee Member Award 2008 at the opening evening of Employers in Voluntary Housin
21/10/2008
Phase two of construction has commenced at Knight Property Group's £45m Aberdeen WestPoint Business Park. Launched in March of this year, WestPoint Business Park, an office development set on a 6.75 acre site, has already seen the completion and lease out of phase one, which consists of three high-
21/10/2008
Major upgrading work has begun at one of the main approach roads into Kirkwall, Orkney. There will be major resurfacing works on Grainshore Road and Ayre Mills roundabout, after which the Orkney Island Council will carry out resurfacing and footway and kerbing upgrades on Ayre Road. During these w
20/10/2008
A £60m support package extended to help first time buyers across Scotland find affordable homes was announced by First Minister Alex Salmond yesterday. The Open Market Shared Equity Pilot, announced in January this year, was a £24m programme in 2008/09 covering 10 local authorities. The scheme wil
20/10/2008
Miller Construction has handed over the new £130m Elements Square shopping centre in Livingston to Land Securities. The 375,000 sq ft centre adjoins the existing Almondvale Shopping Centre to create almost 1 million sq ft of retail space which will now be known as The Centre. More than 7,000 worke
20/10/2008
Scottish timber firm Howie Forest Products has been forced to make up to 18 workers redundant due to the "financial crisis and downturn in building". The company which operates from Kenmuir Sawmills on the outskirts of Dalbeattie has 149 staff and is one of the largest employers in the area. Manag
20/10/2008
Glasgow electrical contractor, Hudson, a division of the McKean Group, recently completed a £152k contract working in Parcelforce's new super-depot in Cambuslang. The contract which was won on competitive tender started in November 2007 and was completed earlier this year. The 49,000sq ft depot w
20/10/2008
Proposals for a 36-turbine wind farm near the Devil's Beef Tub in the Scottish Borders are to be considered on Wednesday. Due to the proximity of the 180MW development plan by Wind Energy Ltd Dumfries and Galloway councillors must also consider the project however the final decision will rest with
20/10/2008
An extra £10 million is set to be invested in the Central Heating Programme this year. The money, announced on Saturady by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing Nicola Sturgeon, will allow the programme to help even more of Scotland's fuel poor. She also revealed that from April 2009 it i
20/10/2008
A historic waterwheel at Breadalbane Folklore Centre in Killin has been given a new lease of life – thanks to funding by the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority, Historic Scotland and Stirling Council. The giant waterwheel, which dates back to the 19th century when meal was ground
20/10/2008
A shared equity scheme by West Lothian Housing Partnership has benefited four households. The units were integrated into its new 32-unit Broxburn development, opened yesterday. The Grant family got a home more suited to their needs. They couldn't adapt their private let to meet their disabilities
20/10/2008
Local businesses in central Fraserburgh still have time to apply for a grant of up to £5,000 and free expert advice as part of Aberdeenshire Council's Property Enhancement Scheme (FPES). The scheme, run in association with Aberdeenshire Towns Partnership and supported by Fraserburgh Business Associ
20/10/2008
Ferry fares are being cut by up to half on all Western Isles to mainland routes as the 'Road Equivalent Tariff' (RET) pilot gets underway. The Scottish Government is using this pilot to consider how the current ferry fares system can be improved by introducing a fairer RET scheme which would bring
17/10/2008
Two of Scotland's leading universities have received multi-million pound awards to help create new, internationally-competitive research facilities under the Wellcome Trust's Capital Awards in Biomedical Sciences initiative. Launched in 2007, the £30m initiative provides funding of over £1m to succ
17/10/2008
The future management of Orkney's world famous Neolithic landscape was outlined yesterday by Culture Minister Linda Fabiani. The management plan for the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site (WHS) sets out the significance of the UNESCO designated site. The Minister said: "The World Herita
17/10/2008
Albyn Housing Society is to build over 180 new affordable homes in the Highlands over the next two years. The developments, which include 120 houses and flats for rent and 60 for low cost home ownership, represent investment of over £35m, mainly funded through Scottish Government grant and private
17/10/2008
Proposals by the South Aberdeen Coastal Regeneration Project Steering Group could see an educational/visitor centre, small boat harbour and multi-purpose submerged reef developed on the south side of the city. These are just some of the suggestions which will be put forward by the City Council and
17/10/2008
Finance Secretary John Swinney yesterday welcomed the UK Government's decision to strengthen the UK Climate Change Bill. The UK Government has decided to increase emissions reduction targets to 80 per cent and to include all greenhouse gases. Welcoming this announcement Mr Swinney said: "As a p
17/10/2008
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) today warned about the dangers of falling from vehicles following the death of a Central Scotland tanker driver. The driver fell three metres from the top of his vehicle because his employer failed to provide a safe place to work. The warning came after the em
17/10/2008
