Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
Scotland Construction News Archive for July 2009
31/07/2009
Outline plans have been lodged with Perth and Kinross Council for a National Curling Academy on a near three-acre site in Kinross designed by Archial Architects, one of the largest architectural practices in Scotland and the UK. The planning bid, submitted by the Kinross Curling Trust, is supported
31/07/2009
Visitors have had the final say this week in a consultation process into the future of one of the UK's best known tourist locations - John O'Groats. As the public part of the process draws to a close, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and Consultants GVA Grimley are delighted at the level of i
31/07/2009
Building experts at Edinburgh Napier are celebrating after two of their inventions were nominated for a prestigious industry award. Wallcap – a membrane which reduces heat loss in buildings and improves sound insulation by sealing wall cavities – has been named in the Housebuilding Innovation Award
31/07/2009
Sainsbury's has appointed Kier to build its largest new supermarket in Scotland at Braehead, near Glasgow. The 100,000sq ft store is being built on a single level with a 75,000sq ft sales floor that will be 60% grocery and 40% non-food. Kier Scotland will deliver the project in 19 weeks with the ne
31/07/2009
J&E Shepherd Chartered Surveyors has appointed Carla Belli, an EPC assessment specialist, in Aberdeen as a key part of its expansion of a dedicated commercial property Energy Performance Certificate service throughout Scotland. An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is a document which states the
31/07/2009
Auchterarder's popular Aytoun Hall will be closed for lets from today ahead of work on a £1.4m refurbishment scheduled to begin this Autumn. The hall will close to allow Perth & Kinross Council to begin preparatory work in advance of the main refurbishment. The extensive refurbishment programme wi
31/07/2009
A finance company is experiencing a very modern take on living above the shop after appointing architects and workplace design experts Space Solutions to solve an unusual relocation problem. Aberdeen based Celurca Investments Limited took over an impressive B-listed townhouse in the West End of Abe
31/07/2009
Scottish Borders Council has withdrawn from its contract to sell the site at Pinnaclehill, Kelso, to Tesco. This is as a result of the failure by Tesco to assemble the additional land required for both the supermarket development and the replacement employment land within the required time frame, i
30/07/2009
Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson will visit Glasgow tonight as Europe's largest mobile crane swings in action to lift into position the first of eight huge beams which form the new link bridge over the M8. The delicate operation, carried out under partial-closure of the M8 in this area overnigh
30/07/2009
The way people use and conserve energy in the home is set to be revolutionised in Scotland with the offer of free energy audits, advice on becoming more energy efficient and free or discounted loft and cavity insulations. Up to 96,000 homes across Scotland are to be offered help with making their h
30/07/2009
Plans for a multi-million-pound train and tram interchange station at Gogar, in west Edinburgh, were exhibited to the public for the first time yesterday as Network Rail hosted the first of two public exhibitions at the Gyle shopping centre. The Gogar Rail Interchange project, funded by Transport S
30/07/2009
The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) has announced the award of a contract to Carillion Construction Limited to design and construct a new prison in Bishopbriggs. The prison, which will be known as HMP Low Moss, is the first of four new prisons being built under the Scottish Government's prison moder
30/07/2009
A historical agreement between East Dunbartonshire Council and award winning developer Places for People will deliver a new future as well as new homes for the village of Twechar. Places for People, which specialises in long term neighbourhood development projects, will be working with the local co
30/07/2009
People renting property are benefiting most from the beleaguered housing market with wider choice and rents continuing to fall across the country, according to latest research by letting portal Citylets. The latest Citylets quarterly report, which covers the period April to June 2009, shows average
30/07/2009
Billions of pounds of benefits for Scots now and in the future would flow from an oil fund, John Swinney said today. The Scottish Government has today published a new discussion paper - a strand of the National Conversation - which sets out options for a Scottish oil fund which would invest a share
30/07/2009
Scottish property consultants CKD Galbraith have announced plans to acquire the Buccleuch John Sale estate agency and chartered surveying business. The acquisition will result in a major expansion of the CKD Galbraith office network in Scotland and the range of property services provided by the fir
30/07/2009
Nearly 325 new rural homes are set to be built across Scotland, thanks to government funding for affordable house building. Across Scotland, land owners and community groups will share £5m to build 75 new affordable homes - exclusively for renting - in villages and communities across Scotland. Nin
29/07/2009
The start of the building of 29 new affordable homes in Dysart will be marked on Friday July 31 with an event in Dysart Community Hall. The project has been delivered through a partnership approach with Fife Council, Fife Housing Association, Muir Group and Dysart Community Regeneration Forum. A m
29/07/2009
Graham Construction have been awarded another two schools under the North Lanarkshire Council, Schools & Centres 21 Framework and have just commenced the pre-construction stage finalising design and cost planning. Within this £20.9m second tranche of schools awarded are Coltness/Lammermoor Primary
29/07/2009
