Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
Scotland Construction News Archive for October 2009
30/10/2009
Small and medium size businesses in the manufacturing, textiles, food and drink and energy sectors will be given a £2,000 financial incentive to take on a new apprentice. Announcing the new 'Invest in an Apprentice' scheme at Renewable Devices Swift Turbines Ltd, a small renewable energy company in
30/10/2009
A public pre-determination hearing is to be held to discuss a planning application for the erection of a waste to energy combined heat and power plant in Peterhead. Following substantial interest in the plant, which would be built at Upperton Industrial Estate, councillors agreed to host a hearing
30/10/2009
The opening of a new multi-million pound retail and leisure development has been warmly welcomed by Aberdeen City Council. The council has been working closely with the developers of Union Square to maximise the benefits it will bring to the city. Council Leader John Stewart said: "The opening of
30/10/2009
A Transport Scotland upgrade programme on the existing M74 will see traffic flows and safety improved through the first ever use of interactive electronic queue monitoring equipment. The £1 million scheme to reconstruct a section of this vital motorway close to Hamilton and Bothwell gets underway i
30/10/2009
Repairing and maintaining Scotland's historic churches and places of worship often requires traditional skills and materials. A new CD Rom produced by Historic Scotland will give advice on a range of building techniques to guide this vital work. Minister for Culture, External Affairs and the Const
30/10/2009
Options for two new school projects in the Highlands are to be considered. Councillor Bill Fernie, Chairman of The Highland Council’s Education Culture and Sport Committee, confirmed that a report will be considered by the Committee on Thursday 12 November recommending options for the two new schoo
30/10/2009
Figures released recently show that Scotland's carbon emissions will be slashed by wind, wave and tidal power in the next decade making a major contribution to our efforts to tackle climate change while growing jobs and the economy. The figures have been released as the Scottish Marine Bill takes
30/10/2009
The final apartment in an exclusive £3 million redevelopment in Glasgow’s Park Circus area is now on the market. The imaginatively refurbished "Woodlands View" three-bedroom property is located at ground and lower ground levels of the Grade A listed building at Numbers 18 and 19 Woodlands Terrace.
29/10/2009
East Lothian Council has agreed a £25m loan facility for East Lothian Housing Association (ELHA) in the first agreement of its kind in Scotland. The proposals approved at a meeting of the full council will now go to Scottish government ministers for their consent to this innovative funding mechanis
29/10/2009
A recent housing study undertaken for the Highland Council has highlighted a "chronic and persistent lack of affordable housing" in the Highlands. It also shows that due to high house prices and low incomes, less than a third of new households in the Highlands (29%) have enough money to buy housi
29/10/2009
Shepherd Chartered Surveyors has appointed Sandy Rennie to head up the commercial surveying department at its Inverness office. Mr Rennie, 36, from Aberdeenshire, studied in Aberdeen prior to pursuing a career in the surveying profession in Dundee and Edinburgh. Most recently acting as a partner at
29/10/2009
Rail users in Carluke are set to benefit from a £2million plan to develop a new park and ride facility in the town. The council has given the green-light to a detailed planning application for a site in the town's Station Road. Jointly funded by the council and Strathclyde Partnership for Transpor
29/10/2009
As the clocks turned back an hour last weekend, people will now have an earlier opportunity to see the effectiveness of the new street lighting on trial at various locations throughout Fife. The new street lights are modern and energy efficient and provide better quality lighting. So, as well as br
29/10/2009
Changes are being made to the way Falkirk Council lets houses. This will make sure that people with the greatest need are housed and the council can make the best use of the properties available. The new allocations policy and Choice Based Lettings (CBL) will be introduced in January 2010. The c
29/10/2009
A consortium of GDF SUEZ SA, Iberdrola SA and Scottish and Southern Energy Plc has secured an option to purchase land for the development of a new nuclear power station at Sellafield. Following the sale run by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), the consortium set out plans to build up t
29/10/2009
A leading lawyer and public sector expert will today call for the UK government to revise its legislation and give Scottish local authorities the power to sell the electricity they generate from renewables back to the National Grid. And he will claim that the current legislation is hindering the S
28/10/2009
Initial construction work on tycoon Donald Trump's £1bn golf resort, at the Menie estate, North of Aberdeen, has begun. On Tuesday, Aberdeenshire councillors on the Formartine Committee gave the go-ahead for the preparatory work to stabilise the shifting sand dunes to be carried out. Work includes
28/10/2009
Edinburgh's property market is showing more encouraging signs of recovery, according to new statistics revealed by a leading solicitor estate agent in the capital. Warners has released figures showing that the number of property sales it completed in September has risen by more than a third, compar
28/10/2009
Two Glasgow joinery apprentices, Ronson Slater and Alexander Wood, have picked up top honours at Scotland's only national construction industry apprentice of the year awards, the James Birnie Awards. The prestigious awards, run by the Scottish Building Apprentice and Training Council (SBATC), crown
28/10/2009
Those working in the construction industry are urged to come together in Thurso next week and attend a free safety awareness event. The construction sector is one of the most dangerous industries in Scotland so the Working Well Together (WWT) campaign has organised an event specifically to addres
28/10/2009
Contract Scotland, an independent, technical and professional recruitment consultancy dedicated to the Scottish construction industry, has achieved the Payroll Quality Partnership (PQP) accreditation from the Institute of Payroll Professionals (IPP). The PQP award illustrates the organisation’s com
28/10/2009
British Waterways Scotland has appointed leading independent Scottish law firm, Tods Murray LLP, to provide external legal services and advice. Tods Murray bid for the contract alongside Highland practice, MacPhee and Partners, bringing together the vast experience and expertise of the central belt