Sanctuary Scotland residents from the Ardler Estate in Dundee have been celebrating after helping the estate scoop silver in the Beautiful Scotland awards. Thanks to the work of residents and volunteers from the Ardler Village Trust, the estate came second in the Urban Community category of the com
17/10/2008
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors is once again hosting the informative Scottish Briefing, discussing the challenges and opportunities facing individuals working in the built environment today. The Scottish Briefing is being held on Thursday 6 November at Royal College of Surgeons in Edi
16/10/2008
Craigvar Construction in Galashiels is to close. The Scottish Border based firm will wind up operations by the end of the year. A total of 14 jobs will be lost. Company director Gordon Richardson blamed the current economic situation for the move. A report by the Scottish Chamber of Commerce pub
16/10/2008
Unused public land could soon be made available to meet increased demand for allotments, the Scottish Government announced today. Waiting lists for allotments have risen dramatically in recent years, with more people recognising the environmental, social and health benefits to be gained from workin
16/10/2008
Development of plans that could see a new community training and health facility being built in the heart of Ayr's Wallacetoun and Newton area have been put in motion this week. The Wallacetoun and Newton Regeneration Forum (WNRF) have been awarded £117,000 Big Lottery funding and this will allow t
16/10/2008
Social housing refurbishment and maintenance specialists, Connaught Partnerships Ltd has pledged £1,000 to help Glasgow City LFC stay in the competition for the UEFA Women's Cup. The team is due to travel to Oslo for the second qualification round of the UEFA Women's Cup after successfully funding
16/10/2008
A series of mosaics have helped give a facelift to £120,000 improvements at Glenview Park in Larkhall. Following discussions with local people and Changing Places Larkhall, the South lanarkshire Council commissioned artist Alan Potter to work with a group of young people from the town to design and
16/10/2008
Builder and entrepreneur, Angus MacIsaac, has been announced as one of six finalists in the 2008 'Prince's Scottish Youth Business Trust (PSYBT) 'Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards'. Angus (31), founder of Western Isles building company, AJ MacIsaac Builders, fought off stiff competition from
16/10/2008
Forth Construction attracted almost 70 local construction companies to an event where they found out how to sell their services to Clackmannanshire and Stirling Councils. The event held at Gean House, Alloa, was full to capacity as Clackmannanshire Council's Head of Procurement Derek Barr delivered
16/10/2008
Construction work recently began on a £6m state-of-the-art community sport and leisure facility development at Broadwood Stadium in Cumbernauld. The multi-million pound development by North Lanarkshire Council will comprise a new two story leisure and sports facility at the north side of the stadiu
16/10/2008
Aberdeenshire Council has been shortlisted in four categories at the 2008 Scottish Transport Awards. Now in their sixth year, the prestigious awards bring together the transport community to recognise and celebrate industry achievements across Scotland. The event is a good opportunity for transpor
16/10/2008
The repaving of the last section of Friars' Vennel in Dumfries has been rescheduled for January and February 2009. According to Dumfries and Galloway Council the contractor carrying out work on the Vennel has been let down by a supplier, who has failed to deliver some of the granite on time. As a r
15/10/2008
Marks & Spencer has announced a partnership with Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) to launch M&S Energy. M&S Energy will supply electricity and gas to domestic customers and reward them with M&S store vouchers for helping the environment by reducing their energy usage. Customers will also receive
15/10/2008
A Transport Scotland improvement project that will boost safety on one of Moray's key routes, the A96, has taken a significant step forward this week with the publication of the Draft Compulsory Purchase Order, the Draft Road Orders and the Environmental Statement. This marks the start of the forma
15/10/2008
Police are appealing for witnesses after vandals smashed a 20ft wall along the edge of a West Lothian footbridge which is over a century old. Over £100,000 worth of damage was caused by the vandals using sledgehammers between 1pm and 3pm on Monday. The bridge near the Lanthorn Centre in Dedridge
15/10/2008
Blackridge rail station project can now go ahead. Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson has written to West Lothian Council Leader Peter Johnston confirming that the station will now be delivered as part of the Airdrie-Bathgate rail link programme. "I am absolutely delighted that the Scottish Gover
15/10/2008
The Crown Estate, which owns Midlothian's Whitehill estate, has unveiled proposals that could create a new village centre for Rosewell village. The plans form part of a submission made to the Scottish Government as part of the Scottish Sustainable Communities Initiative. The proposals involve rej
15/10/2008
The Pure Energy Centre (PEC) in Unst, Shetland is growing globally, helping to put the Shetland Islands on the map for innovative renewable energy and hydrogen developments. The PEC grew from the Pure Energy Project set up by the Unst Partnership and has seen the development of the first community-
15/10/2008
Stirling Council starts improvements in the city's Victoria Place on Monday 20 October with a new footway, or pavement, being provided on the Kings Park side of the road, which will incorporate widening out into the carriageway at pedestrian crossing points. Victoria Place is well used for parking
15/10/2008