Eight of Scotland's most diverse and vibrant arts organisations have now begun their move to Glasgow's new centre for the arts and creativity, Trongate 103. Funded by Glasgow City Council, The National Lottery through the Scottish Arts Council, Scottish Enterprise and The Merchant City Townscape He
29/07/2009
Representatives from Orkney Islands Council and Orkney Renewable Energy Forum met with senior officials from the National Grid on Friday to discuss energy developments in Orkney. Following the meeting Chair of the Council's Development Committee Councillor Ian Johnstone said: "We wanted to highligh
29/07/2009
GDF SUEZ, one of the world's leading energy providers has underlined its long-term commitment to the North Sea by investing £6m in establishing its UK Exploration and Production (E&P) operational centre in Aberdeen. Securing a 10 year lease at a new high-profile office in the city's Union Plaza dev
29/07/2009
Alex Neil, Minister for Housing and Communities, has met with council representatives at the Burns Monument Centre to discuss town centre regeneration funding for East Ayrshire. The council has made three bids under the Town Centre Regeneration Fund to support implementation of detailed actions con
29/07/2009
As one of Scotland's most iconic structures prepares to mark its 45th anniversary this autumn, the Forth Estuary Transport Authority (FETA) is calling for people to share their memories of the Forth Road Bridge. The authority is keen to talk to people who have had particular connections with the Br
29/07/2009
Roundabouts across South Lanarkshire are to be sponsored in a 12-month pilot project. The sponsorship signage will be a controlled size, with the sponsors text and logo mounted within a frame bearing the South Lanarkshire Council logo. Money raised initially will help improve the roundabouts, for
29/07/2009
Work is ongoing at Castlehill Primary School to try to ensure that the school opens as normal after the summer break. Following extensive damage caused by the recent flash floods in Cupar a massive clean up operation has been in place to get the school back to normal as soon as possible. Louise Pl
29/07/2009
Councillor Paul Edie, Convener of the City of Edinburgh Council's Health and Social Care Committee, has officially launched a new resource that will allow six young people with learning disabilities to live on their own for the first time thanks to a £1.5m investment. The new service, which provide
28/07/2009
New affordable housing developments in Lochaber, backed by £2.7m of Scottish Government funding, were officially opened today. The two developments - in Arisaig and Fort William - will enable people to rent low-cost homes or purchase an affordable majority stake in properties under the Government's
28/07/2009
The £15m Stirling Agricultural Centre, designed by Archial Architects, has been officially opened by First Minister Alex Salmond. The new mart is the single centre of operations for United Auctions' Perth and Kildean businesses - and their new headquarters. The Elphinstone Land development includes
28/07/2009
Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and climate change Stewart Stevenson has visited Queen Margaret University as part of a tour of East Lothian. He was welcomed on site by Vice Principal Rosalyn Marshall and Facilities Director Steve Scott who showed him some of the initiatives that have won t
28/07/2009
A community partnership has helped a redundant apprentice. Apprentice Joiner, Paul McMorrow, aged 19, who lives in Port of Mentieth, commenced his apprenticeship with a Glasgow company in August 2008. He had taken on a number of jobs for a year after leaving school while awaiting the opportunity to
28/07/2009
An initiative aiming to reduce fuel poverty is set to change the lives of hundreds of vulnerable residents in Glasgow, thanks to a grant of over £50,000 from the ScottishPower Energy People Trust. The Fuel Poverty Awareness Project, run by Greater Pollok Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB), kicked off in
28/07/2009
Yesterday, a Nigg Yard meeting took place at The Highland Council's headquarters in Inverness chaired by Enterprise Minister Jim Mather. Representatives of KBR, The Wakelyn Trust, Scottish Government, The Highland Council and Highlands and Islands Enterprise attended the meeting to discuss the draf
28/07/2009
A Scottish Borders Council (SBC) Planning Guidance Note, which was recently praised by former Environment Minister, Michael Russell, has now been formally adopted. The Council's guidance on the 'Use of Timber in Sustainable Construction', was praised by Mr Russell during a conference on Carbon Bene
28/07/2009
Members and Friends of Thor House in Thurso have started work to create a new sensory garden that can be enjoyed by both respite and day care visitors to the centre. In the first stage of work climbers and creepers have been planted around the wooden fenced border that encloses the garden. Care
28/07/2009
The Minister for Housing and Communities, Alex Neil, heard the case for more Government funding for social housing when he met North Ayrshire councillors and officers recently. The minister was told that there is a significant shortfall between demand and supply in the area. The four main social ho
28/07/2009
Work is almost complete on a permanent memorial to all who sailed in the Arctic Convoys in WWII. An unveiling ceremony will be held in Lyness starting at 12 midday on August 22 beside the Interpretation Centre. The memorial has been jointly funded by the Orkney Islands Council, the Government of t
27/07/2009
The National House-Building Council's latest statistics show that the number of applications from builders to start new homes in Scotland remained low but stable in the three months to the end of June 2009. A total of 1,735 applications were received by NHBC to start new homes in the combined priva
27/07/2009
Scottish oil wealth must leave a lasting legacy for the country, Finance Secretary John Swinney will say later this week. The Scottish Government will advance its case for an oil fund for Scotland, part of the next stage of the National Conversation. An oil fund would invest a proportion of Scotla