28/10/2009
Public bodies should establish 'sustainability tests' to ensure contracts are socially, economically and environmentally sound, according to new guidelines. The Scottish Government's Sustainable Procurement Action Plan, published today, contains 10 steps for public bodies to embed sustainability in
28/10/2009
Stewart Milne Homes has joined forces with local charity, Instant Neighbour, to help drive its annual Giving Tree Appeal and ensure every child across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire has a gift to open on Christmas Day. Launching on 17th November, in its 19th year, Instant Neighbour's Giving Tree Appeal
27/10/2009
Finalists for the prestigious TeamBuild contest have just been announced, ahead of next month's three-day competition. Supported by ConstructionSkills, the Sector Skills Council for the industry, and many professional institutions, TeamBuild offers teams of up to six professionals from different d
27/10/2009
A £21 million investment the regeneration of Kilmarnock town centre has been given the go-ahead by East Ayrshire Council. As part of ambitious plans to get more people working and shopping in the town, the council will create new offices and refurbish existing council-owned properties. The proposa
27/10/2009
One of Germany's leading low carbon house builders, WeberHaus, has formed a partnership with Scotframe Timber Engineering Ltd to facilitate the manufacture of their build system in Scotland. As well as bringing significant investment and jobs into the country, the new partnership will make it eas
27/10/2009
The first physical step towards the provision of new council housing in Northfield has been taken with the demolition of the former Byron Park nursery/infant school. The demolition of the old school site, which was built circa 1956 and officially opened on 26 August, 1957, is the second step in Abe
27/10/2009
The second of three Irvine Bay talks business events takes place in Irvine next Monday 2 November at the Harbour Arts Centre. Irvine Bay Regeneration Company has launched this series of events to ensure local businesses get every chance to benefit from their work in the area. At the briefings, att
27/10/2009
Scotland must share in the economic and environmental benefits of a high speed rail link across the UK, a report submitted to the company responsible for examining the proposed link outlined today. The formal submission of the Scottish Strategic Business Case to High Speed Rail 2 (HS2) today outlin
27/10/2009
Pupils living in Glenelg, Wester Ross, can now cycle to school each day safe in the knowledge that not only will their bikes stay dry in the newly erected bike shed but the solar panels on the shed roof will be busy producing energy for them to use in their own classrooms. The 2kW of renewable ener
27/10/2009
Householders were today urged to consider how they can reduce their winter fuel bills with the help of a new advice service. A £60 million Energy Assistance Package has been set up, offering advice on combating rising fuel bills and how to become more energy efficient. The free service provides en
26/10/2009
Prime Minister Gordon Brown officially opened the £3.5m Evans Business Centre on John Smith Business Park on Saturday. The state-of-the-art executive office development provides business accommodation for up to 55 of Kirkcaldy's new and growing enterprises. Mr Brown said: "I am delighted to be her
26/10/2009
Work is due to start on iconic projects in the regeneration of Ardrossan and Saltcoats, Irvine Bay Regeneration Company has announced. Local contractors McLaughlin Construction of Irvine will be on site from this morning at the former Jack Miller Hotel and Saltcoats station building. The work is b
26/10/2009
Aberdeen-based sustainable energy solutions firm Active is celebrating having won the Business Success (over 3 years) Award at the Grampian Awards for Business Enterprise. The ceremony, which took place on the 22nd of October, recognised the business achievements and entrepreneurship of companies a
26/10/2009
The new Prestwick Academy building was officially opened on Thursday by the Rt Hon Lord Ian Lang of Monkton. An important part of South Ayrshire Council's £76 million investment programme in schools, the new Prestwick Academy, which cost approximately £26 million, was designed and built as an excit
26/10/2009
Curtain walling, windows and doors from architectural aluminium systems supplier Kawneer are to feature on the £170 million PPP "waveform" extension to the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, Fife. Designed by BDP architects to exacting solar transmission criteria, the new wing will feature Kawneer’s A
26/10/2009
Plans for a new £400m transmission line which would run from Beauly to Denny is expected to be granted approval from the Scottish Government, it has been reported. According to BBC Scotland 600 pylons, up to 200ft in height, would be required to connect renewable power projects in the Highlands to
26/10/2009
A new 60-bed care home for older people – similar to the award-winning Newbyres Village Care Home, Gorebridge – is being planned for Midlothian. Midlothian Council cabinet has approved the decision to develop a site at Eastfield in Penicuik to provide a purpose-built new care home as well as extra
26/10/2009
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has reminded operators of telescopic fork lift trucks to ensure they are operated correctly after a 21-year-old was prosecuted following a serious accident. Damon Alex McLachlan, 21, of Rothesay, Isle of Bute, was fined £500 on Friday at Livingston Sheriff Cour
26/10/2009
KattraK International is celebrating the first anniversary of the opening of its Dunoon depot. Opened to offer a better service to Argyll and the Islands, the Dunoon depot continues to grow, recently acquiring more yard space to hold hire machinery. The unique capabilities of the tracked dumper r
23/10/2009
Construction has begun on the Basketball Arena as Shona Robison MSP, Minister for Public Health and Sport in Scotland, visited the Olympic Park with the Chairman of the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), John Armitt. The Basketball Arena will play a key role during the Olympic Games, with 12,000 sea
23/10/2009
The opportunities for strengthening East-West energy co-operation have been discussed in a tri-partite summit in Scotland. Irish Energy Minister Eamon Ryan met with his Northern Ireland and Scottish counterparts to explore the issue. Meeting in Edinburgh yesterday, Mr Ryan, Stormont Minister Arlen
23/10/2009
Historic and listed buildings in Orkney are set to receive a boost as the council's annual Conservation Grants schemes reopen for applications. From November 2 there are two types of grants available. The Town Scheme is funded jointly by the council and Historic Scotland and is open to all propert