Pupils from Madras College are gaining experience of Building Surveying with Hardies in St Andrews. Michael Gray from Newport on Tay and Darren McKenzie from Tayport are spending an afternoon a week at Hardies this term through to Christmas. The two young people were selected on the basis of compl
15/10/2008
A mid-year review of North Lanarkshire's council's housing revenue budget has shown a surplus and tenants are set to benefit with almost £2m being earmarked to boost housing repairs, fund additional heating installations and carry out re-wiring projects. Approval for the use of the surplus - which
15/10/2008
Work has been completed on the installation of an all-abilities pontoon system at Hopeman harbour, Moray. The pontoons will increase use of the harbour by yachts and pleasure boats and provide access for people of all abilities. The £340,000 project has been carried out by Moray Council with partn
14/10/2008
Jumeirah, the Dubai-based luxury hotel group and operator of the world famous Burj Al Arab, today unveiled plans to operate a five-star super deluxe hotel in Glasgow. The announcement was made by Charles Price, CEO of Progress Property Developments (PPD) and Guy Crawford, CEO of Jumeirah Group, at
14/10/2008
Emergency services were called to the St Fergus gas terminal near Peterhead in Aberdeenshire after reports of an explosion. It's believed that an explosion occurred in a laboratory at about 2pm. According to the BBC a spokesman said three possible casualties had been examined but did not require t
14/10/2008
Stewart Milne Construction has completed work on a 17.5 acre development at Westhill Business Park, Aberdeen, creating a new campus for major seabed-to-surface engineering and construction contractor, Acergy UK Limited. The project, which was the result of a competition set by Acergy, comprises fou
14/10/2008
SNP MSP Alex Neil has called on the leader of Scottish Labour to get behind the Scottish Government in calling for Westminster to make available almost £1bn of funding to help the Scottish economy. Neil said that Iain Gray had already suggested that Scotland should get its share of funding through
14/10/2008
Plans to build a pub near a primary school in the Healthhall area of Dumfries could go ahead despite opposition from councillors. Dumfries and Galloway Council refused Calmac Developments permission to construct a bar but the decision has been overturned by a government official. A report by the l
14/10/2008
Sanctuary Scotland, a leading housing provider, is celebrating its 10th anniversary. The Association, a registered Scottish charity and member of Sanctuary Group marked the occasion with an event last night at The Lighthouse, Scotland's Centre for Architecture, Design and the City in Glasgow. Gord
14/10/2008
Airth residents will soon get a chance to see what plans are being put forward for the restoration of Mercat Cross. Residents can drop by at any time to see the display boards at Airth Community Centre from today up to Tuesday 21 October. The boards will be displayed in the foyer but if the Centre
14/10/2008
The Scapa Flow Container Transhipment Terminal project has taken a major step forward with an agreement reached between three organisations to establish a partnership to progress the next phase of work. The three organisations are Orkney Islands Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and The Cr
14/10/2008
A campaign was launched at the weekend by the North Kelvinside Green Space Community Initiative, Glasgow, to turn the former Clouston Street Playing Fields into a community-run green meadow space. The former Clouston Street Playing Fields are currently earmarked for a new development of 115 flats b
14/10/2008
Barry Le Beuvant MCIAT has been selected as the new President Elect of the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT). Barry has been in the industry for over thirty years and is a partner in a private Architectural Technology practice based in Jersey. He has been active with the Inst
13/10/2008
Robertson executive chairman Bill Robertson joined Public Health Minister Shona Robison to meet the first students who will study at the £13m Aberdeen Dental School. Main contractor Robertson Eastern is currently constructing the educational centre which is due for completion in October 2009. The
13/10/2008
The 2008 shortlist for the UK's richest architectural prize - The RIAS Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award - has been announced. From 29 submissions which ranged from the Borders to the Isle of Lewis the judges, chaired by Professor Andrew MacMillan, have shortlisted eleven projects. Th
13/10/2008
Work has started on an ambitious £5m project to redevelop Linlithgow's Burgh Halls. The contract has been awarded to Hunter Clark of Glasgow, one of Scotland's leading building, public works and masonry contractors. The company will work to designs drawn up by award-winning Malcolm Fraser Architec
13/10/2008
Faber Maunsell was the big winner at the national Builder and Engineer Awards, walking off with two of the biggest prizes on offer. They were named Environmental and Sustainable Company of 2008 and also scooped Consulting Engineer of the Year, beating off stiff competition from Atkins, Buro Happold
13/10/2008
An incentive scheme which encourages council tenants to help Aberdeenshire Council deliver a better quality of service has been approved by councillors. By encouraging tenants to leave homes in good, lettable conditions the scheme is expected to save Aberdeenshire Council more than £100,000 each ye
13/10/2008
Plans for the multi-million pound transformation of the university of Edinburgh's King's Buildings campus have been unveiled. Several of the 50 buildings on the university's College of Science and Engineering site will be demolished and replaced with 18 state-of-the-art research and teaching sites.
