Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
Scotland Construction News Archive for April 2008
30/04/2008
Progress on plans to create a vibrant transport hub at Haymarket train station fit to cope with growing passenger numbers has taken a step closer with the release of a major report. The Haymarket Interchange Feasibility Study (HIFS) was commissioned by the City of Edinburgh Council to investigate h
30/04/2008
A disused distillery in Dumfries in Galloway that ceased production 90 years ago is to be reopened, Enterprise Minister Jim Mather announced today. The Annandale Distillery will reopen with the aid of a £150,000 Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) grant, creating 18 new jobs in producing malt whisk
30/04/2008
Sustainability expert Envirowise is calling on Scotland’s 14,500-plus construction businesses to reduce their environmental footprint by improving resource efficiency and working with their supply chain. According to the company, the construction industry is one of the largest producers of waste in
30/04/2008
Glasgow construction company, McKean & Company, a division of the McKean Group, is celebrating after successfully passing a recent Investors in People assessment and an annual NQA Audit. The Investors in People standards have recently been reviewed, setting businesses with more stringent criteria t
30/04/2008
Members of Stirling Council's Executive Committee have agreed an unprecedented level of spending on Stirling's roads. Spending plans total £42m over the next five years. The money will be spent on roads maintenance and associated improvement schemes, as well as implementing the Council's City Tr
30/04/2008
The Scottish housing association sector is financially healthy, with turnover approaching £1 bn, supported by £2.9bn of committed private finance, according to a new publication issued today by the Scottish Housing Regulator. The 2006/07 Financial Digest reveals that the housing association sector
30/04/2008
In 2007, the Scottish housing market outperformed all other UK regions, recording a capital growth rate of 13%, according Knight Frank. New homes built in Scotland experienced a growth rate of 19.9% over the course of last year, but sales volumes fell by 16% in 2007 and further reductions are expec
30/04/2008
A £250,000 grant to develop a rail facility to improve freight handling between Rannoch and Irvine will remove 180,000 lorry miles per year from Scotland's roads. The Freight Facilities Grant (FFG) jointly awarded to UPM Tilhill and CSP Forestry will allow for the movement of 120,000 tonnes of ti
30/04/2008
A survey conducted by the Green Roof Campaign has revealed that there is still a lot of work to be done to convince people of the many environmental and sustainable properties of green roofs, and to dispel myths which persist about the cost and performance of the technology. The survey, conducted a
30/04/2008
Grangemouth oil refinery bosses and Unite Union officials believe they have reached a proposal in the dispute over pensions that would be considered "in the coming days". The possibility of a breakthrough came yesterday after Ineos founder Jim Ratcliffe and Unite general secretaries Tony Woodley an
29/04/2008
Communities Minister Stewart Maxwell has praised new figures showing that there were over 12,000 planning consents given for affordable housing in the last two years, but says more work need to be done. The figures are contained in the Affordable Housing Securing Planning Consent Report and show th
29/04/2008
The deadlock between workers and Grangemouth oil refinery owners over pensions could lead to further industrial action, Unite Union officials have warned. Around 1,200 staff have now returned to work after a 48-hour walk-out which is believed to have cost the economy £100m. Fuel supplies have been
29/04/2008
An Audit Scotland report into the sale of valuable Aberdeen City Council property has found sales going through for millions of pounds below market value. Several sales over a period of many years are at the centre of the inquiry. A Grampian police spokesman confirmed the council had approached th
29/04/2008
Moat Brae, the property that helped inspired JM Barrie's Peter Pan is up for sale. A number of developers have shown an interest in the building in Dumfries which could be redeveloped as a hotel or flats. The building was sold at auction in November 2000 for £80,000 but is now on the market for of
29/04/2008
The Health and Safety Executive have launched an investigation after a 24 year-old lorry driver's body was found at a construction site in Stirling last Wednesday. The body of Russell Wilson, from Huntly in Aberdeenshire, was found by workmates near a vehicle. Police are not treating the death as
29/04/2008
Stagecoach have launched Scotland's first carbon neutral bus network on it's Edinburgh to Fife routes, meaning all its services between Fife and Edinburgh crossing the Forth Road Bridge will be carbon neutral until 2013. The initiative, in partnership Scottish charity Global Trees, will see all of
29/04/2008
Tenants in Port Glasgow's Oronsay estate are planning a fresh start for their area with 70 new homes for rent and low cost home ownership. Park Farm Tenants and Residents Association is working with River Clyde Homes and Hypostyle Architects to explore options for the area as part of an £8.5m regen
29/04/2008
Dundee City Council's sheltered housing service could be set to be modernised to meet changes in demand for the homes. In a report to the council's housing, Dundee Contract Services and environment services committee states that fewer people want to rent the 3,500 sheltered houses owned by the coun
29/04/2008
Elha.com, East Lothian Housing Association's new website and on-line housing office has got off to a flying start with over 1,500 visitors to the site in the first three days since its launch on Monday. Within just an hour of launch, the first tenant had registered to use our on-line facilities such
29/04/2008
Glasgow's new, Stobhill and Victoria hospitals have selected CEM security solutions to secure their new, state-of-the-art £100m facilities. The contract, which was awarded in collaboration with ADT Glasgow, includes the industry-renowned CEM AC2000 SE (Standard Edition) security management system.