23/10/2009
A member of Unite Union has won his right to continue a peaceful protest outside a Scottish power station. Scottish and Southern Electricity (SSE) failed in its application for an interim injunction against Steve Acheson at the Royal Courts of Justice on 21st October. The firm had been seeking Ste
23/10/2009
Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson has announced a multimillion pound boost for road users of the A96 with the appointment of a contractor for the Fochabers to Mosstodloch scheme. Transport Scotland will be awarding the £31.5 million contract to Morrison Construction to build a new 5km stretch of
23/10/2009
Moves that could mean a bigger, better shopping centre for Kirkcaldy and new life for the town centre have been agreed by Fife councillors. The council and owners of the Mercat, City Site Estates (CSE), have entered into a special agreement which marks the first step in a bid to redevelop the shopp
23/10/2009
Plans have been made for new state-of-the-art athletics facilities in Kilmarnock. A high-tech athletics track and associated buildings at Queens Drive, with a new footbridge over the river to link with cricket facilities re-sited at Scott Ellis playing fields, will create an innovative Kilmarnock S
23/10/2009
Residents across the central belt are set to benefit from a team of eco warriors, who are on a mission to reduce fuel poverty, thanks to a vital £15,000 grant. The ScottishPower Energy People Trust awarded Link Housing Association (LHA) funding to provide specialistCity and Guild level training fo
22/10/2009
A Grangemouth-based company has been fined for breaching health and safety law after a worker was burned by live power cables. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted refinery and petrochemical company Ineos Manufacturing Scotland Ltd for failing to ensure a safe system of work was in plac
22/10/2009
Scotland's legacy of post-war architecture is to be the focus of a conference in November hosted by Historic Scotland. The agency is opening the debate on protecting and celebrating the variety and innovative techniques used to create striking architecture since 1945. Dr Deborah Mays, Historic Sco
22/10/2009
One of Scotland's leading architect practices has been chosen as the design team for the new £12m Wester Hailes Healthy Living Centre. Edinburgh-based jmarchitects, whose headquarters are in Queen Street, are highly experienced in designing modern health centres across the United Kingdom. Councill
22/10/2009
A six-year programme to refurbish the Strathkelvin Railway Path was completed last week. The £130,000 upgrade was funded by East Dunbartonshire Council and cycling charity Sustrans. The path has been upgraded to make it accessible to walkers, cyclists, disabled users and horse riders of all ages a
22/10/2009
Listed Building consent to convert the former Tay Hotel has been issued after Historic Scotland said it was now satisfied with the information it has been given on the project. The consent means that one of the final remaining hurdles preventing redevelopment of the hotel into flats, an apartment h
22/10/2009
A council's housing stock is on track to meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard by the 2015 deadline. The good news for Fife Council was outlined in a report given at the latest meeting of the authority's Housing and Communities Committee. Committee Chair Councillor Brian Goodall said: "This i
22/10/2009
A recently completed programme of town centre improvements in Milngavie have been nominated for a prestigious 2009 Scottish Transport Award. East Dunbartonshire Council's work installing new street furniture, tourist signage and retail directory boards, the refurbishment of Station Road underpass a
22/10/2009
Shepherd Chartered Surveyors is offering a lease for sale on a property with full hot food take-away consent in Aberdeen. Previously occupied by Hello Pizza, the 600 sq ft property is situated at 6 Hilton Drive, to the north of Aberdeen city centre, adjacent to what is known locally as the '5-ways
21/10/2009
Senior Scottish home building industry figures today met privately with the Bank of England Governor Mervyn King to outline current market conditions and the impact of monetary policy in Scotland. Interest rates, wholesale funding recovery and rebuilding the strength of the banking system were amon
21/10/2009
Plans have been lodged to install an extension from the existing Forth & Clyde canal down to a new Sea Lock on the River Carron. The Helix project - who have ambitious plans to create a thriving environmental community on unused land between Grangemouth and Falkirk - today confirmed that it will c
21/10/2009
Primary school pupils in Garscadden are able to embrace the latest technology thanks to a special gift from an integrated services provider. The pupils of Garscadden Primary School were given a huge surprise upon returning from their October school holidays with the discovery of a brand new ICT sui
21/10/2009
Dundee's efforts to grab a share of the ever-expanding renewable energy market are continuing this week at the UK's premier renewable energy event in Liverpool. Representatives of Dundee Renewables, a new initiative involving the public, private and academic sectors, are exhibiting at the event as
21/10/2009
East Edinburgh shops are to be spruced up with a £100,000 cash injection from the city council. The Portobello and Craigmillar Neighbourhood Partnership have agreed the funds should go towards improving the appearance of the Magdalene Drive shopping area after it came out as a top priority for resi
21/10/2009
Knight Frank's residential property search website has been awarded five stars in the Daily Mail UK Property Awards 2009 for the best UK estate agency website. Entries were judged by a panel of professionals whose collective knowledge of the property industry is second to none and unsurpassed by an
21/10/2009
Cumbernauld Housing Partnership is set to join UK housing provider Sanctuary Group. Cumbernauld opted to join Sanctuary as it seeks to meet its continuing objectives to develop new houses, address homelessness and deliver excellent services to residents. With 40 years experience in the housing sec
20/10/2009
The final phase of the reconstruction of The Knab dyke has been completed with the laying of the last coping stone by Shetland Council Convener Sandy Cluness. Work on this high profile project has spanned the last five years, including two principal phases – the realignment of the footpath and the
20/10/2009
A Scottish delegation is in Germany this week to gather intelligence on developing the right infrastructure for offshore renewables. The two day study visit to Bremerhaven, by the renewables industry, ports interests and government representatives, will improve collaboration between industry and go