13/10/2008
The Scottish Government is pursuing closer energy links with Norway and Russia, with Enterprise, Energy and Tourism Minister Jim Mather travelling to both countries this week. He will meet representatives of Norwegian energy companies and the Norwegian Government to discuss energy research and deve
13/10/2008
Mansell has completed a state-of-the-art £2.3m refurbishment project at one of Glasgow's prime commercial buildings. The property at 140 West George Street was originally designed by the celebrated architect James 'Greek' Thomson, famed for his work within Glasgow's Necropolis in the late 19th and
13/10/2008
Protective crash bollards are to be built outside Glasgow's subway stations to protect against terrorist attacks. Protective bollards will be made of reinforced concrete and will be sited at the edge of the pavements outside all stations to block any car or vehicle from going through the entrance o
13/10/2008
Construction union UCATT has called for the sacking of the managing director of Carlisle Housing Association, after a BBC Programme revealed that its workers and tenants had been needlessly exposed to asbestos. On Wednesday October 7 the BBC Inside Out North East programme revealed that workers and
10/10/2008
Historic Scotland has launched a pilot scheme with three of Scotland's local authorities in a bid to improve the process of dealing with category-B listed building consent (LBC) applications. The pilot will run from October to December with The City of Edinburgh, Glasgow City and Perth and Kinross
10/10/2008
Glasgow City Council has launched a public consultation on its plans to introduce a range of measures to improve air quality. The draft 2008 Air Quality Action Plan sets out the range of measures the Council intends to take to reduce air pollution in the city, particularly in areas which fall below
10/10/2008
Leading access doors manufacturer Bilco has supplied ten roof access hatches for the redevelopment of five apartment blocks on Swinton Path and Invergyle Road in Glasgow. The blocks are owned by Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) which is Scotland's largest social landlord following the transfer of
10/10/2008
Aberdeen-based AVC Media Enterprises £3m business centre will be opened today by Geoff Runcie, Chief Executive for Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce. The new four-storey building adds 1,530 square metres of additional space to AVC's Altens headquarters and provides the Aberdeen business com
10/10/2008
Nigel Griffiths MP has opened the latest phase of the £70m Moredun Park and Hyvot Regeneration Project with an unveiling ceremony at Ferniehill Church. Mr Griffiths said: "The regeneration of Moredun Park & Hyvot is proving to be a real challenge but the potential is fantastic. It is great to see D
10/10/2008
Fife Council Building Services held their annual awards ceremony for apprentices on Wednesday 8 October. The awards celebrate the commitment and achievement of construction craft apprentices over the past year. A total of 23 awards were presented by Cllr Frances Melville, provost of Fife at the ce
10/10/2008
Aberdeen City Council is monitoring very closely the steps which the Icelandic government and the UK government are taking in relation to Landsbanki. The city council has no money invested in any Icelandic bank but there is Landsbanki involvement in the £120m 3Rs project to rebuild and refurbish se
10/10/2008
A giant wheel like the famous London Eye being planned for Braehead would be a "fantastic tourist attraction" for Renfrewshire and the west of Scotland. That's the prediction from the shopping centre's general manager Peter Beagley who says he expects tens of thousands of people a year to converge o
10/10/2008
Construction of the first affordable rented homes to be built at Leith Docks has commenced following the award of a major building contract by Port of Leith Housing Association. In total, 102 new flats will be created on a site at Western Harbour, near the new Asda supermarket, in a development co
10/10/2008
A new shopping destination will be unveiled in less than two weeks when Elements Square - the £130m extension to Almondvale Shopping Centre - opens its doors in Livingston, West Lothian on Thursday 16th October. Together, Elements Square and Almondvale Shopping Centre will be known by the new name
09/10/2008
In the interests of the Scottish economy the First Minister should drop his plans for the Scottish Futures Trust, Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray has stressed. Instead, he has suggested the SNP government should be focusing on improving the Scottish economy by making more funds available for new s
09/10/2008
The contractor building the new bridge linking Forthside to Stirling city centre has advised Stirling Council that the opening has been put back until next year as it is taking longer than planned to complete the final elements of work to the bridge. James Scobie, Divisional Director for Edmund Nut
09/10/2008