28/04/2008
The second day of the Grangemouth oil refinery strike over pensions has begun. Hundreds of workers at the Ineos plant walked out at 6am on Sunday and are not due to return until 6am tomorrow. To avoid fuel shortages over 6,500 tonnes - that's ten days supply of fuel - are being shipped to the Fort
28/04/2008
A £495,000 bridge canopy inspired by a swan in flight and spanning the Forth & Clyde Canal within Clydebank town centre was lifted into place at the end of last week. The canopy is designed by leading international architects RMJM, who won a competition entered by more than 60 architects from aro
28/04/2008
Seafield Sewage Treatment Works have been served with an enforcement notice from environment agency Sepa after local residents complained about an unpleasant smell coming from the plant. Operators Veolia have called in consultants to help with the intermittent odour emanating from the sludge manage
28/04/2008
Barratt Developments Plc has announced the appointment of Mark Rolfe to its Board as non executive director from May 1 2008. Mr Rolfe will also serve on the Audit and Nominations Committees. Mark Rolfe, an accountant, was Finance Director of Gallaher Group Plc for seven years until April 2007 when
28/04/2008
A £1.1m visitor centre has been planned for Camperdown Park I Dundee. The proposals by the city council include a cafe, education facility and visitor information; the building will fit into the natural environment of the park. A report for the local authority states that: "Such a facility could p
28/04/2008
The Scottish Government is working to deliver greener transport alternatives, Minister for Transport Stewart Stevenson said today as he opened a new park and ride scheme, complete with spaces for 561 cars, on the outskirts of Edinburgh. Mr Stevenson said: "This is a fantastic new facility at Sher
28/04/2008
A new £130,000 multi-purpose games court in Sandyhills has been completed. The brand new sports facility next to the Sandyhills multi-storey flats, Balbeggie Street will provide a safe and secure environment for local young people to participate in various sporting activities including basketball,
28/04/2008
Vicaima's Essential steamed beech Dekordor has been selected by Sovereign House Developments and Fairbriar plc for their new landmark development at Braehead, near Glasgow. A whole new community is being established at Ferry Village on the banks of the river Clyde where over 2,000 new homes are bei
28/04/2008
Edinburgh’s Homelessness Strategy for 2008 to 2012 has been launched by the City of Edinburgh Council. The strategy, developed by Edinburgh’s Homelessness Planning Group together with a range of service providers and people experiencing homelessness, aims to ensure homelessness is eradicated in the
28/04/2008
The green light has been given to build up to 250 new council houses in West Lothian, the first in 25 years. West Lothian Council are funding the £27.674m project and work will begin in June with final completion estimated to be within two years. The building of around 250 homes is the first phase
25/04/2008
The shutdown of Grangemouth oil refinery has been completed in preparation for a two-day strike by staff over pensions. The Ineos plant which is Scotland's main fuel supplier, processing 210,000 barrels of oil a day has never been completely shut down. Following the strike scheduled for Sunday i
25/04/2008
Plans have been unveiled to regenerate a derelict industrial site in South Kessock into an ambitious waterfront housing development. The multi-million pound plans regarding one of the most deprived area in the highlands include a 14-storey building, surrounded by around 190 properties ranging from
25/04/2008
IStructE is holding an event, Madrid's Barajas Airport 'Preparing for take-off' Designing the new terminal in the Teacher Building, 14-16 St Enoch Square, Glasgow G1 4D on April 29. As part of the Centenary year, John Veale and Les Postawa will present the details of this internationally recognise
25/04/2008
Three major themes for the National Home Improvement Council's (NHIC) 2008 Annual Awards Scheme will be energy efficiency, safety, and innovation in the UK home and environmental improvements. This year's awards brochure provides full details of the various categories in the Annual Awards Scheme, n
25/04/2008
Latest figures from Consumer Direct Scotland (CDS) reveal an alarming 25% increase in complaints against builders, plumbers, electricians and other home improvement traders. Building work complaints totalled £1.8m alone. Beyond the normal advice for homeowners to try and avoid these problems, such
25/04/2008
Fife Council has reaffirmed its commitment to delivering a £50m investment in state-of-the-art sport and leisure facilities for Dunfermline, Glenrothes and Kirkcaldy. Cllr. Brian Goodall, Chair of the Housing and Communities Committee said: "The council's first priority is to address those sports f
25/04/2008
akp, the contracts, healthcare and interiors specialist, has appointed George Wallace as Head of Contracts and has strengthened its site management team with the appointment of four new Site Managers. With over 40 years construction and project management experience, George, who lives in Prestwick,
25/04/2008
Following complaints that a lamppost has obscured one of Edinburgh's most famous views, officials have decided to move the offending lighting. The view from Calton Hill's Nelson's Monument in Edinburgh has been obscured by a lamppost. Planners in Edinburgh have come under fire for erecting a lampp
25/04/2008
The site of the former Donside Paper Mill in the Tillydrone area of Aberdeen is to be transformed into a new urban village, following the granting of planning consent by Aberdeen City Council’s planning committee. The approval of the planning application means that the 25-acre brownfield site of th
25/04/2008
Closure of the Forties oil pipeline as a result of the Grangemouth dispute could cost the British economy up to £50m a day according to Oil and Gas UK. Up to 1,200 staff at the Ineos plant will strike on Sunday and Monday in a row over pensions. Grangemouth powers the BP-controlled Forties pipelin
24/04/2008
Talks between Grangemouth oil refinery bosses Ineos and the Unite union aimed at halting a worker strike over pensions have broken down. A two-day strike by up to 1,200 workers will now go ahead on Sunday and Monday. A breakthrough could not be found after two days of talks between the union and
24/04/2008
Princes Street will close for six months next year while Edinburgh's tram tracks are laid, Transport Initiatives Edinburgh (Tie) have confirmed. Bilfinger Berger Siemens (BBS) will start the tram infrastructure work on June 1 2009. Line 1a which will run from Newhaven to Edinburgh Airport will hav
24/04/2008
The Chief Executive who will deliver the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games has been appointed. John Scott, 56, will lead the Organising Company (OC), the body responsible for delivering the Commonwealth Games. Currently the International Director and Director of Drug Free Sport at UK Sport, he has
24/04/2008
Outline planning permission has been granted for a £115m golf course development designed by former Open Champion Paul Lawrie on the site of the former Blairs Seminary in Aberdeenshire. The scheme will see a hotel and hundreds of new houses alongside existing listed buildings including the former s
24/04/2008
West Lothian Council has approved a new £28 million housing investment programme for the next 12 months. The ambitious spending programme includes £7.5m building 240 council houses for rent, £3m on environmental improvements, £1.9m on repairs and improvements to garages £9.8m on housing stock im
24/04/2008
Turner & Townsend Associate Director, Evelyn McDowall, has been appointed by Heriot-Watt University to become an external examiner for their MSc/Diploma in Facilities Management. The course, which can be studied on a full or part time basis, as well as through distance learning, is designed to deve
24/04/2008
Well known top soccer executive, Vladimir Romanov, is to rent out two prime Edinburgh buildings as offices while he waits for planning permission to transform them. The former RBS headquarters at 42 St Andrew Square and its old offices at 38-52 West Register Street were bought by the Hearts owner
24/04/2008
A new £11.5m primary school for Whitfield, Dundee is being proposed by Dundee City Council to replace the current Whitfield and Newfields primaries and Whitfield Community Early Years Centre. The council's education committee will discuss a recommendation on Monday that formal consultation is held
24/04/2008
The Scottish Government's Central Heating Programme has delivered a record 14,377 central heating systems in 2007-08, according to new figures. Communities Minister, Stewart Maxwell said that Scottish Gas delivered 14,205 and local authorities delivered a further 172 systems, in total the highest n
24/04/2008
The Aberdeen office rental market is set to experience a significant increase by the end of 2008 with office rents predicted to reach £30 per sq ft according to Knight Frank's ROMP (Regional Office Market Presentation). Aberdeen was the only UK city to see double digit rental growth in Q1 08, with
23/04/2008
The construction sector fell by 1.7% in the 4th Quarter of 2007, Scotland's Chief Statistician has announced. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for Scotland for the 4th Quarter of 2007 - a quarterly publication which measures growth, in real terms - has shown an annual rise of 2.2% and an increase
23/04/2008
CoreCut, one of Britain's leading specialists in diamond drilling, sawing, and controlled demolition work, is celebrating 30 years in business - appropriately assigned the modern day diamond anniversary. With international client base and 30 years professional experience ensures this family run bu
23/04/2008
The annual rate of house price inflation in Scotland in the first quarter of 2008 was 5.3% the strongest price rise in the UK and well above the UK average increase of 1.1%, according to Bank of Scotland figures. House prices in Scotland rose by 0.2% compared with a one per cent fall in prices acro
23/04/2008
Communities Minister Stewart Maxwell is in London today pressing Westminster to do more to tackle fuel poverty so Scots are not left 'out in the cold'. Mr Maxwell joined power brokers from Government and energy companies to discuss the issue. The Minister said that the devolution settlement constr
23/04/2008
Scottish Renewables, the Green Energy trade body, will submit its response to the Scottish Climate Change Bill today saying that climate change targets would be "meaningless" without a clear path to delivering massive cuts in emissions across society driven in part by the renewable energy sector.