20/10/2009
Graham has commenced work on Edinburgh's newest care home. Kingsinch Care Home is the fourth to be built by The City Edinburgh Council who hope to provide accommodation which is more suitable to the needs of older people to give them a better standard of living and a better quality of life. The fi
20/10/2009
Law firm Shepherd and Wedderburn has acted for AECOM - the first tenant at Edinburgh's newly refurbished Tanfield development at Inverleith Row, Edinburgh, which was launched this week. The firm struck a 15-year deal for AECOM, the global provider of professional technical and management support se
20/10/2009
The hunt is on for committed craftsmen and women to take one of the coveted places on the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings annual William Morris Craft Fellowship advanced training scheme. The aim of the Fellowship is to encourage and nurture young people from any trade employed in t
20/10/2009
The Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change, Stewart Stevenson today announced the re-appointment of the Chair, Grenville Johnston to the Board of Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd. This new 3-year appointment is effective from 1 November 2009, is part-time and currently attracts a
20/10/2009
Highlands and Islands Enterprise is supporting a remote Argyll community in its bid to buy and capitalise on the economic potential of its surrounding forest land. The Kilfinan Community Forest Company (KCFC) near Tighnabruaich, a Scottish charity, is working to raise £130,000 to buy 125 hectares o
20/10/2009
Building contractors William Skinner & Son, based in Ayrshire, Scotland have completed a £550,000 contract for Land Securities PLC in Corby, Northamptonshire. The work involved the stripping out of an existing unit to form a shell, and subsequent sub-division into a ground and first floor shell uni
19/10/2009
Shelter Scotland, the housing and homelessness charity, today welcomed the launch of the FSA’s Mortgage Market Review, which could see stronger checks on a customer’s financial situation, a clamp down on self certification, and regulation of second charge lending and buy to let loans. Graeme Brown
19/10/2009
Right To Buy for new tenants entering the social rented sector will be ended soon, it was announced today. First time tenants and those returning to social housing after a break, will no longer be entitled to Right to Buy. Existing tenants will not be affected. Since its introduction 30 years ago,
19/10/2009
The old carriageway of the existing M74 motorway is being recycled in the construction of the new M74 Completion. The M74 Completion project is committed to the reuse and recycling of aggregate material wherever possible. The most recent initiatives have seen the reuse of 65,000 tonnes of mater
19/10/2009
The newly refurbished Citadel Youth Centre has been unveiled. The building is the first to be completed as part of the £9 million Leith Townscape Heritage Initiative. A total of £830,000 was spent refurbishing the B-listed building, which has been closed for a year. Art, drama and social spaces ha
19/10/2009
Five housing projects are set to receive a share of £675,000 to improve energy efficiency. The winners of the Scottish government's first Energy Efficiency Design Awards will help cut bills for people living in fuel poverty and reduce emissions. Announcing the successful projects in Kirkcaldy, M
19/10/2009
Homebuyers need to act quickly if they want to move home before Christmas and avoid extra costs from the re-introduction of the stamp duty threshold. With the festive season just over two months away, the ELPG has said that time is running out for canny buyers to secure a property to ensure they ca
19/10/2009
Forestry Commission Scotland is ramping up its contribution to generating clean and renewable energy by developing more wind energy projects on its land. To achieve this, energy companies are being invited to form partnerships with the Commission to build wind energy projects at suitable locations
19/10/2009
ESE, a division of Chess Storage and Interiors, one of the UK’s leading providers of storage and interiors solutions, has secured new contracts totalling £1.2 million within the last six months for work in the public sector. The new contracts include the supply and installation of new partitioning
16/10/2009
The determination of a village hall association on the Isle of Skye has attracted support from The Highland Council and building and maintenance firm ROK through the Highland Culture programme. Ten years of fundraising £100,000 has paid for the construction of a new sloping roof over the existing f
16/10/2009
Renfrewshire Council is encouraging private landlords to join a new partnership which aims to improve standards of privately rented accommodation in Renfrewshire. The council's successful series of Private Landlord Forums continues on Wednesday 21 October with a meeting to outline its partnership w
16/10/2009
A restored fountain erected in memory of a former Lord Provost responsible for bringing clean water to Glasgow has been unveiled. On Wednesday, 14 October 2009, the anniversary of the day fresh water flowed into the city for the first time. Lord Provost Bob Winter paid homage to his municipal fore
16/10/2009
The first resource centre in West Dunbartonshire for older people with mental health needs has been opened thanks to funding of £200,000 from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Cairnmhor Resource Centre is in a refurbished area of Dumbarton Joint Hospital and has been developed as a base for a communit
16/10/2009
The contract to build 12 council houses and associated infrastructure in Finstown, Orkney, has been awarded to local firm R Clouston Ltd. The provision of affordable housing is a key priority for the council. These 12 houses are the first tranche of a programme that will see in the region of 125 ne
16/10/2009
In support of East Ayrshire Council's priority of regenerating town centres, Kilmarnock is now benefiting from the appointment of a dedicated town centre manager, who took up her post this week. Fiona Nicholson, the new town centre manager, will work closely with retailers and businesses within th
16/10/2009
Angus Council's Education Committee is to be asked to authorise a consultation with the Brechin community on plans to improve the burgh's high school. This follows an announcement by the Scottish government that funding is to be made available towards the cost of an upgraded school - estimated to b
16/10/2009
On instructions from Invocas Business Recovery and Insolvency Limited, Shepherd Chartered Surveyors has sold an office with a workshop and an extensive rear yard in Giffnock on the southside of Glasgow at a closing date to a private investor for £232,000. The 3,300 sq ft property, at Unit 1 Burnfie