Stirling celebrated the completion of 75 affordable new homes at Cultenhove, on Thursday 2 October with Councillor Alasdair MacPherson planting a tree to mark the occasion. Castle Rock Edinvar Housing Association worked in close partnership with Stirling Council and the local community throughout e
09/10/2008
Following tough competition among progressive organisations, Livingston-based contractor, Maxi Construction Limited were winners at the West Lothian Environmental Awards 2008. Maxi Construction won the medium-sized business category award for its effective environmental management procedures which
09/10/2008
A new Park-and-Ride facility providing free car parking for 600 vehicles was formally opened at Straiton on October 3. Located beside the Straiton Retail Park in Midlothian, the new park and ride - which will complement existing services at Newcraighall, Ferrytoll, Hermiston, Ingliston and Sherrifh
09/10/2008
Pedestrians on Edinburgh's busy Princes Street could use a fast lane to beat dawdling shoppers if the city's council plans are approved. It is hoped that by having a fast and slow lane pedestrians can beat 'pavement rage'. Councillor Jason Rust, the brainchild of the idea, said: "There may be a ca
09/10/2008
Two councils have joined forces with the Scottish Government to work together to deliver a Dunoon to Gourock ferry service. Argyll and Bute Council and Inverclyde Council have agreed a joint approach, and have now met for the first time as part of a new tripartite arrangement with the Scottish Gove
09/10/2008
J&E Shepherd Chartered Surveyors has been appointed to let modern office accommodation at Hannah Business Park in Ayr. A low density office campus set in a rural location around two miles east of Ayr town centre, Hannah Business Park is only two minutes drive time from the A77 at the Whitletts Roun
09/10/2008
A former stationhouse on the Hogwarts Express line that features in the blockbuster Harry Potter films is up for sale. The detached five-apartment property in the highland village of Lochailort, Invernesshire, is currently the only stationhouse on the market along the west Coast Highland line where
08/10/2008
The home building industry has given a cautious welcome to the details announced yesterday on how the £9m first tranche of the £100m brought forward within the Scottish Government's Affordable Housing Investment Programme is being invested. The First Minister announced the accelerated funding in Au
08/10/2008
An industrial park is being planned as part of a new wave of expansion at Scrabster Harbour to capitalise on a clutch of exciting new opportunities coming on stream. Scrabster Harbour Trust and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) are working together to realise the ambitious plans for further ex
08/10/2008
Two conservation students' studies have been given a boost after their hard work was rewarded by Historic Scotland. Daniel Baillie, 20, and Philip Stafford, 22, attended a prize giving at the agency's headquarters last month after excelling in the Higher National Diploma in Architectural Conservati
08/10/2008
Motorists are being alerted to a road closure as the latest phase of the repair works to the A92 Lower Northwater Bridge over the River North Esk comes to an end. The A92 road closure will take place between Saturday, October 11 and Sunday, October 12. Masonry repair works to the outside faces of t
08/10/2008
Fintry residents had two reasons to be cheerful at the weekend, when they celebrated the 100th anniversary of the villages Menzies Hall and the official opening of the refurbished hall. Provost Fergus Wood officially opened the hall on Saturday 4 October in Fintry, said: "This is an important day f
08/10/2008
Fife Council is to introduce appointments for Council tenants whose properties need repairs. The system, which is expected to start in January 2009 follows a series of roadshows earlier this year attended by tenants across Fife. Additionally, the authority's Housing Services is in the process of b
08/10/2008
Road widening works relating to the new ALDI store on Telford Street, Inverness will continue beyond the initial programmed construction period of three weeks. A temporary lane closure is scheduled to come into operation on Saturday 18th October and will remain in place for 11 days. Westbound tra
08/10/2008
Proposals for a new development within a country park setting on the outskirts of the city to help solve the acute shortage of land for business and housing use were unveiled today. Banchory & Leggart Estates, who owns 1,500 acres of land to the south of the city, are behind the proposals which the
08/10/2008
Plans by Ferguslie Park Housing Association to complete a £2m revamp of the Tannahill Community Centre are well underway. The centre based in the Ferguslie Park area of Paisley is set to be transformed into a state of the art community hub. FPHA, which owns and manages the centre, has been working
08/10/2008
Work to lay high voltage cables from a Aberdeen city centre power station to the new retail development at Guild Street has been completed well ahead of schedule. Scottish and Southern Energy was carrying out the work from the power station at Mearns Street, along Commerce Street, Virginia Street a
07/10/2008