23/04/2008
Talks aimed at resolving the Grangemouth oil refinery dispute will resume today. Ineos the owners of the refinery and officials from Unite trade union are meeting at the conciliation service Acas to discuss plans to end the final salary pension scheme for new workers. Without a breakthrough, up to
23/04/2008
Property services provider Connaught has delivered record group and profit growth, following the announcement of its interim results for the six months to February 29, 2008. Revenue has increased 55% to £256m and operating profit soared by 84% to £15.8m. This has been driven by strong organic gro
23/04/2008
Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) tenants in Wellpark and Dennistoun will soon be celebrating the re-opening of their community hall which has just undergone a £70,000 refurbishment. GHA has contributed £50,000 and Glasgow Community Planning Partnership £20,000 to the project which has given the ce
23/04/2008
Knight Frank has been appointed as joint letting agents with Jones Lang LaSalle to market the third floor of 180 West George Street, a prestigious city centre office development in Glasgow. The property offers 7,944 sq ft of high quality, open-plan office accommodation with many features includ
23/04/2008
Cardonald Business Park is ready for occupation following a recent refurbishment exercise. The newly upgraded ground floor suite comprises 229 sq m (2,470 sq ft) of office accommodation and features raised access floors, suspended ceilings and comfort cooling together with eight dedicated car parki
22/04/2008
Ineos the owners of Grangemouth oil refinery and officials from Unite trade union are to meet at the conciliation service Acas for talks aimed at resolving the dispute over plans to end the final salary pension scheme for new workers. Without a breakthrough, up to 1,200 workers will walk out for 48
22/04/2008
The Scottish Government has announced that New Southern General, the biggest hospital building project in Scotland, will be entirely publicly funded. The Scottish Government has approved the outline business case for the £842m project which will see an integrated children's and adult hospital built
22/04/2008
Glasgow City Council could use compulsory powers in a bid to progress a £39.5m pound city regeneration project by Sanctuary Scotland Housing Association. The Council's Executive Committee have agreed a proposal to allow compulsory purchase orders to be raised on behalf of Sanctuary Scotland HA to a
22/04/2008
Gladedale (Central Scotland) Ltd has announced plans for a £30m housing expansion programme in Dunbartonshire. The plans for 150 new homes are part of the company’s growth strategy to strengthen its position as one of the Scotland’s leading housebuilders. Work has started on two developments at th
22/04/2008
New flags have been hoisted at Edinburgh Castle to mark the raising of the standard of the visitor experience achieved through a £2.7m investment programme. The project’s priorities were to provide a warmer welcome for visitors, cut queues and make entry and exit to the castle quicker and easier.
22/04/2008
The Standing Committee on Structural Safety (SCOSS) and the Advisory Group on Temporary Structures (AGOTS) recently held an Events Industry Workshop to discuss concerns relating to the increasing use of large television screen structures at public events. The aim of the workshop was to identify way
22/04/2008
Fife Council has approved an interim planning policy for use when determining planning applications for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) in the St Andrews and East Fife Local Plan Area. It will also be incorporated into all of Fife's new local plans. Members of the Planning Committee agreed th
22/04/2008
Creative Orange, a print and web design consultancy that focuses on construction, has announced a raft of new projects undertaken for Scotland's construction industry. The partnership has been appointed to develop the new brand for Perth-based chartered surveyors Ralph Ogg & Partners and also a mic
22/04/2008
Up to 4,000 new crofts may soon be created, which could house 20,000 people across the Highlands and islands in the next 20 years. Many of the new crofts will be established on some of the 1.6m acres owned by the Forestry Commission, but they could appear anywhere. Drew Ratter, chair of the Crofte
22/04/2008
Mr Geoffrey Davies OBE has been elected President at today's AGM of the Agricultural Engineers Association. He then chaired the Association's conference at which the AEA's new branding was launched. Since 1988 Geoffrey has been Managing Director of Alamo Group Europe Limited and Vice President of
21/04/2008
The First Minister Alex Salmond has urged Grangemouth oil refinery bosses and the Unite union to reopen negotiations ahead of the refinery shutdown on Friday prior to strike action over pensions. If no deal can be struck before the closure up to 1,200 workers will walk out. From Monday production
21/04/2008
Plans by Lewis Windpower for a wind farm at Barvas Moor in Lewis have been refused consent on the grounds of incompatibility with European law. Ministers have concluded that the proposed 181 turbine Lewis Wind Farm would have a serious impact on the Lewis Peatlands Special Protection Area, which i
21/04/2008
Aberdeen and Edinburgh will be the first recipients of millions of pounds in 2014 Commonwealth Games Legacy funding. Aberdeen City Council is to receive £5m for its proposal for a 50m swimming pool. However, this is subject to a "detailed, affordable, business plan". Edinburgh City Council will r
21/04/2008
National Grid, the electricity and gas distribution company, has said that it wants to build two subsea power cables along the east and west coasts, linking Scotland's burgeoning renewables industry with the rest of the UK and Europe. The cables would run from Denny, west of Falkirk, along the Atla
21/04/2008
Ministers have appointed Reporters David Gordon and Scott Ferrie to conduct the public local inquiry on the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route. A pre-inquiry meeting will be held at 1pm on May 13 in the Gordon Suite at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre, Bridge of Don, Aberdeen. The meet
21/04/2008
The main contractor building The Elements - Livingston's new £130 million shopping centre - recently installed the dome centrepiece of its spectacular roof. Miller Construction used a crane to lower the huge steel beams into place for Land Securities' 375,000sq shopping centre, which opens in Octob
21/04/2008
Scottish local authorities will be given a £25 million package to build new council houses over the next three years, Deputy First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon has announced during her address the SNP spring conference. She said, with homelessness on the rise, housing was one of the biggest challenge
21/04/2008
Glenn Allison has taken office as the new President of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS). Glenn, Managing Director of Stewart Milne Group, one of the UK's leading privately owned house builders, officially took up the Presidency at the Institute's Annual General Meeting held
21/04/2008
North Lanarkshire councillors have questioned the Scottish Government's commitment to the £1.2bn redevelopment of Ravenscraig. The fears were expressed in a response to the government's national planning framework. The council said it was concerned the development at the former steel works was get
21/04/2008
Councillors have welcomed the arrangements for the consultation process on the Issues and Options paper relating to the Dunfermline and West Fife Local Plan. The Local Plan will set out a detailed picture of how West Fife should be developed over the next 10 years, provide protection for our enviro
18/04/2008
Home Scotland has welcomed families to its £5.6m new affordable development in Dundee. The first six tenants have moved into properties at Balunie Avenue and Balerno Place, Douglas, and it is expected that all 47 properties will be occupied by the end of the summer. In total, Home Scotland is buil
18/04/2008
Drumbow, one of Scotland's fastest growing construction and house building companies, has reinforced its commitment to health and safety when the CITB Skills Corporate Mobile Testing Unit arrived at the company's head office in Bathgate. Over 40 members of site based staff from Drumbow participated
18/04/2008
Would-be first time buyers face the hardest struggle ever to get onto the property ladder in Scotland - despite reports of a slow-down in the property market. New research released on Thursday from leading housing and homelessness charity Shelter shows it is 65% harder for first time buyers to buy
18/04/2008