15/10/2009
Newbigging's village shop and post office has been awarded an Angus Council Rural Shops and Community Post Office Conversion Grant to help with improvements to the premises. The grant award of £1569 will cover 90% of the cost of the latest improvement works to Newbigging's store. The award is an in
15/10/2009
The state of the construction industry for small builders is getting worse, warns the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) in response to data from its latest State of Trades survey of member's workloads for the third quarter of 2009. The workload for the building sector over the last three months a
15/10/2009
Angus Council is to invest £35,000 in the upgrading of the footpath that links Arbroath Enterprise Park to nearby residential areas. The move has been welcomed by the council's vice-convener of Infrastructure Services David Fairweather who said: "Businesses and residents had told us about the probl
15/10/2009
Commercial property experts, FG Burnett, is playing its part in maintaining the buzz on one of Aberdeen’s most prestigious shopping areas. Thistle Street and adjoining Rose Street have long been established as a hot spot for exclusive fashion boutiques, gift shops and galleries and an alternative
15/10/2009
Gas Safe Register has taken over from CORGI as the regulatory body for safety in the Gas sector. Since the change of the regulatory body that monitors safety within the British gas industry that came into effect on the 1st of April earlier this year, the new Gas Safe Register of complying companies
15/10/2009
Passengers at Glasgow’s Queen Street Station can now benefit from travel advice and printable maps from two new hi-tech 'Smart Point' machines. Transport Scotland has invested £129,000 to install six Smart Point machines across Scotland, with two at Queen Street. The equipment provides interactive
14/10/2009
Demolition of a bridge as part of the major new motorway scheme improving the link between Glasgow and Stirling has been completed ahead of schedule. The A80 North Road Bridge demolition works were originally planned to be carried out over two weekends, 9th and 16th October 2009, but were finished
14/10/2009
An acclaimed designer, will be working with Scottish projects on plans for low-carbon communities. Andres Duany, who drew up designs for rebuilding work in Louisiana and Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina, will run design workshops, known as 'charrettes', for projects in Dumfries, Aberdeen and Fif
14/10/2009
Housing Minister Alex Neil has backed Shelter Scotland's call for the UK government to unlock money for affordable housing in Scotland. Shelter Scotland yesterday called on the Chancellor to allow accelerated capital investment to take place into 2010-11 from 2011-12 through the upcoming Pre-Budget
14/10/2009
A total of £47,000 is being invested in a new path and bridge in Craigmill Den in Carnoustie. Angus Council's Infrastructure Services Committee approved the work to the path, which will be an important link in the emerging Carnoustie path network. Commenting on the investment committee vice-conven
14/10/2009
Stewart Milne Homes is now investing in the future with four new developments launching across the UK including the most southerly development for the business yet. Two projects in North East Scotland are beginning construction within weeks of one another – Broadshade in Westhill and King’s Gate in
14/10/2009
Angus Council has approved a £200k package of measures to protect an area of shoreline at Elliot in Arbroath from further erosion. The works have been instructed to contain waste materials previously dumped on the site from the now defunct Dowrie Bitumen Works. Over the years quantities of the wast
14/10/2009
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed today between the Governments of India and Scotland to drive innovation in renewable energy and support both governments' goals to increase supplies of wind energy, solar power and biofuels. The agreement was signed by Mr Deepak Gupta, Secretary to the
14/10/2009
Inverclyde Council is pushing for homeowners to get their homes inspected for free in time for winter. Their free Property Inspection Service has already helped over 200 Inverclyde homeowners spot problems with their homes since it was re-launched in January this year. The service provides residen
13/10/2009
A housing charity has written to the Secretary of State for Scotland, Jim Murphy, to urge him to press the Chancellor of the Exchequer to use his Pre-Budget Report to help Scottish Ministers speed up the building of affordable homes to rent. In his letter to Jim Murphy, Director of Shelter Scotland
13/10/2009
John Swinney today met Stavros Dimas, the European Environment Commissioner, to discuss Scotland's world-leading stance on climate change. He also expressed disappointment at the UK government's refusal to support Scotland's presence at the world climate change talks in Copenhagen. Scotland's wor
13/10/2009
In its day it was Hubble's double: a cutting-edge telescope at the forefront of space exploration. Now the 150-year-old Cooke telescope at Airdrie Public Observatory, one of just four in Scotland, is to get a new lease of life. Teams of local craftsmen and engineers have put the final touches to a
13/10/2009
A riverside footpath all the way from the centre of Glasgow to the Falls of Clyde at New Lanark has finally become a reality. The completion of the final stretch from Crossford to Mauldslie, near Rosebank, for the first time, allows walkers to explore and enjoy the full 65km route as it meanders it
13/10/2009
A team of experts will be visiting sites in Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire and Inverclyde to assess monuments of national importance. The team from Historic Scotland is responsible for identifying the most important archaeological sites and monuments in Scotland. Dr Sally Foster, Head of the Sche
13/10/2009
Shepherd Chartered Surveyors has opened a new office in Forfar. The office will offer residential lettings plus commercial and residential survey and valuation work. Headed up by Lesley Davie, the new office, located at 44 West High Street, is Shepherd’s thirtieth in Scotland. Commenting on the n
13/10/2009
A new safety system is providing invaluable information about shipping activity in the waters where wave and tidal energy devices are tested in Orkney. EMEC, the European Marine Energy Centre, has set up two receiving stations that pick up transmissions from ships operating near its test sites and
13/10/2009
Stirling Council's Planning Panel has agreed in principal to a new house being built in the countryside to accommodate a local farm worker. The panel, chaired by Councillor Alasdair MacPherson, unanimously agreed to grant outline planning permission to Mr & Mrs Christie to build a house on land awa