A string of housing developments, backed by funds from the Scottish Government, will help Scotland's house builders respond to the current market conditions. Communities Minister Stewart Maxwell confirmed that £9m pounds has been brought forward as the first tranche of accelerated funds for site st
07/10/2008
A Scottish apprentice has beaten over a thousand young hopefuls working in construction to be named Britain's best construction apprentice. Martin Quinn (18), an apprentice from Coatbridge, won The Frank Eaton Memorial Trophy at SkillBuild, Britain's biggest skills competition. The trophy commemora
07/10/2008
Announcing a pre-tax profit of £1.77m on a turnover of £5.96m, property development and investment business, The EDI Group Limited, today publishes its financial results for the year 2007. The 2007 profit is down on the previous financial year (£2.83m in 2006) but turnover increased, due mainly to
07/10/2008
Morris & Spottiswood, one of Scotland's leading fit out and maintenance providers has just completed the £1m conversion of the former Bonnyrigg Health Centre providing patients in Midlothian with quick access emergency dental facilities. The major refurbishment of the former NHS Lothian medical cen
07/10/2008
Scotland's landscape and weather means that some its roads are vulnerable to the risk of landslides and climate change is likely to increase that risk says a Transport Scotland study published yesterday The 'Scottish Road Network Landslides Study' reports on a significant research project including
07/10/2008
A new start-up company by the former directors of PSL Energy Services has marked its entry in to the mechanical services market with a double acquisition. EnerMech Ltd have snapped up the UK's second largest independent crane and lifting contractor, Specialist Maintenance Services Ltd (SMS) in Ab
07/10/2008
North east property and energy firm Banks Developments is helping to the next generation get their first taste of life in industry after taking on four undergraduates on year-long placements. Each of the four placement students will be working with mentors from Banks throughout the year on a range
07/10/2008
Ecoliving has today announced that it is seeking applications from RSLs looking for funding towards ground source heat pump installations. The renewable energy specialist has been awarded CERT funding from Scottish and Southern Energy which is designed to help eradicate fuel poverty and help those
07/10/2008
To mark World Architecture Day 2008, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is reminding building designers in Scotland to plan in health and safety, as well as creativity and innovation, when working on new projects. Designers are reminded of their obligations under the new Construction (Design and
07/10/2008
Upbeat housing market statistics for Inverness contrast sharply with more downbeat nationwide figures released last week. According to David Ferguson, partner at J&E Shepherd's Inverness office, local sales evidence for the month of September reveals that 63% of houses sold in and around Inverness
06/10/2008
Ambitious proposals to ensure Scotland meets tough European climate change targets were unveiled by First Minister Alex Salmond in Inverness today. The Scottish Government's Renewable Energy Framework includes proposals for a tenfold increase in the levels of renewable energy used for heat and tran
06/10/2008
A new £21m dental training centre was officially opened in Aberdeen today. The state-of-the-art complex will feature facilities for radiography, restorative dentistry, consultant orthodontics, dental laboratories, student laboratories and office accommodation. The dental school project has been ma
06/10/2008
Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, officially opened the £6m extension to the main library at the University of Dundee today. The library extension has literally turned the facility around. The three-storey structure includes a stunning new entrance way which opens
06/10/2008
A leisure group's chief executive has described Scotland's planning system as a "major frustration" and called for laws to be overhauled. David Guile, of Macdonald Hotels, is awaiting a final decision on the £80m Aviemore Highland Resort extension plans which include improvements to the complex, a
06/10/2008
The Scottish Police Services Authority have announced a new £16.2m forensic superlab is to be built at City Quay, Dundee, replacing the lab at Tayside Police headquarters. Kenny MacAskill, the Scottish Justice Secretary, said it would help transform the provision of forensic services across Scotla
06/10/2008
Three Scottish employees of Stewart Milne Timber Systems are the first to achieve Gold Award status under new City & Guilds accreditation of the UK Timber Frame Association's (UKTFA) training and accreditation programme for designers and manufacturers. This recognition of the industry's training
06/10/2008
Miller Construction is leading the way in eco-friendly site accommodation at the £250m Union Square project in Aberdeen. The construction firm has set up its biggest ever site office - nicknamed 'Miller Towers' by staff - as work continues on the landmark retail development for Hammerson. The site