27/07/2009
Scottish Water is broadening its horizons in Midlothian, driving a potential 6500 home development with its new OneSource brand. OneSource is the infrastructure consultancy arm of Horizons - the new commercial stand-alone business created by the utility. Chair of Horizons, Scottish Water's Comme
27/07/2009
Mitsubishi Electric has announced that it is starting production of its award-winning, low carbon Ecodan residential heating system at its manufacturing facility in Livingston, Scotland. Ecodan is a modern air source heat pump that can provide all the heating and hot water a home needs. It uses adv
27/07/2009
Plans to create, reconstruct and expand Aberdeen harbour quays were approved by the city council's planning committee on Thursday July 23. Aberdeen Harbour Board said that the work, which is to include dredging the river bed, is required to create a harbour area suitable for modern shipping needs w
27/07/2009
Diamond drilling and concrete cutting specialists, Core Cut, based in Broxburn are now expanding their operations to include 'passive fire protection'. The business's contracts manager Charlie Armour explained: "We consider passive fire protection an integral part of steel and concrete construction
27/07/2009
The City of Edinburgh Council remains committed to the completion of major flood prevention works, despite facing a funding shortfall of £22.7m. The Braid Burn scheme will be completed in September 2010 and a number of options to progress the Water of Leith scheme are being explored while discussio
27/07/2009
In a bid to help construction firms stay safe and productive during the downturn, ConstructionSkills has launched a set of money-saving product bundles. Bringing together essential guides, tools and CDs into handy sets, the bundles focus on key areas of Health and Safety, and help firms to stay ahe
27/07/2009
Unusual plans to transform a disused water reservoir into a round house have been unanimously approved by Aberdeen councillors. The redundant reservoir off Auchmill Road, close to Bucksburn Primary School, will be converted into an energy-efficient four-bedroom house using natural building material
27/07/2009
Doors By Design have just opened their new showroom DoorLab at their impressive production facility at Phoenix Retail Park, Paisley. The showroom is the brainchild of Doors By Design’s Commercial Director Barbara Fraser and brings their high quality doors to the residential market having spent the
24/07/2009
The latest GDP figures for Scotland show in the year to end-March 2009, the construction sector fell by 3.3%. In the first quarter of 2009, the construction sector fell by 6.6%, compared with a 1.5% fall for the service sector and a 5.1% decline in the production sector. Scottish Building Federati
24/07/2009
Applications to NHBC to start new homes have reached the highest point in almost a year. NHBC latest statistics show they received 8,305 applications in June 2009 from builders to start new homes in the combined private and public sectors, the greatest number since July 2008 when 9,530 applications
24/07/2009
Dawn Construction is celebrating the latest milestone in the building of a £17m health facility in Lanarkshire as it prepares to remove the tower crane from site later this week. Industry leader Dawn has been involved from the outset, undertaking a unique procurement route which involved putting to
24/07/2009
Scottish Renewables, the representative voice of the renewable energy industry in Scotland, has announced the appointment of Niall Stuart as its new Chief Executive. Niall will join the organisation from his current role as Press and Government Affairs Manager at the Scottish Council for Developme
24/07/2009
Four of Europe's top construction companies are vying for the opportunity to build the £7.3 million stretch of new dual carriageway on the A75 between Cairntop and Barlae. Balfour Beatty, Farrans, RJ Macleod and Graham Construction have been invited to participate in the first stage of the procurem
24/07/2009
More than 60 affordable homes are to be built in Aberdeen as part of two new housing developments which have been given the go-ahead by the city council's planning committee. The committee granted an application for a 174 flatted development on the site of a haulage yard at Park Road. The blocks o
24/07/2009
Alternative sites for the new Kirkcaldy residential care home, part of the £40m care home replacement programme, are currently being investigated. The proposal had been to build the new care home on the existing Appin House site and surrounding land but following an extensive ground work survey, ca
24/07/2009
Glasgow City Council's Executive Committee have approved plans for the Council to enter into a partnership with the GO Group to refurbish the Bell Street Cleaning Depot and create a Business Innovation Centre in its place. The innovation centre would offer around 4,200sq m of small business space o
24/07/2009
It was all smiles in the Hamilton office of residential letting and property management company Happy Lets recently. That is because the firm is already reaping the rewards from relocating four doors down the same town centre street into bigger, better and brighter premises, having seen a marked ri
24/07/2009
Robertson Timberkit has confirmed its strong environmental credentials as it was awarded PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) Chain of Custody certification through BM TRADA (Timber Research and Development Association). The certification bolsters Robertson's reputation for
23/07/2009
The John Muir Trust has lodged a formal objection to the proposal by Viking Energy to cover one fifth (19%) of mainland Shetland with 150 giant wind turbines. The Trust is convinced that the development will have a serious and hugely damaging detrimental impact on the landscape and visual quality
23/07/2009