12/10/2009
Work is underway at a recently completed £22.5m state of the art sawmill, at Lockerbie in South Scotland. Scotland's largest independent sawmiller, James Jones & Sons Ltd, aim to employ 85 people at the new timber processing "super site". The plant has a single shift capacity of 150K sawn, more th
12/10/2009
The Scottish Building Federation has opened a "fruitful dialogue" with the Scottish Government's Scottish Futures Trust, according to Federation Chief Executive Michael Levack. A selection of the Federation's larger contractors met with Scottish Futures Trust Chief Executive Barry White last week,
12/10/2009
Construction trainees from across the UK battled it out last week to be crowned Britain's best young tradesperson in the national final of the UK's biggest skills competition, SkillBuild, which is organised by ConstructionSkills, the Sector Skills Council for the industry. The three day event, held
12/10/2009
A housing developer has gifted land in Inverkip to Inverclyde Council in a 'groundbreaking' deal. Housebuilder Stewart Milne transferred ownership of 180 acres of land around the Everton Scout Camp to the Council for recreational use by local people and visitors to the area. Voluntary groups will
12/10/2009
East Ayrshire Council is currently working with its partners to develop a common Housing Allocation Policy and they need the views of tenants and residents to help fully develop the policy. The new policy will involve Atrium Homes, Cunninghame Housing Association, Shire Housing Association and the
12/10/2009
The Shetland's Building Standards Service, based in Lerwick, is inviting expressions of interest from the professionals within the Building Construction community to participate in a new Focus Group. Irrespective of whether you are trading as a sole practitioner, or as part of a larger Association,
12/10/2009
Firms in the struggling construction sector are increasingly turning to training in a bid to come out of the recession stronger than before, new research suggests. Indicia Training, one of the UK's leading business skills and IT training firms, has reported a 55% year on year increase in the number
12/10/2009
Following the sharpest fall in construction output on record, the latest forecasts from the Construction Products Association do not anticipate any recovery in the industry's fortunes until 2011. Despite some encouraging signs that the wider economy may be coming out of recession and that the hous
09/10/2009
Proposals to protect unauthorised tenants where a property is being repossessed were published today. Changes relate to a landlord letting out a property, without informing the lender, in breach of a mortgage agreement. In the event of repossession of a property, any unauthorised tenants have limi
09/10/2009
Education Secretary Fiona Hyslop today met with the first 50 young people taking part in a new apprenticeship in home energy efficiency. The Modern Apprenticeship scheme is part of a Scottish Government funded partnership with Scottish and Southern Energy. More than 100 places are being funded by
09/10/2009
The final element of the multi-million pound integrated transport hub at Laurencekirk has been completed. The £450,000 car park at the new Laurencekirk Station was officially opened on Wednesday, October 7, by Aberdeenshire Provost Bill Howatson and Councillor Kevin Stewart, chair of the regional
09/10/2009
The regeneration of Fort House has been brought forward by a year due to the partnership working between the City of Edinburgh Council and Port of Leith Housing Association after ongoing consultation with residents. Fort House is due to be demolished in 2012/13 as part of the regeneration of the ar
09/10/2009
Fife Councillors have approved a £4.4 million funding package for a series of improvement works set to transform Kirkcaldy High Street. Kirkcaldy was successful in securing £2 million funding from the Scottish Government’s Town Centre Regeneration Fund back in August. In addition, £1.5 million f
09/10/2009
The World Monuments Fund, a nonprofit organisation dedicated to the preservation of the world's architectural heritage, has announced that a group of Edinburgh's Historic Graveyards are to be added to its 2010 List of 100 Most Endangered Sites. The group of burial grounds are all within the city's
09/10/2009
A housing and homelessness charity has praised the Scottish Government's protection plans for tenants whose landlords fail to pay mortgage. Graeme Brown, Director of Shelter Scotland, the housing and homelessness charity, said the Scottish Government was right to take the steps. "Tenants in rente
09/10/2009
Council tenants in Aberdeenshire have been invited to a special participation event this weekend. They are invited to view a kitchen exhibition, find out about housing initiatives and get advice on the digital television switchover. The council's Tenant Participation Promotion Team have organised
08/10/2009
The Scottish Government and local councils have now completed 200 new or refurbished schools in the period April 2007 to March 2009, according to figures from the Scottish Parliamentary Library (SPICe). Cabinet Secretary Fiona Hyslop said a further 36 had been completed since then and the total of
08/10/2009
More training opportunities in masonry conservation are to be offered in Scotland thanks to additional funding announced by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). In addition to the 14 year long and 50 short term training opportunities that will be available through the bursary programme, Historic Scotla
08/10/2009
Interest free loans will help people cut their fuel bills and reduce emissions, John Swinney said today. Two million pounds is available this year for a pilot loans scheme to improve insulation, replace inefficient boilers or install small scale renewables. The news comes as the Scottish Governme
08/10/2009
The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills has this week begun the search for a new Chair for the Industry Training Board for construction – CITB-ConstructionSkills. The current Chairman, Sir Michael Latham, author of the 1994 Latham Report is due to retire in March next year afte
08/10/2009
An event designed to get 'up close' with local businesses and contractors is being held by a major housing association. River Clyde Homes - which currently has multi-million pound contracts - is keen that local businesses have the opportunity to tender or sub contract for that work. The event will
08/10/2009
Forth Valley College's plans for a new campus in Alloa have been approved by Clackmannanshire Council. At a meeting of the council's Planning Committee on Thursday 1st October councillors gave the go-ahead to the new £21 million campus on the site of the old Hawkhill Primary School in the centre of