06/10/2008
Graham has commenced work at the new £8m swimming complex at Balbardie Park, Bathgate. The project will take 15 months to complete. The six-lane, 25-metre swimming pool will include a 10 metre teaching pool, new sports changing accommodation, pitch improvements and new office accommodation. Fiona
06/10/2008
Arran, Bute, Greater and Little Cumbrae, Moray and the parts of Highland not already within the Crofting Counties are to be designated as new crofting areas. The move follows a public consultation which gave resounding support for the plan. Speaking at the Highlands and Islands Convention, Envir
06/10/2008
Permanite Engineered Roofing Systems has completed the installation of 16,000m2 of its market leading PermaTEC hot melt system on the flat roof areas of The Elements shopping development in Livingstone, Scotland. The system was installed by BriggsAmasco Limited. The Elements is a new £130m, 34,838m
03/10/2008
Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson will visit M8 Harthill Services this evening to watch the new £5m footbridge being lifted into place. Communities in and around Harthill will have a good view this weekend as Britain's largest mobile crane carefully manoeuvres the new footbridge into place. The
03/10/2008
An agreement between the Scottish Government and 13 church organisations has been reached to take disused churches and church land and use them to provide affordable housing. The Scottish Government believes that in the coming decade 50 affordable homes could be provided each year following the agr
03/10/2008
Around 6,700 new affordable homes could be built in Edinburgh over the next five years if plans set out in the City of Edinburgh Council's Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP) are taken forward. The SHIP estimates that additional investment of approximately £507m would enable up to 6,700 new ho
03/10/2008
Following tough competition among progressive organisations, Livingston-based contractor, Maxi Construction Limited were winners at the West Lothian Environmental Awards 2008. The Awards were established 10 years ago to recognise and reward good environmental practices in the West Lothian business
03/10/2008
Aberdeen city councillors have confirmed a £3m capital grant for the Peacock Visual Arts scheme to build a new contemporary arts centre in the heart of the city. Resources management committee members voted overwhelmingly in favour of granting the money for the proposed Union Terrace Gardens projec
03/10/2008
All-Energy, the UK's largest renewable energy exhibition and conference, has been presented with the Renewable Energy Award in the Northern Star Business Awards, run by Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce. The award is made to the company that 'has been most successful in developing and secu
03/10/2008
Residents of Whiteford and the surrounding area have been invited to Whiteford Village Hall this weekend to view provisional plans for the future development of around 500 new homes in the area. William Lippe Architects and Aberdeenshire Council are holding the open day in Whiteford, near Inveruri
03/10/2008
A group of 10 Project Managers from the Royal Bank of Scotland took a break from the office last week to improve a communal garden at Gowrie Care's Dryden Street project. The managers downed pen and paper and turned to spade, wheelbarrow and paint brush to create a vegetable garden, build and instal
03/10/2008
Signallers employed by Network Rail have announced they are to stage two 24-hour strikes in Scotland next week. The signallers, members of the Rail Maritime and Transport Union (RMT), said the strikes will take place between noon on Tuesday October 7 and noon on Wednesday October 8, and between noo
03/10/2008
Mike Tomlinson has joined Linkwide, part of the Link Group, as the organisation's first Land Acquisition Manager. Mr Tomlinson has worked in local government and private house building for more than 30 years, most recently as Land Manager with CALA. He brings a wealth of expertise, which will benef
02/10/2008
Nationwide Building Society's latest figures show average Scottish house prices are declining at a similar rate to the rest of the UK In Scotland average house prices fell by 5% between July and September, compared to a 4.6% drop across the UK. However over the last year house prices Scotland’s h
02/10/2008
Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson has announced the new multi-million pound crossing over the upper Forth near Kincardine will open on November 19 as the 'Clackmannanshire Bridge'. Transport Scotland's £120m crossing, which will open up economic opportunities for the surrounding areas and ease c
02/10/2008
Scotland's crofters will have a greater say in their own future following radical proposals made by Environment Minister Michael Russell. Mr Russell was responding to the final report of the Committee of Inquiry on Crofting and announced several measures aimed at developing crofting communities. T
02/10/2008