A research consortium led by the University of Dundee has been awarded a £2m grant to explore means of generating and supplying power to rural areas in developing countries which do not have access to centralised electricity networks. Over 1 billion people in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa lack
23/07/2009
Two CALA Homes West site managers have scooped awards in the prestigious national house building awards for developments in Glasgow and Larbert. Robert Lafferty, site manager at CALA's Kinnaird Gardens development in Larbert and Alister McCallie, site manager at Witchwood in Newton Mearns, have r
23/07/2009
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning Fiona Hyslop saw first-hand how the University of the West of Scotland's (UWS) new state-of-the-art Ayr Campus is taking shape. Ms Hyslop examined blueprints and visited the site on Tuesday for the new 18,000 square metre campus as the UWS - whi
23/07/2009
Space Solutions is hoping to help boost the success of a recruitment firm after completing a refurbishment to its flagship Edinburgh office. Space Solutions carried out a comprehensive re-design and refit to allow recruitment business Recruitment Zone to maximise the use of its premises, rather tha
23/07/2009
Glasgow and Hamilton-based residential letting and property management company Happy Lets is hitting the acquisition trail as it targets increasing its portfolio from 800 to 5,000 properties within five years. Having acquired The Letting Store in Hamilton one year ago, the firm, led by young husban
23/07/2009
Plans to create a reconstruct and expand Aberdeen harbour quays are to be considered by the city council's planning committee. In its application for planning permission, Aberdeen Harbour Board states that the work, which would include dredging the river bed, is required to create a harbour area su
23/07/2009
A new study by the University of Strathclyde reveals Queen Margaret University's relocation to a new campus in East Lothian has brought significant benefits to the local economy. The study, which was commissioned by East Lothian Council and the university, concluded that QMU is worth £77m to the UK
23/07/2009
A new report shows a cleaner, greener energy future for Scotland is possible. The report shows for the first time that a truly sustainable energy future is achievable for Scotland, meeting climate change, renewable energy and energy saving targets plus creating new economic opportunities while prot
23/07/2009
The Scotch Whisky Experience, the five-star visitor attraction situated at the top of Edinburgh’s historic Royal Mile, has unveiled a new space for private dining within the record breaking World's Largest Collection of Scotch Whiskies. The floor to ceiling bespoke glass vault housing the world ex
22/07/2009
The new Machrihanish Dunes golf course in Mull of Kintyre - the first 18 hole links course developed in the West of Scotland for over 100 years - was officially opened today. Machrihanish Dunes is another step towards the economic revival of the Cambeltown area, following the announcement of a new
22/07/2009
Over £2bn of committed public and private investment in major regeneration projects over the next three years will continue the transformation of the Clyde Waterfront so that when the economic upturn comes, it will be top of the list for private sector investors and businesses. That's the bold pred
22/07/2009
The re-development of Marischal College has seen almost everything removed from the landmark building recycled, helping it to earn an "excellent" BREEAM (BRE Environmental Assessment Method) score. Ninety-one per cent of the 4,242 tonnes of wood (421 tonnes), metal (30 tonnes) and mixed general was
22/07/2009
Work has started on a £1.8m refurbishment and extension at Pinewood School, Blackburn. The school serves the whole of West Lothian and caters for young people who have a wide range of additional support needs including autism. The improvements include: six new classrooms, improvements to the physi
22/07/2009
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has guaranteed BVT shipyard operators shipbuilding work for the next 15 years. The firm, who run shipyards on the Clyde and in Portsmouth, have an agreement worth £230m. The MoD describe it as an "unambiguous commitment" that would require efficiency improvements i
22/07/2009
Ben Property, Edinburgh's residential letting and property management company, has reported an over supply of properties available for let in the capital throughout the festival month as city centre householders seek to lease out their properties to coincide with the event. The firm is offering a b
22/07/2009
Scotland and Japan should forge strong links to develop new technology to help tackle climate change and accelerate moves to a low carbon economy. Yesterday, in a speech at Tokyo University, John Swinney, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth, invited Japanese companies and universit
22/07/2009
Scotland and Northern Ireland have bucked the trend of declining number of projects starting on site in three months to June. The June Glenigan Index reveals that promised government investment has begun to filter through, helping to steady the flow of new projects starting on site after the sharp
21/07/2009
Archial Architects, one of the largest architecture practices in Scotland and the UK, has won planning approval for its proposals to create the largest residential development in Lochaber for 30 years. The plans to build 301 houses at Caol, Fort William, 105 of which will be affordable properties,
21/07/2009
In the last quarter, Stewart Milne Construction has secured contracts worth over £12m in the Dundee and Perthshire areas. The contracts will see the company delivering projects for the University of Abertay in Dundee, Hillcrest Housing Association in Aberuthven, Perthshire and high end homes for a
21/07/2009
Martin Johnson has been appointed manager with Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) for the Inner Moray Firth area. He will take up the post in mid August, following the appointment of current manager James Gibbs to a senior post with UHI, the prospective University of the Highlands and Island.