08/10/2009
Preparation work for a £2m improvement programme to Lochee High Street is due to get underway next week. The first phase of work, funded by the Scottish Government's Town Centre Regeneration Fund will start on Monday (October 12) and involve improvements to pavements and roads as well as providing
08/10/2009
Acting on behalf of London Scottish, Shepherd Chartered Surveyors has sold a repossessed pub unit. The property at 240 Dalmarnock Road to Clyde Gateway has been sold as part of the regeneration project for the East End for £95,000. Jamie Savage, commercial surveyor at Shepherd, said: "Occupying a
08/10/2009
A planning application has been lodged with West Lothian Council for a new two-stream Primary School at Armadale Station Community Development. Focused on the proposed railway station at Armadale, the two stream primary school marks another phase in the £200 million regeneration plan by developers,
07/10/2009
A Centre of Engineering Excellence for Renewable Energy will be created in Glasgow with £2.8m support from the Scottish Government, First Minister Alex Salmond announced today. Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) plc will work with the University of Strathclyde to establish the centre in purpose-bui
07/10/2009
A package of measures, designed to better regulate mobile home sites is to be put forward for consultations, the Scottish government announced today. The proposals will offer increased protection for over 4,500 people living in mobile home communities across Scotland. Measures planned include cons
07/10/2009
Two more schools have been given the go-ahead to be rebuilt as part of South Lanarkshire's primary schools modernisation programme. Approval has been given by the authority's Planning Committee for Udston in Hamilton and Auchinraith in Blantyre to be replaced in the second phase of the council's £8
07/10/2009
A leading workplace design specialist has appointed a new Business Manager. Space Solutions has appointed John Jackson to join their fast growing Glasgow office. John, a chartered surveyor, has been in the industry for more than six years, working with leading property agency practices in the west
07/10/2009
An Angus resident has had to stump up £1000 after failing to comply with a planning enforcement order. The fine was imposed by the court on the owner of the stables at Kirkton of Glenisla after repeated requests by Angus Council, to have an unauthorised residential caravan removed from the premises
07/10/2009
The first citizens of the world's leading energy cities will travel to Calgary this week to sign a landmark accord. The signing of the World Energy Cities Partnership (WECP) Calgary Climate Change Accord will take place on Thursday during the WECP Annual General Meeting, hosted by Calgary Economic
07/10/2009
Free bulky waste items uplift service is to be reintroduced for council tenants in a bid to tackle fly-tipping in Aberdeen. A charge was introduced for the service last year, with residents being charged £20.30 for the uplift and disposal of up to four bulky items. There has since been an increas
07/10/2009
The UK and Scottish Governments have reported back on a consultation into a scheme to reduce carbon emissions through better energy efficiency. Two key changes have been agreed by the UK and Scottish governments in how a new carbon reduction scheme to reduce carbon pollution from businesses and org
06/10/2009
Satelliet-Browns, specialist furnishers to the leisure industry, has won widespread praise for its part in bringing an iconic Glasgow Hotel back to life after it had lain derelict for several years. Businessman Mohammed Azir Sharif has invested millions of pounds in restoring the Lorne Hotel in the
06/10/2009
Proposals for a housing development and nursing home on a former golf course near Gretna have been recommended for refusal by councillors. Planning Officers from Dumfries and Galloway Council have said the scheme incorporating 200 homes and a 100-bed care unit goes against policies on countryside d
06/10/2009
Aberdeenshire Council has a launched a graduate sponsorship scheme to attract the 'brightest and best' engineers upon their graduation. The sponsorship scheme, now in its second year, aims to assist students interested in working in a local government environment to undertake a wide range of engine
06/10/2009
Aberdeen-based Knight Property Group has strengthened its portfolio with the purchase of its second Edinburgh property in a deal worth in excess of £5 million. Knight is using the correction in commercial property values to its advantage, purchasing 3-11 Melville Street, Edinburgh, at what the comp
06/10/2009
Planning students from the University of Dundee will consider the future of the area as they take on a new challenge set by TAYplan, the Strategic Development Planning Authority. Working in groups, town and regional planning students in their fourth and postgraduate years will spend the next few we
06/10/2009
Cookie, a new kind of eatery incorporating a deli, shop, cooking club and more, will open its doors to the public for the first time next month having secured planning permission. The firm will transform a derelict property in Glasgow’s southside into its first outlet. Domenico del Priore, who, to
06/10/2009
Scotland's housing and homelessness leaders and senior academics will gather today to focus minds on meeting Scotland’s internationally acclaimed homelessness legislation. The 'Delivering 2012' conference will focus on how Scotland will meet the homelessness commitment to give everyone the right to
05/10/2009
Aberdeen City Council's Development Management Sub-committee has approved plans to build a temporary observation wheel at the Castlegate. The 40 metre high wheel is to be erected for a period of six months and orientated on a north-east/south-west axis between the Mercat Cross and the corner of Kin
05/10/2009
A national conference, organised and run by pupils, has been held that will encourage young people to take action over sustainable development issues. Inverkeithing High, Bellahouston Academy and Peebles High are leading 'eco-schools' and pupils from the three secondaries have worked together to or
05/10/2009
Two North Lanarkshire tenants' have won a year's free rent thanks to paying their rent bills by Direct Debit with North Lanarkshire Council. Their names were randomly chosen from a list of all North Lanarkshire Council residents who signed up to pay their rent by Direct Debit. The council encoura
05/10/2009
One of the UK's leading names in urban regeneration and mixed-use development, Muse Developments, is making a major strategic push in Scotland as it develops three major new projects. The move, which includes the establishment of a dedicated Scottish team and strengthening of the management structu