KPMG Administrators were appointed to Yorkshire and Scottish house builder Consort Homes on April 16 2008. The directors requested that, Mark Firmin, Richard Fleming and, in Scotland, Blair Nimmo, from KPMG's Restructuring practice be appointed Joint Administrators over the main companies within th
18/04/2008
Scottish Water is to invest more than £60m to protect coastal areas and rivers in parts of North, East and South Ayrshire in one of the biggest projects of its kind ever undertaken in Scotland. The investment, which is part of Scottish Water's 2010 Vision for Ayrshire, will provide massive environm
18/04/2008
Bill Imlach, the newly appointed president of the Scottish Building Federation and Managing Director of Stewart Milne Construction, has predicted that 2008 will be another strong year for Scottish construction despite the challenging economic climate. Speaking today, Bill Imlach said: "2008 promise
18/04/2008
An exciting development of 20 flats on a prominent town centre site has been proposed by Imagine Projects, Glasgow. The site at the junction of Wellington Street, Union Street and Boyd Street, Kilmarnock, has lain vacant for many years but now that Glasgow City Council has identified it as one of
18/04/2008
First Minister Alex Salmond today enlisted Tam O'Shanter to help persuade Scots around the world to hasten home in 2009. The First Minister officially re-opened the Alloway Auld Kirk and Graveyard, which features in the famous Burns poem, following completion of extensive conservation and repair wo
18/04/2008
Despite the current economic climate, Edinburgh's office market has made a positive start to 2008 according to the latest Market Watch report from property agents Cushman & Wakefield. Take up in the first three months of 2008 totaled over 200,000 sq ft. This was particularly good given the fact tha
18/04/2008
As the style and products of mortgage lenders changes and 100% mortgages become a trend of the past, Stewart Milne Homes has launched a 105% Part Exchange plan - giving home buyers a chance to climb up the property ladder with their existing home bought back for 5% more than its value. Those who ha
17/04/2008
Fife Council has been told it has a "moral responsibility" to plan for 10,000 more new homes to avoid a housing crisis. At a housing needs conference, delegates heard the housing allocation in Fife's amended structure plan would fall far short of demand. The changes would mean 35,200 instead of 31
17/04/2008
A report promoting better design to raise the quality of Scotland's future built environment has been unveiled. Culture Minister, Linda Fabiani launched the report, 'Design At The Heart Of House Building', as an excellent starting point for architects, developers and local authorities to work toget
17/04/2008
Forrest Developments has been granted planning consent for a £20 million project that will help transform an area of Stirling earmarked for regeneration. Forrest Developments say the Castle Retail Park in the Raploch area of Scotland's newest city will create 150 jobs, with a possible opening date
17/04/2008
Heart of Midlothian Football Club's plans to redevelop the Tynecastle area are back on the agenda. A report to the City of Edinburgh Council's Finance and Resources Committee on Tuesday April 22 will provide an update on the redevelopment of the area as well as outline proposals for the way forward
17/04/2008
A £9.8 million waste treatment plant designed by Race Cottam Associates has won an important national environmental award. Race Cottam Associates designed the facility in Stornoway, Scotland which has won the Let's Recycle award for innovation in design. Race Cottam acted for Barnsley-based waste
17/04/2008
Research has found evidence of a step-change in the Scottish population's attitudes towards environmental issues over the last five years, with over 90% saying they had changed the way they lived to reduce the impact of their lifestyle on their surroundings. Research conducted amongst more than 1,0
17/04/2008
Lovell has created new homes for residents of the feathered variety as part of major housing improvement works it is carrying out across the city. The company, which has local offices at Glasgow Business Park, has joined forces with Concern for Swifts Scotland to provide nesting boxes for swifts at
17/04/2008
East Ayrshire Council is providing 'good' Housing Management and Asset Management and Repairs Services, according to Communities Scotland. Inspectors also judged services to Homeless People to be 'fair'. They assessed the council's Housing Service as having many strengths including the large numbe
17/04/2008
Manorlane has been granted permission by East Renfrewshire Council to develop its prestigious £90m development at Greenlaw, Newton Mearns. Manorlane plans to build 162 high specification four, five and six-bedroom executive homes on two sites located in the prestigious area of Newton Mearns, seven
17/04/2008
The UK Timber Frame Association (UKTFA) has published a new guidance document on how timber frame construction can comply with Section 6 (conservation of fuel and power) of the Scottish Building Standards. New energy efficiency regulations for new buildings were introduced in Scotland last year an
16/04/2008
A leading economist has warned that Scotland may not escape the housing market slump due to the credit crunch. Although the values are not likely to fall far according to Professor David Bell, it is only a matter of time before the market slowdown ripples out from London. Yesterday the Royal Inst
16/04/2008
Wind farm developer Lewis Wind Power (LWP) will attend a European Parliament event discussing the Europe-wide Natura 2000 network of protected areas in a bid to gain support from European Commissioners for wind farm proposals. LWP plan to build 181 turbines on Barvas Moor, Lewis. Sites covered by
16/04/2008
A hydro electric scheme in Perthshire capable of powering around 1,000 homes has been approved by Ministers. The 1.4 Megawatt Innerhadden Burn scheme will be two kilometres south east of Kinloch Rannoch. Energy Minister, Jim Mather said: "Scotland has a vast array of potentially cheap, renewable e
16/04/2008
Clackmannanshire's first cross-landlord tenants' conference is being held on Saturday, April 26 in Tillicoultry Community Centre. The event is being hosted jointly by Clackmannanshire Council, Ochil View Housing Association and Paragon Housing Association and is open to all tenants. The conference
16/04/2008
A project that could see the first council-owned properties built in Aberdeenshire in more than ten years has taken a step forward. Aberdeenshire Council's Social Work and Housing Committee has endorsed plans to replace 17 one-bed properties in Mintlaw. The Mintlaw New Build initiative would see th
16/04/2008
Sanctuary Scotland's final home for rent has been built in Priesthill, ending the first phase of its regeneration project. All of the 206 new affordable houses and flats in this area of Glasgow are now occupied by tenants following the demolition of defective Orlit housing and £16m investment by Sa
16/04/2008
The preferred bidder for the £80 million Inverclyde Schools PPP project has been announced as e4i (Education for Inverclyde) – a consortium comprising Miller Construction, Cyril Sweett, Land Securities Trillium and FES. The companies behind e4i are delighted with Inverclyde Council's decision and l
16/04/2008
It is becoming harder than ever for unqualified workers in the stone industry to obtain on-site work, a trend welcomed by Stone Federation Great Britain. Federation chief executive Jane Buxey said: "There are clear and growing signs that contractors realise both the short and long term importance o
16/04/2008
Lovell and Dunedin Canmore have helped promote a safety first approach to local school kids. Children dressed up in hard hats and high-visibility clothing when they took part in the lessons on Health & Safety on construction sites. The sessions were organised at Gilmerton Primary School. Experts f
16/04/2008
Contractors from across the region took part in a Marshalls plc Machine Lay event recently to discuss the increasing demand within the construction industry to utilise modern, automated handling and installation methods to deliver safe working practices and to assist in delivering projects on time a
15/04/2008
The Scottish housing market is holding up well despite the downturn in finance options available. According to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) 90% of it's members reported that house prices were either rising or staying the same - a direct contrast to most surveyors in England a
15/04/2008
Stewart Maxwell, Minister for Communities and Sport, will officially open the head office of Link, the housing, regeneration and support group, today. Link has moved to the redeveloped Swan building in New Mart Road, Slateford, Edinburgh, after many years working from Albany Street in the city cen