21/07/2009
The recession has seen demand for french polishing and furniture restoration skills grow, according to a small Aberdeen-based company. Interior specialists Gatts say due to the credit crunch people are buying second-hand furniture and opting for restoration rather than purchasing new furniture. Th
21/07/2009
Engineering company L&N (Scotland) have launched a new website. The Aberdeen company, which supplies valves and actuators to the oil and gas industry, has invested significant capital to bring its brand up to date. The revamped website aims to drive up new business and make it easier for existing
21/07/2009
A Victorian mansion once owned by the man who founded one of the greatest golfing tournaments in the world has been rescued from ruin and turned into the ultimate 'des res' for golfers. Coodham House, near Symington in Ayrshire was the family home of James Ogilvy Fairlie, the creator of Prestwick G
21/07/2009
A new Director of Human Resources, Shirley Smith, has been appointed at EnerMech Ltd. The Aberdeen mechanical services company said the board appointment reflected the significant growth of the company in the last 12 months and was part of its international expansion strategy. She will play a key
21/07/2009
A new Specialist Works team has been set up by Robertson in Inverness - to focus on construction projects up to £1m in value. A privately owned portfolio of individual companies working in construction, investment, development and facilities management services throughout the UK, Robertson has alre
21/07/2009
Commercial property consultant, FG Burnett, has appointed Stewart Smith as a graduate surveyor. Stewart joins FG Burnett's Glasgow team following his graduation with a 1st class honours degree in Property Management and Valuation. During his university studies Stewart worked on a part time and ful
20/07/2009
A new state-of-the art refuge for women and children affected by domestic abuse officially opened its doors in Glasgow today. The £1.8m purpose built facility offers
20/07/2009
Two ambitious Robertson employees have been rewarded for their hard work in the construction industry with prestigious awards. Stuart Forsyth, 19, from Elgin was announced as the Robertson Apprentice of the Year, while Ewan McDonald, 27, from Aberdeen, also celebrated winning the 'Best Delegate' -
20/07/2009
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) has launched a public appeal to raise funds for Mercedes the polar bear. Mercedes currently resides at Edinburgh Zoo but is set to move to the Highland Wildlife Park later this year. The original estimations put the cost of a new enclosure at £300,00
20/07/2009
Engineers from Scotland Gas Networks have begun the task of removing hundreds of thousands of gallons of water that entered the gas network in the Dundas/Canonmills area of Edinburgh following a burst water main in Thistle Street. Over 2,000 properties in the city's New Town have been without gas
20/07/2009
The well known architects BDP has beaten off stiff competition to design a new campus for Inverness College. The new campus will provide a high quality learning environment for Inverness College, which is the largest of the colleges in the Highlands and Islands, and the largest partner in the grou
20/07/2009
The Scottish Building Federation (SBF) has strongly welcomed the publication of a report to the UK Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, entitled 'One death is too many'. It is the result of a six month inquiry, which SBF's Chief Executive Michael Levack contributed to, into the underlying caus
20/07/2009
In a bid to modernise the current qualifications frameworks, the Government is, through OfQual, set to implement a new qualifications and credit framework (QCF) from 2010, which will include replacing National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs). However, ConstructionSkills has expressed a number of
20/07/2009
The standard in developing proposals and policies for a low carbon economy has been set by Scotland, Climate Change Minister Stewart Stevenson has said. The UK Government White Paper 'The UK Low Carbon Transition Plan', published July 15, sets out measures to meet its carbon budgets for 2008-2022.