05/10/2009
More than £1 million is to be spent improving central heating systems in council houses across Renfrewshire. Over 400 Renfrewshire Council owned homes will get new gas central heating and hot water systems under the project. These will replace existing electric heating and hot water systems and wi
05/10/2009
Pupils from Miller Academy Primary School, Thurso, were centre stage on Friday at a ceremony to mark the opening of a new footbridge which forms an important pedestrian link over the River Thurso. Primary 7 pupils have been featuring the local project in a technology project and were delighted to a
05/10/2009
A major project celebrating 150 years since the birth of playwright JM Barrie may come a step nearer next week. Details of the plans for Kirriemuir Hill will be discussed by Angus Council's Neighbourhood Services committee on 8 October. The proposed development will include: a new play area with a
05/10/2009
The popular 'Young Engineers' class will be re-starting this week. The class will take place at Woodmill High School Community Use in Dunfermline on Thursday 8th October 2009 (6.00pm - 8.00pm). Tutor, Bill Hutchison, returns for this two hour event showing children how to plan, design & build a pr
05/10/2009
Institute of Directors Aberdeen members and guests will get an insight into the development of a new £6 million GDF Suez exploration and production base in Aberdeen. Rob Buchan, General Manager in Aberdeen for GDF Suez E&P is the speaker at the IoD Aberdeen lunch on Thursday, October 8. Commenting
02/10/2009
The national final of SkillBuild, at South Lanarkshire College, has been launched by MSP for Schools and Skills, Keith Brown. Also helping to kick-off the competition were 11 Scottish apprentices who will be battling it out to become the UK's best trades' person. SkillBuild is Britain's biggest co
02/10/2009
Eleven workers in the construction sector were killed and more than 1,500 were seriously injured in Scotland last year. A practical event for builders, construction workers and contractors held in Glasgow yesterday aims to reduce this toll. The Working Well Together campaign organised a free safe
02/10/2009
Stepping up the effort to exploit one of northeast Scotland's most abundant but under-used resources - Scots pine - could deliver significant benefits to the rural economy. That is the message that Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs & the Environment, will deliver at a Forestry C
02/10/2009
Archial Architect has won planning consent from City of Edinburgh Council for its proposal to replace the now obsolete Balfour Stewart House office building in Murrayfield with a new £35 million residential development. The Rumney Manor development will respect the characteristics of the conservati
02/10/2009
The construction, investment, development and facilities management group, Robertson, delivered a turnover down 4% at £157.1 million and has recorded pre-tax losses of £2 million. Executive Chairman, Bill Robertson, stated that the economic downturn had been extremely challenging for many of his bu
02/10/2009
As part of Scottish Borders Council's Customer First modernisation programme, the Contact Centre in Paton Street, Galashiels, is about to undergo some major changes. It aims to transform the way the Council delivers its direct customer services, and work is due to begin on the first phase of the up
02/10/2009
Stirling Council is giving Stirling Albion Football Club until the end of November to make satisfactory progress on paying its rent arrears for Forthbank Stadium - but have warned if this does not happen the Council will move for decree. Last night the Council rubber-stamped its commitment to pursu
02/10/2009
Plans to create a new energy centre at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary have been given the go ahead by city councillors. The centre, which will house a combined heat and power (CHP) plant, a bio-mass boiler fuelled by woodchips and two dual-fuel, will provide 90% of the electricity needed at the Foresterh
02/10/2009
Graeme Brown, Director of Shelter Scotland, housing and homelessness charity, has commended the Scottish Government for bringing forward Draft Home Owner and Debtor Protection legislation. The Director said that he would look through the fine detail in the days to come. "Given that thousands of fa
01/10/2009
Scottish Building Federation (SBF) Chief Executive, Michael Levack, has urged MSPs to set aside more cash from next year’s Scottish budget to make Scotland’s homes and office buildings more energy efficient. Mr Levack gave evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s Economy, Energy and Tourism committee
01/10/2009
A housing improvement project led by Orkney Islands Council has won a bid for funding from the UK Government’s Technology Strategy Board to devise low carbon refits for social housing in Orkney. The Dynamic Insulation Retrofit Project is being developed in partnership with Orkney Housing Associatio
01/10/2009
Experts who help the drinking water industry achieve the highest quality standards have cemented their own levels of excellence after having a highly sought-after standard certificate upgraded. Water quality engineering firm Panton McLeod has seen its quality standard upgraded to the ISO 9001:2008
01/10/2009
A decision on the use of compulsory purchase orders to make way for Donald Trump's golf resort will not be made this week by Aberdeenshire Council. The meeting being held this morning at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre (AECC) will not debate the issue after Trump International, reques
01/10/2009
The Highland Council has confirmed that it has the full co-operation of land owners and regulatory bodies, such as SNH and SEPA, for the construction of the South West Channel Flood Prevention Scheme at Inverness. However, the Council is unable to start work, as scheduled, because it requires to co
01/10/2009
Scottish Government funding will result in the building of a new Garnock Academy. North Ayrshire Council will fund one-third of the cost of the capital project while the Scottish Government will provide the remaining bulk of it. Carol Kirk, Corporate Director (Educational Services) said: "We welco
01/10/2009
People who have problems setting up home in council properties in Dundee look set to continue to benefit from a furniture package scheme. A report to Dundee City Council's housing, Dundee Contract Services and environment services committee on Monday (September 28) recommended that £50,000 be trans
01/10/2009
The seventh and final school to be completed as part of Angus Council's Forfar/Carnoustie schools project has been officially opened. Langlands Primary in Forfar marks the completion of the £50 million project, with hundreds of pupils in both burghs now enjoying modern purpose built accommodation w