Building and maintenance company, Rok, has launched a new business stream. Rok Plumbing Heating and Electrical incorporates five companies, all of which have been acquired in the last 18 months. Corrie and Pitkerro which are based in Scotland; Avonside with offices in Scotland and England; EMB in
02/10/2008
Miller Construction scooped a top accolade for excellence throughout its Scottish operations, at a ceremony last Thursday. The leading construction firm was recognised at the fifth annual Property Executive Awards for Excellence, held at the Corn Exchange in Edinburgh with over 300 industry experts
02/10/2008
The Highland Council’s new flagship offices for East Sutherland will be formally opened tomorrow – 104 years to the day after Sutherland Technical School opened its doors to its first residential students. The refurbishment of Drummuie, Golspie, began on Monday 21 August, 2006, and staff completed
02/10/2008
J&E Shepherd Chartered Surveyors is marketing a prime city centre office investment for sale in Bath Street Glasgow. Situated in the prominent ground floor location of 176/178 Bath Street, on the corner of the north side of Bath Street and the east side of Blythswood Street, the property represents
02/10/2008
Dr Campbell Christie CBE has been appointed the new chair of the Raploch Urban Regeneration Company (URC). The URC has also announced that in partnership with developer R3 (George Wimpey / Cruden Homes) and Forth Housing Association (FHA) 50 social rented homes will be built as part of the first p
02/10/2008
The president of the Scottish Building Federation has reassured apprentices in Moray that jobs are still available despite the effect the economic downturn has had on the construction sector. Bill Imlach, speaking before a construction awards ceremony at Moray College, reassured the plumbers, join
02/10/2008
Tram developers have apologised after the first day of work at the Mound caused rush hour gridlock. Some buses were held up for an hour yesterday as temporary traffic measures failed to work. Many passengers had to get off and walk to work as some lights stuck on red. Princes Street will be closed
01/10/2008
A new funding package of £205,000 is being pieced together to ensure that The Highland Housing Fair, the UK's first housing exhibition, goes ahead in the summer of 2010. The Highland Council's Planning Environment and Development Committee is an active promoter and supporter of the event and has a
01/10/2008
New statistics show Scottish manufactured exports have maintained their steady performance despite the global economic slowdown, Enterprise Minister Jim Mather said today. He was commenting on statistics which show Scottish manufactured export sales remained static in real terms in the second quart
01/10/2008
The Latest phase of Stirling's Forthside development has been given the go-ahead by Stirling Council's Planning Panel. The Panel, Chaired by Councillor Alasdair MacPherson, granted planning permission for a new civic square, conference hotel, office blocks, restaurant and bar at the city's new water
01/10/2008
Aberdeen city councillors today agreed that preparations should begin to pave the way for a tender process to allow a third-party organisation to operate the Linx Ice Arena. But resources management committee members also agreed unanimously that Aberdeen City Council should continue to investigate
01/10/2008
The £13m Ratho House prisoner complex in Edinburgh will be open by December. The 116 cell, three-floor accommodation block will house women. A SPS spokesman said: "I can confirm that we have a project in place to look at the new accommodation at Ratho House in HMP Edinburgh to be used for female p
01/10/2008
Mansell has successfully completed a new £6.6m campus within Jordanhill School, which was officially unveiled by Fiona Hyslop, cabinet secretary for educational facilities and long life learning. Dr Paul Thomson, rector of Jordanhill, said: "The opening underlines an important day for the pupils a
01/10/2008
The building of new classrooms for 35,000 children in the last year has been praised by Education Secretary Fiona Hyslop. The Scottish Government is committed to move over 100,000 pupils out of substandard classrooms by 2011. New figures show that the 115 school construction projects completed last
01/10/2008
J&E Shepherd Chartered Surveyors is marketing a property with planning consent for restaurant use to let in Prestwick, South Ayrshire. Situated at 72/74 Main Street, the ground floor unit is located in a prominent town centre location with nearby retailers including Tesco, Victoria Wine and Superdr
01/10/2008
Global property consultancy Knight Frank has been appointed to design and project manage a major refurbishment of an industrial unit at 41 Abbotswell Road, a project worth £1.1m. Acting on behalf of Heyshaw Investments Ltd, Knight Frank has provided architectural and project management services to
01/10/2008
Argyll and Bute Council are encouraging people to start measuring their carbon and environmental footprints as part of National Carbon Footprint Day on October 2nd. Carbon Footprint Day was set up by award winning environmentalist Donnachadh McCarthy urging people throughout the UK to take practica