20/07/2009
Steven Black, from Peterhead, has been appointed as Scotland's youngest tenant assessor. Steven, who has just turned 24, joins a team of volunteer assessors who will work with the Scottish Housing Regulator on its inspections of more than 200 social landlords, including housing authorities, associa
10/07/2009
Scotland has fewer social rented homes than it had 50 years ago, according to a report published today by housing and homelessness charity, Shelter Scotland. The charity's new report 'Building Pressure', which shows the growing gap between the number of homes needed and the number available, launch
10/07/2009
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) today warned property owners to ensure that they keep accurate records of asbestos in their buildings and pass any information on to contractors. The warning follows a serious incident in which contracted workers as well as members of the public were exposed to
10/07/2009
Housing and Communities Minister Alex Neil today branded the effects of Right to Buy legislation on numbers of homes for rent as a 'dreadful legacy' for housing in Scotland. He was responding to a Shelter Scotland report which shows that the number of housing association and council homes for rent
10/07/2009
New affordable housing projects in North Lanarkshire, backed by £8.5m of Scottish Government funding, are safeguarding more than 100 jobs in the construction industry. Local housing associations - Cumbernauld Housing Partnership Ltd and Lanarkshire Housing Association Ltd - who are jointly contribu
10/07/2009
The new West Lothian Civic Centre is ready to serve. Senior representatives from the partner organisations attended the official 'topping out' to mark the completion of the building stage. West Lothian Civic Centre is thought to be the most ambitious public sector partnership of its type in the UK.
10/07/2009
The 2010 Queen's Awards for Enterprise will officially open for entries on 20 July 2009, organisers announced today. Outstanding UK businesses of all sizes and from any industry sector are being urged to apply for The Queen's Awards - widely regarded as the UK's highest honour for business success
10/07/2009
Inverclyde Councillors have agreed to demolish the former Highholm Primary School in Port Glasgow ahead of opening the site for regeneration. The school officially closed in August 2008 when pupils and staff were relocated to the new £9m Newark Primary. The building has been used for many years to
10/07/2009
The Convener of The Highland Council Councillor, Sandy Park, has received positive news from both the UK and Scottish Governments over plans to regenerate the former oil fabrication yard and surrounding land at Nigg, East Ross as a multi-user facility over the next 15-20 years. The Scottish Governm
10/07/2009
Aberdeen manufacturer Woollard & Henry, which was on the brink of closing seven years ago, has continued one of Scotland's great business comeback stories by winning the Queen's Award for International Trade. A world-renowned manufacturer of engineering equipment for the paper industry, Woollard &
10/07/2009
On behalf of Transport Scotland, Interlink M74 Joint Venture will be carrying out work in advance of the erection of the viaduct which will carry the M74 over the M8 as part of the M74 Completion project. The M8 Junction 21 (Paisley Road) eastbound off ramp will be temporarily closed between midnig
09/07/2009
The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has awarded the contract to build the main structure of the Basketball Arena to a Scottish company based in Glasgow, bringing the total of Scottish companies to win London 2012 contracts to 30. During the Olympic Games the temporary Arena will have 12,000 seats
09/07/2009
The Highlands and Islands region stands to gain by £72m a year if Inverness College UHI moves to a new site at Beechwood, rather than redevelop its current site on the Longman Industrial Estate. The figure has been calculated by independent economic consultants Cogentsi, commissioned by Highlands
09/07/2009
Whilst recognising Shelter's demands for 30,000 affordable rented homes by 2012, the home building industry has highlighted the need to increase housing supply across all tenures as the only realistic means of solving Scotland’s growing housing problems. Jonathan Fair, Chief Executive of Homes for
09/07/2009
Vincent de Rivaz, CEO of EDF Energy, last week visited employees at British Energy's Torness power station in East Lothian, to meet some of the 550 staff based there and to respond to questions about the future of the combined company. This completes a programme of visits following the acquisition
09/07/2009
An independent report has backed the City of Edinburgh Council for its vision over the future development of Scotland's capital as outlined in the Edinburgh City Local Plan. The Council has also been commended for the way it handled public objections to the plan - first published in 2007. Two repo
09/07/2009
The partnership set up to make it easier for people to find housing in Argyll and Bute has signed an historic Joint Working Agreement. The agreement was signed yesterday by the partners in HOMEArgyll (Housing Options Made Easy, Argyll) - Argyll and Bute Council, Argyll Community Housing Association
09/07/2009
Ecosse Subsea Systems and Robert Gordon University (RGU) announced today they have been awarded a £5,000 grant to study a new innovative wave power technology. The grant, received through the Scottish Funding Council, will be used to study the new technology, which is estimated to produce two to fi
09/07/2009