15/04/2008
Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) is celebrating the completion of a new £100,000 Play Area in Balgrayhill, Springburn. The new play area contains a range of play equipment for toddlers and primary aged children and was officially opened yesterday. This play area will be the second to be completed
15/04/2008
Robertson joined NHS Forth Valley to mark a significant stage in the development of the Clackmannanshire Community Health Hospital. The £20m project, which includes a replacement for the Alloa Health Centre, is being delivered by three companies from the construction, development and services group
15/04/2008
The £15m regeneration of Stenhousemuir town centre is making rapid process. The new Larbert Library is due to open on April 21 and a range of town centre environmental improvements, including new paving, is well underway. New retail units are in place and occupied. Old shop units and maisonette f
15/04/2008
A study has revealed that DIY blunders led to over £173 million worth of damage for next-door properties in Britain last year - with Scots causing the biggest bill. Scots home improver's do an average £817 of damage to other people's properties according to a survey for Halifax Insurance. Damage t
15/04/2008
Taking the plunge for charity has enabled Glasgow construction company, McKean Group, to raise over £1,500 for Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland. Six employees of the company - Arthur Neely, Gordon Whitelaw, Andrea Watson, Debbie Nelson, Johnathan Abnett and Suzanne Lawrie - competed in this year's Wh
15/04/2008
A Scottish University has played an integral part in the formation of an innovative new training academy in London. The Building Control Training Academy at Westminster was officially launched last week with the help of Napier University’s Dr Sean Smith. He has been instrumental in designing Napier
15/04/2008
All-Energy '08, at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre on May 21-22, will look at EU renewable energy targets; important moves for microgeneration and heat and progress on the Glendoe hydro project. The exhibition showcases products and services vital to the rapidly expanding renewable e
15/04/2008
A series of re-appointments to the Advisory Committee on Sites of Special Scientific Interest (ACSSSI) have been announced today by Michael Russell, Minister for Environment. Dr Trevor Crisp, Professor Robert Duck, Dr Alastair Sommerville and Dr Colin Legg will continue to provide independent scie
14/04/2008
Hazledene Estates, part of the Hazledene Group, today announced that work has commenced on its £75m redevelopment project on Justice Mill Lane, Aberdeen. Demolition work, which is being carried out by contractors Lawrie (Demolition) Ltd, has begun on the 1.5 acre site located off Union Street in th
14/04/2008
Property consultants King Sturge LLP have announced the acquisition of Glasgow-based niche retail property specialist Hamilton Glen. This follows the recent acquisition of London based Leslie Furness in January and now completes the national network King Sturge. They are now able to provide clien
14/04/2008
A planning application has been lodged to transform Linlithgow's Victoria Hall into a £1 million community and leisure facility. If successful the scheme by owners Gioco Leisure and architects EK:JN will see the hall transformed with a new courtyard, restaurant and cafe facilities, function rooms a
14/04/2008
Aberdeen-based Accommodation Services Management Limited (ASM) has appointed John Gillespie as a director. This appointment will assist ASM with its growth and development in the commercial property sector. Mr Gillespie is a Chartered Accountant and worked with BP in a number of senior Finance ro
14/04/2008
J&E Shepherd Chartered Surveyors has sold a 19th Century Category A Listed building, formerly occupied by the Chamber in Panmure Street, Dundee to local property investors John Gibson and Ross Morrison, for an undisclosed price. The company was acting on behalf of Gordon MacLure of Johnston Carmich
14/04/2008
Irvine Housing Association has announced the official opening of its new-build development at Montgomerie Park, Irvine. Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, Nicola Sturgeon, officially opened the development by unveiling a plaque on April 7. North Ayrshire Counci
14/04/2008
The disposal of the Loch Park Stadium site via a long lease to Tesco Stores Ltd for more than £11m will fund construction of a replacement sports stadium adjacent to the new Carluke High School. The money will also help South Lanarkshire Council capital building programme that includes projects lik
14/04/2008
A recommendation to design and build a £7.350m multi-storey car park providing 500 spaces at Allan Street is to be tabled at Dundee City Council's policy and resources committee. The car park would replace the current surface level parking which will be lost when the new replacement for Olympia lei
14/04/2008
Sperian Protection has announced the launch of Sperian Ignite safety spectacles, a comfortable, sleek addition to its range of safety eyewear and the first innovation under the new Sperian brand for eye protection. The lightweight, frameless design of the Ignite spectacles offer 180-degrees of uno
14/04/2008
The Scottish Construction Centre (SCC) has announced a series of free, half-day workshops for organisations wishing to adopt the new Scottish Construction Industry KPI Framework. These workshops will highlight the benefits of performance measurement and focus upon the practical issues of implementi
11/04/2008
Edinburgh architect Sir Terry Farrell is proposing a £20 million underground cinema in one of the city's most popular squares. The cinema would be the new home for the Edinburgh International Film Festival and would be accessed via a "Louvre-style" glass entrance. His plans have been unveiled mor
11/04/2008
Bank of Scotland Corporate's Joint Ventures business has acquired a 40 per cent stake in Tulloch Homes Group in a deal worth £27.5 million. Following the transaction, chairman and chief executive David Sutherland will remain Tulloch's largest shareholder with a 43 per cent shareholding. The deal
11/04/2008
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is warning companies to put in place proper safety precautions and procedures to ensure that all machinery is properly guarded. The warning follows the death of a sub-contractor working for Edeco Petroleum Services on a drilling project at Aldbrough Gas Storag
11/04/2008
Cloch Housing Association has been given the funding go ahead by the Scottish Government to build 48 new affordable homes in Greenock's Maukinhill Estate. In December 2007, 217 Greenock homes transferred from Inverclyde Council to Cloch. This was after the tenants had given a 98% 'yes' vote to the
11/04/2008
The best of Scotland's housebuilding industry celebrated last night at the annual Scottish Home Awards, sponsored by the Dunfermline Building Society. Applecross, the Edinburgh-based luxury builder, won three awards including the highest accolade the Savills Housebuilder of the Year Award in front
11/04/2008
Miller Developments has concluded missives with Tesco to develop a 31,000 sq ft supermarket and petrol filling station on the former auction mart site in Ormlie Road, Thurso. Miller acquired the Auction Mart site just under two years ago and secured planning permission for the development followin
11/04/2008
Three men have been injured and one has been taken to hospital after scaffolding boards snapped at Clock Tower construction site in Camperdown Street, Dundee. Emergency services where called to the scene at 3.12pm yesterday. A worker at the development said the scaffolding boards snapped and a m
11/04/2008
The Waterside Pub Partnership (WPP) is investing £2 million, the largest sum spent on a public house in Scotland, building the country's first sustainable pub. The Boathouse will further enhance the development of the Auchinstarry Marina on the Forth and Clyde Canal, a popular destination for cycl
11/04/2008
Fife Council has issued important advice for tenants following the issue of new rent payment cards. Head of Local Services, Graeme McRoberts stressed everyone should by now have received their new cards in time for this Monday, April 7 when the first rent payment is due. The cards replace letters w
11/04/2008
West Lothian Council has received the report of a public local inquiry into a major new planning blueprint. The local plan sets out the council's planning strategy for West Lothian for the next 10-15 years. It provides a framework for developments worth £1.5bn for Scotland's fastest growing area.