Glasgow-based residential letting and property management company Happy Lets has questioned the need for the introduction of a proposed new tenancy deposit scheme. New ways of improving tenancy deposit practice are currently under consideration by the Scottish Government with a recent study into Sc
09/07/2009
Acting on behalf of Castlecroft Securities, J&E Shepherd Chartered Surveyors is offering commercial development land and a number of new build warehouse units for sale or lease at Glenalmond Business Park, by Perth. A substantial commercial location extending to around 24 acres, Glenalmond Business
08/07/2009
The University of Aberdeen has appointed construction company Pihl UK Ltd as main contractor for its flagship new library. The contract is for construction of a building of nine floors including a lower ground floor and landscaping. The new University of Aberdeen library will replace the existin
08/07/2009
Taycare, a healthcare joint venture led by Robertson Capital Projects (RCP) working with partner Morgan Sindall Investments (MSI), has been named preferred bidder for the £100m Tayside Mental Health Developments project. Taycare will deliver the work on behalf of NHS Tayside and the North of Scotla
08/07/2009
Protesters are being removed from an open cast mine development in South Lanarkshire. Permission has been granted for Scottish Coal to mine about 1.7 million tonnes of coal at the Mainshill Wood Scottish Coal site in Douglas. Around 30 campaigners against the mining had dug themselves in and put u
08/07/2009
The Crown Estate has announced today a gross surplus for its Scottish estates of £15.5m for the year ending 31 March 2009, compared to £11.4m in the previous year. This represents 6.4% of The Crown Estate's total gross surplus of £243.2m for the UK as a whole. The surplus goes towards public spend
08/07/2009
Two tram works contracts worth almost £10m have been awarded to principal and specialist contractor the McKean Group. McKean and Company, a division of the McKean Group, has won a £7m contract from Bilfinger Berger to carry out work on Edinburgh's £500m tram scheme. The firm's remit includes widen
08/07/2009
Historic Scotland inspectors are to visit the Parish of Melrose to identify the important buildings and to review existing listings. The team will visit the parish looking for buildings that merit listing while giving a fresh appraisal to properties already on the list. This will ensure the area ha
08/07/2009
Restoration work to breathe new life into Stirling's Old Town Cemeteries has been completed and was officially opened by Stirling's Provost Fergus Wood. Stirling Council's £1.7m contract is a unique piece of Scottish landscape dating back to the 16th Century. It is the Council's aim that the res
08/07/2009
Children from St Fergus RC Primary School and members of the Ardler Bowling Club in Dundee have been celebrating after receiving grants to support their activities from Sanctuary Scotland Housing Association. Sanctuary Scotland, a member of Sanctuary Group, provided £200 worth of funding to St Ferg
08/07/2009
Waitrose, the food shops of the John Lewis Partnership, has announced it is to open its first ever store in Glasgow. The retailer has reached an agreement to take over the lease of the 16,420 sq ft Somerfield in Byres Road in the city's West End and will open there by November this year. More than
08/07/2009
The June Glenigan Index reveals that promised government investment has begun to filter through, helping to steady the flow of new projects starting on site after the sharp falls endured over the last year. The Glenigan Index, which tracks the underlying value of construction projects starting on
07/07/2009
The Crystal Rig windfarm near Dunbar is to be extended by a capacity great enough to power more than 13,000 homes, First Minister Alex Salmond announced today. The First Minister announced the £22m investment during his visit to Natural Power, the Dumfries & Galloway based company, who develop and
07/07/2009
People affected by homelessness are set to develop new skills and increase their confidence thanks to a new training programme launched by Connaught Partnerships Ltd. Glasgow's Homelessness Network (GHN) in conjunction with Connaught Partnerships developed a DIY and decorating skills course for peo
07/07/2009
Work is underway to upgrade the blaes football pitch at Wemyss Bay Primary School to a third generation Astroturf pitch with floodlighting. The £315,000 project is part of the ongoing multi-million pound investment in the Schools Estate by Inverclyde Council. Councillor Iain McKenzie, Convener of
07/07/2009
Expressions of interest are being invited for a development opportunity at the Canting Bay, part of the Pacific Quay development. The current master plan is to develop the Canting Basin for marine or associated uses, creating a lively active waterspace that is both a draw for tourists and a positiv
07/07/2009
An Edinburgh Napier University student has been identified as a star of the future in the design world. Andy Murray (22) won first prize at the prestigious D&AD Student Awards - the Oscars of the design industry - in the Product Design: Furniture category. The winners were announced last week at an
07/07/2009
Former TV Home Show stars Viv Lumsden and Alan Douglas popped in to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children at Yorkhill for a spot of DIY. They were there at the invitation of Glasgow accountants Martin Aitken & Co who this year decided to make Yorkhill Children's Foundation their chosen charity. Thr
07/07/2009
Changes to the determination of local planning applications will be introduced later in the year to speed up the decision-making process and encourage inward investment. The Highland Council has agreed a Scheme of Delegation and establishment of a Review Body, which it has presented to the Scottish