10/04/2008
The Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT) has welcomed a consultation on the Building Regulations announced by the Communities and Local Government (CLG) department, but has raised concerns that the tendering process may result in 'fragmentation'. Following its tireless campaign
10/04/2008
Acting on behalf of Seletar Shipping (Scotland) Ltd, Knight Frank has completed the first phase of refurbishment at Waterloo Quay, Aberdeen whilst also creating a new headquarters for the shipping agency in East Tullos. Knight Frank has concluded the first phase of refurbishment at Waterloo Quay w
10/04/2008
Perthshire Housing Association has launched a new project that aims to boost affordable housing in the area. The association has successfully negotiated deals with Barratt North Scotland and Persimmon Homes that allows potential home-buyers to secure a stake in the property. It is being promoted un
10/04/2008
The Royal Museum in Edinburgh is hosting a two-day event to celebrate the beginning of a £45 milion refurbishment and key stories in the history of the museum. The free event taking place on April 26 and 27 will include music from the likes of the Red Hot Chilli Pipers, workshops, last chance tours
10/04/2008
Over two hundred representatives from the property and construction industry will gather tonight for an inaugural dinner to celebrate the launch of the Edinburgh Construction Club. Young professionals including surveyors, architects, agents, engineers, developers, advisers and funders, will come to
10/04/2008
The SNP's housing policy is in disarray and ministers need to come to Parliament with a clear plan for progress, claims the Scottish Labour Party. A report on the Government's Firm Foundations consultation paper made a number of key criticisms of the SNP policy on targets, first-time home buyers g
10/04/2008
The campaign for upgrading local railway stations in Fife is gathering pace as Lochgelly Community Council chairman Ernie McPherson offers his support to MSP Helen Eadie's campaign. Mr McPherson wants more work to be carried out to improve facilities for disabled people at Cowdenbeath, Lochgelly an
10/04/2008
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) have announced the inclusion of the new £9m Culloden visitor centre in the shortlist of their prestigious architectural award scheme. RIBA awards are given for buildings that have high architectural standards and make a substantial contribution to th
10/04/2008
Muir Homes has submitted two planning applications for a total of 381 new homes in Taycock, Montrose. Muir, which is nearing completion of 112 houses on the first phase of the development of 30 hectares of agricultural land, is now seeking permission for schemes of 88 and 293 homes. The area, boun
10/04/2008
The National House Building Council (NHBC) has launched a new Level 3 site inspector NVQ. Site inspectors are responsible for ensuring compliance with statutory and legal requirements and nationally recognised standards. The new Level 3 NVQ programme is suitable for less experienced site inspectors
09/04/2008
Plans to downsize Meadowbank Stadium have been defended by Deidre Brock, Edinburgh City Council's sports leader after community outcry. Under council plans land will be sold to housing developers and the 16,000 seater stadium with be replaced with a 5,000 capacity arena. Deidre Brock said decisio
09/04/2008
HSBC is taking advantage of rivals and is offering mortgages to people whose fixed-rate deals with other lenders are reaching an end. The offer will apply to current HSBC customers and those who have mortgages elsewhere. HSBC says it will match existing deals for up to two years. Joe Garner, HSBC
09/04/2008
The campaign for upgrading the A82 is gathering pace as a petition on the Scottish Parliament website collects 8,555 names – that's the highest number of submissions to Holyrood over a single issue. Local authorities, road users and police are all backing the campaign for improvements. The A82 whi
09/04/2008
Border sheltered housing plans are in jeopardy due to fears over flooding. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) has objected to the construction of 46 apartments at a former caravan storage yard on a flood plain in Galashiels. A report to Scottish Borders Council says it has not been
09/04/2008
Ministers have approved the Gordonbush wind farm, near Brora in Sutherland, which will be capable of powering 37,000 homes. The 87.5 Megawatt, 35 turbine wind farm will be subject to conditions to minimise any potential disturbance to local wildlife and to safeguard local interests. First Minister
09/04/2008
Draft guidance to help local authorities exercise new powers and carry out duties to take action on poor quality private housing was published for consultation today. The measures, which are part of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006, herald a radical change in the approach to dealing with poor living
09/04/2008
Sub-contrators have triumphed at the 2008 Annual Scottish Chamber of Safety Conference (SCOS) in Edinburgh scooping two of the three top prizes for innovation. Mark Sutton, SH&E manager for Robertson Northern and Robertson Highland, collected the Scottish Chamber of Safety Award for Innovation for
09/04/2008
Chartered Surveyors DM Hall LLP is opening a new Airdrie office, to answer the growing local need for a dedicated base in the area. To be headed up by DM Hall Associate Kenneth Macdougall, the office is set to open this week at its ideal central location in the town at 25 Stirling Street. "This is
09/04/2008
A group of participants from the Community Service by Offenders Scheme have completed the refurbishment of eight public benches in the Town Square in Kirkcaldy. The project was done in partnership between Fife Council's Criminal Justice Service who manage the Scheme and the Parks and Countryside se
09/04/2008
J&E Shepherd, one of the largest independent firms of chartered surveyors in the UK, has appointed Andrew Neil to head up its busy Greenock office to help serve Inverclyde's buoyant housing market. A rising star in J&E Shepherd, 25 year old Paisley-born Mr Neil joined the firm aged 17 as a school l
08/04/2008
A new state-of-the-art mental health hospital has been officially opened. Yesterday at a special ceremony at the new £19 million Gartnavel Royal Hospital in Glasgow, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing Nicola Sturgeon met with staff and patients before unveiling a commemorative plaque and of
08/04/2008
Glasgow City Council's Executive Committee have authorised total expenditure of £907,000 to complete the third and final phase of the Film City Glasgow project, and to award the contract to Central Building Contractors Ltd, who issued the best bid for this stage of the project. Glasgow City Council
08/04/2008
The City of Edinburgh Council has confirmed that the Usher Hall will be available at full capacity for the Edinburgh International Festival. However, as a result of delays in the development programme, details of seating availability and front of house facilities from October 2008 are still to be co
08/04/2008
A new report from CABE is calling for streets to be designed for people, not traffic. Most streets in this country are failing pedestrians, and need to become destinations again, and not simply ways of getting traffic from A to B. Radical new thinking in urban street design may point the way forwar
08/04/2008
Edinburgh's Destiny Church have submitted plans to convert the former Carlton Bingo club on Gorgie Road into a new church and community hall. The church's congregation has grown so much over the past four years that it has been forced to look for an extra venue for services. Destiny Church's pasto
08/04/2008
The Energy Savings Trust is calling for construction firms to take advantage of new tax breaks that came into effect over the weekend and adopt greener company cars. The UK could save almost £3bn a year if businesses switch to greener company cars, a study has revealed. The new Government tax brea
08/04/2008
Glasgow City Council's Executive Committee has decided to authorise the Executive Director of the Council's Development and Regeneration Services to dispose of the Pump House to Glasgow Harbour Limited. The council purchased the Pump House for £450,000 from the Clyde Maritime Trust in 2002 to help
08/04/2008
The Scottish Government is working in partnership with East Renfrewshire Council and Mactaggart & Mickel to deliver 'successful places'. The Polnoon project will not only deliver new, high quality housing for Eaglesham, but create a vibrant new neighbourhood based on the needs of people, not vehic
08/04/2008
James Frew, Scotland's largest independent plumbers, has won a £2 million contract to fit out Glasgow's prestigious Blythswood Square hotel scheduled to open in 2009. The landmark building which was formerly the Royal Scottish Automobile Club is set to be transformed by The Town House Company into
08/04/2008
Those in the House of Lords who are calling for caps on immigration should wake up to the realities of recruiting in the UK, according to Resourcing Solutions. Employers throughout the country, including those from highly specialised sectors including construction, engineering and rail, are support
07/04/2008
A 45 metre exclusion zone has been placed around a crane in danger of collapse after a fire caused major damage at a construction site in Edinburgh at the weekend. The crane in use during the construction of the five-storey block in Albion Gardens close to Hibernian's football ground, is being asse
07/04/2008
Staff at Dundee College are flushed with success with the announcement that the college has been chosen as the venue for the country's top plumbing organisation's annual apprentice competition. The Kingsway Campus has been chosen by SNIPEF (Scotland and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers Federatio
07/04/2008
A historic programme to deliver environmental, social and economic benefits to Scotland's rural communities gets up and running today. 'Rural Development Contracts – Rural Priorities' offers farmers, foresters, businesses and community groups a share of almost £800 million to develop rural Scotland
07/04/2008
Dumfries and Galloway councillors strategy to deal with eyesore sites left to decay by their owners in prominent locations has hit a funding block after a report said cost and risks of the policy were "considerable". A report to the planning committee said: "Any decision to roll out such a strategy
07/04/2008
Now that spring has sprung and the clocks have changed and thoughts turn to carrying out a thorough spring clean, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is urging businesses in Scotland to get their house in order and tidy up to help reduce the risk of slips, trips and falls in the workplace. Slips,
07/04/2008
Scottish builder Rok has welcomed a change in legislation that will see organisations across all sectors being made more responsible for the safety of their workers. The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act, which came into force on April 6, will make organisations criminally liable f
07/04/2008
Construction union UCATT have welcomed the commitment from Steven Purcell, Glasgow City Council Leader, that every school leaver in Glasgow will be offered the opportunity of an apprenticeship in construction in the lead up to the Commonwealth Games. The plan to offer 2,000 Trade Apprenticeships, i
07/04/2008
James Frew, Scotland's largest independent plumbers, has won a £2m contract to fit out Glasgow's prestigious Blythswood Square hotel scheduled to open in 2009. The landmark building which was formerly the Royal Scottish Automobile Club is set to be transformed by The Town House Company into a five
07/04/2008
Management of Glasgow's subway system have apologised to passengers for disruption to services after flooding problems. All of Glasgow's city centre subway stations were closed during Saturday morning due to an electrical fault, which caused water pumps to fail. Services on the inner circle were
07/04/2008
An Aberdeen man has put his calculator and spreadsheets away for the final time after announcing his retirement, following a remarkable 47 years of service with construction company, Mansell. Ian Malcolm, 66, joined Mansell back in 1961 as a commercial apprentice in the company's wages department b
04/04/2008
Two Scottish communities are set to take their first steps into independent green energy creation thanks to the Big Lottery Fund, the largest of the National Lottery Good Cause distributors. Funding announced on Friday, which totals £1.1 million, will be shared between two projects focusing on harn
04/04/2008
The housing market in Scotland has showed signs of slowing down, with a drop in sales being recorded. The official body that tracks all house purchases in the country, Registers of Scotland, said there had been a 16% drop in sales between the end of 2006 and 2007. This compares with a 40% drop in
04/04/2008
Councillors stepped out yesterday to re-affirm Fife Council's commitment to Scotland's Climate Change Declaration and to emphasise the role that reducing the council's carbon footprint will play. The Council Leader and Chief Executive signed the declaration in the presence of members of Fife's Carb
04/04/2008
A 30-year-old workman has been killed while laying pipes in a trench at a construction site in Cranhill Park, in the east end of Glasgow. An investigation has been launched. It is believed that he had been standing next to the trench when it collapsed, trapping him inside. The alarm was raised
04/04/2008
A £50 million gas plant is to be built at the Sullom Voe oil terminal in Shetland. Construction work is due to begin next year, with the project expected to create jobs. Authorities are hoping to have the new plant up and running by 2010. The investment is aimed at securing the long-term future o
04/04/2008
Riverside Inverclyde have signed a £3.7m deal with Clydeport's parent company Peel Holdings to carry out vital remedial work on the A-listed Greenock Sugar Warehouse. The joint venture, funded equally by the two organisations, will result in the Sugar Warehouse, Scotland's largest surviving cast i
04/04/2008
Turner & Townsend have completed construction of a new state-of-the-art primate enclosure for the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) in Edinburgh Zoo. The £5.65 million world class facility is named the Budongo Trail after the Budongo forest in Uganda, one of the last surviving habitats of
04/04/2008
The Scottish Construction Forum has appointed Archie Ferguson as its new Chairman. Mr Ferguson will take up the post for the next two years. He said: "The industry's plan, endorsed by Government, set up the Forum nearly five years ago and since then it has done much to improve innovation and raise
04/04/2008
Getting to grips with tax, VAT and the new Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) will become a whole lot easier for businesses in Aberdeenshire, thanks to a free Business Advice Open Day being run by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) at the Aberdeen Exhibition & Conference Centre on Tuesday 8 April 2008. A
04/04/2008
Taylor Wimpey, one of the UK's largest house builders, has confirmed its plans to relocate its Bryant West of Scotland operation to Wilson Bowden's Gateway Office Park in Glasgow. The company was advised by the Glasgow office of DTZ, and has signed a 10-year lease at Wilson Bowden's Gateway Office
03/04/2008
Paisley Museum could be turned into the town's own version of the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, if Renfrewshire Council can secure the multi-million pound funding needed for a massive modernisation and refurbishment programme. The council has drafted a pre-feasibility study which could see th
03/04/2008
Fife Council have approved plans for an urban village in Dunfermline. Development company Linklever will convert a former linen damask factory, known as Pilmuir Works, into three shop units, a restaurant and gym and 54 flats. An additional six storey block housing 25 flats will be built on the co
03/04/2008
The Borders town of Selkirk has today been hailed for its efforts in tackling the plastic bag culture in Scotland. On the day that the town plans to go 'plastic bag-free', Cabinet Secretary for the Environment Richard Lochhead praised the community and called on the rest of Scotland to do its bit.
03/04/2008
The Scottish Government has announced that FirstGroup has had its contract to run the ScotRail franchise extended for three years to November 2014. The extension includes plans for £70m worth of new services and enhancements to the rail network, including the extension of express services between E
03/04/2008
More than 70,000 new homes will be built in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire a draft structure plan has revealed. The plan by councillors from Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire details how the area should grow between now and 2030 to meet an expected 9% rise in population in the north east. Aberdeenshire coun
03/04/2008
Road reinforcement mesh from geotechnical specialists Maccaferri, has proved its value by continuing to perform as intended, after nine years of intensive trafficking on the busy A75 trunk road in Scotland. The A75 in Dumfries & Galloway, links the A74/M74 at Gretna with the west coast port of Str
03/04/2008
The former Fairfield Company shipyard office building in Govan will be one of the projects to share more than £1.6m from Historic Scotland. The A-listed red sandstone building has fallen into disrepair since it became redundant in 2001. Govan Workspace will use the £443,642 to convert it into a bus
03/04/2008
Forth Construction has held two 'Tender for Trade' events in Dunblane and Grangemouth, in the Forth Valley Area. Forth Construction is funded mainly by Scottish Enterprise and housed by Clackmannanshire Council. It offers support to construction companies and helps them be best placed to get on th
03/04/2008
The Scottish government is supporting proposals for a £2.6 million primary school in the Angus glens. Following a lengthy consultation process with residents the council agreed in 2007 to amalgamate Kilry, Glenisla and Lintrathen with a purpose built school at Peel Farm. To allow the proposals to p
03/04/2008
On April 30 in Edinburgh and May 1 in Glasgow, Drivers Jonas and Semple Fraser are to join forces to look at the implications of the Planning (Scotland) Act and its effects on the Scottish commercial property landscape in 2008 and beyond. Maria Francké, Head of Planning at Drivers Jonas in Scotland
02/04/2008
The Roslin Institute, famed for creating Dolly the sheep, is joining forces with the University of Edinburgh and will almost double in size with £100 million of investment. The Roslin Institute will join the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies within the University's College of Medicine and
02/04/2008
The Robert Gordon University (RGU) is the first organisation in Scotland to adopt an innovative, eco-friendly construction technique in one of its new builds at its Garthdee campus in Aberdeen. The building, which is the first phase of the University's £140 million estates masterplan, uses a syst
02/04/2008
John Griffith-Jones, Co-Chairman of KPMG Europe LLP, delivering the second ICAS Aileen Beattie Memorial Lecture in London last night, called for a re-think of the role of public company audits and said that society and the audit profession should work towards a new 'kitemark' standard for audit repo
02/04/2008
Perth & Kinross Community Planning Partnership (CPP) has approved its first Single Outcome Agreement (SOA) for submission to the Scottish Government, which calls for more affordable homes. The SOA is a result of a concordat signed between Cosla and the Scottish Government, which has introduced a ne
02/04/2008
A £6.8m funding package for new fire and rescue capital projects has been announced by Minister for Community Safety, Fergus Ewing. Around £5m will be invested in new and refurbished fire stations throughout Scotland, improving conditions for retained firefighters and providing investment that will
02/04/2008
Hanover (Scotland) Housing Association has launched its new Tenants' Handbook. The Handbook has been written and designed in consultation, not only with staff throughout Hanover, but also with tenants. Members of Hanover's Tenants' Focus Groups discussed the format and contents of the Handbook l
02/04/2008
Headteacher, Kim Walker and kids from the pupil council joined Sean O'Callaghan from contractor Robertson Eastern to mark the beginning of the second phase of the local authority's £50m re-building programme. The first phase of the project has already delivered four new and improved primary school
02/04/2008
SELECT, the electrical contracting industry's trade association, has launched Scottish Building Services Certification in association with the NICEIC Group Ltd. This step, announced on 31 March, allows electrical contracting and building services firms to register as Approved Bodies, appoint Approv
02/04/2008
Over 50 specialist contractors have attended the launch of the NSCC Fair Payment Campaign hosted by Scottish law firm, Anderson Strathern LLP, at its head office in Edinburgh. The half-day seminar, which officially kicked off the campaign in Scotland, welcomed managing directors, contracts manager
02/04/2008
In a move to strengthen its position in the Scottish market, Avalon Timber Frame Homes has teamed up with architects Slorach Wood and builders Wallgray Properties. Nick Whitehorn, Avalon's Managing Director, said: "Operating from both Edinburgh and Aberdeen, Wallgray Properties will be responsible
01/04/2008
Extra training and apprenticeship opportunities for young unemployed people will be made available during the construction of Scotland's National Indoor Sports Arena and Velodrome, one of the key venues for the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Glasgow City Council also announced it has appointed Ernst & Yo
01/04/2008
The consultation for the £40m SoCo scheme in Edinburgh's Old Town has begun. South Bridge and Cowgate - which was ravaged by a fire in December 2002 - will be linked with Chambers Street and Guthrie Street. SoCo is to become a destination for people to stay, work and relax within. Proposals inc
01/04/2008
Irish-American hotel operator the Fitzpatrick Hotel Group have submitted a planning application on a prime site in Edinburgh city centre. A 63-room boutique hotel and bar-restaurant development at the north side of Waterloo Place would allow the hotel group who currently have concerns only in New Y
01/04/2008
Electrical contracter, T Clarke, has reported an increase in profit margins to 4.2% as pre-tax profit lifted to £8.2m last year, as bosses praised the contribution of its Scottish arm, SCS Building Services. Turnover in the 12 months to 31 December 2007 was 4% higher at £190m. In the previous perio
01/04/2008
Infrastructure Minister Stewart Stevenson has welcomed the opening of the retail market for non-domestic water and sewerage customers, stating that it would be of major benefit to Scottish businesses. Mr Stevenson said: "The opening of the retail market for non-domestic water and sewerage customer
01/04/2008
Edinburgh tram works have caused some businesses' takings to drop by up to 50% in a month. Shop owners in Shandwick place, a busy throughfare in the west side of the city, believe customers are not aware that they are open for business. Many have been forced to hold sales in an attempt to attract c
01/04/2008
An already shamed gangmaster has been discovered to be advertising construction jobs in Lanarkshire below the minimum wage. It was revealed that the franchisee of the 247 Staff employment agency in Burton on Trent had been stripped of his gangmasters licence for forcing workers to live in cramped c
01/04/2008
An award-winning national organisation that provides free independent support and advice on planning issues has launched its own Educational Fund, giving developers and other interest groups the opportunity to finance its expanding educational programme, leading to local communities engaging more co
01/04/2008
Fit out and refurbishment specialists, Morris & Spottiswood has appointed a new business unit director. Tony Cahill will be responsible for the financial and qualitative delivery of client projects and business profitability. Mr Cahill will also assume responsibility for the development of key c
01/04/2008
Two young bricklaying apprentices from CHAP Construction have picked up top awards in Aberdeen College's 2008 Construction Crafts Awards scheme. Ashley Forbes, 22, received the stage one bricklaying award, while his colleague, Allan Douglas, 21, was awarded the stage two bricklaying prize as well a