07/07/2009
Springfield Properties has racked up a hat-trick of success in June by winning three categories in the prestigious Scottish Homes Awards. At a special lunch in Edinburgh on June 26 Springfield scooped the titles for Conversion of the Year, House of the Year and Apartment of the Year. It was a majo
07/07/2009
A major milestone in the construction of Edinburgh Napier University's new Sighthill campus has been reached. The highest point of the redeveloped, multimillion pound campus - part of the University's £100m investment strategy - has been completed as part of an official topping out ceremony. The e
07/07/2009
A North East firm is celebrating a 40% increase in sales for one of its leading brands. TAP Ltd incorporates Aberdeen Pressure Washer Centre and operates from Duff Street in Turriff and Inverurie's Thainstone Centre. It is reporting the marked increase on Kärcher equipment such as industrial and
06/07/2009
The search is on for the best designed buildings in the Scottish Borders, with the launch of the Scottish Borders Council Design Award Scheme 2009. Organised by the Countryside and Heritage team of the Planning and Economic Development Department, the award scheme is intended to recognise and publi
06/07/2009
Glasgow Central station is about to see its biggest improvements for passenger services in more than 100 years with the creation of two new platforms. The platforms will provide the capacity needed for Transport Scotland's Glasgow Airport Rail Link project and also enhance Central's ability to acco
06/07/2009
The contractors building the new Kingsland primary school in Peebles take safety extremely seriously and have been finding innovative ways of ensuring people understand the potential dangers of a construction site. Graham Construction approached Jacqueline Wilson, Head Teacher of Kingsland Primary
06/07/2009
Historic Scotland has informed Orkney Islands Council that it does not propose to either list or schedule the Black Building. The key reason for this decision is the reduced condition of the building which limits its intrinsic significance In a letter to the Council's Chief Executive, Historic Sco
06/07/2009
Sight, sound, touch and smell all make the new garden at Grangemouth's Oswald Avenue Day Centre a haven for therapy and relaxation. It was opened on June 25 by Falkirk Council Head of Service Community Care Marion Reddie. According to the council the original garden at the centre - which provides
06/07/2009
The venue for the new Musselburgh Museum has been announced on the town's High Street. The council-owned property at 65 High Street, Musselburgh, is directly beside the historic Old Town Hall (the Tolbooth). The 895 sq ft unit was previously used as a shop but has been lying vacant since December
06/07/2009
A 54-year-old forestry worker with East Lothian Council has become the 500th person to achieve the Royal Forestry Society (RFS) Certificate in Arboriculture. George Findlay, who lives in Port Seton, had worked in forestry when he left school, but took 17-year break driving buses, before returning t
06/07/2009
East Dunbartonshire Council's £4.5m investment in road improvements this year has begun to take shape. Road works planners have worked hard to ensure as little disruption as possible but there will still be delays for drivers as they encounter the increased number of worksites delivering the improv
06/07/2009
Following the recent launch of the Kilmarnock CARS (Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme) project, work has begun on the upgrading and enhancement of several properties in John Finnie Street. Work is about to commence on the improvement of the property in which the florist Paper Roses is located,
06/07/2009
Historic Scotland is to digitally document Scotland's five World Heritage Sites. Culture Minister Michael Russell announced the groundbreaking project involving the Antonine Wall, St Kilda, New Lanark, Heart of Neolithic Orkney, and the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh. This will be matched with the
03/07/2009
A five-year conservation-led programme aimed at restoring Aberdeen's Green to its former glory gets underway this summer. The Green Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) has been set up to tackle the problems of rundown historic buildings and streetscape where longstanding economic and structural dec
03/07/2009
Lovell has been chosen by North Lanarkshire Council for a £2.2m project to build 20 new affordable homes at Holytown, near Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. The scheme marks the first stage of the council's £30m new house building programme to deliver over 200 new homes. The Holytown development will
03/07/2009
Three of Turner & Townsend's projects in Scotland have been announced as winners of The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Awards 2009. The annual RIBA Awards for architectural excellence are presented to a wide variety of buildings and a range of architectural practices. The Potterrow
03/07/2009
The new state-of-the-art Inverclyde Academy has won its architects two prizes in the International Green Apple Awards 2009. The design brief for the £29m building in Greenock has already been held as an example of good practice by the Scottish Government for other local authorities to follow. Now
03/07/2009
Changes to the CITB-ConstructionSkills Grants Scheme have been agreed by the industry-led Board this week. This will ensure the skills and training board can continue to pay grants to businesses as the recession deepens. After extensive consultation, the Board ratified proposals that had been sugg
03/07/2009
A major milestone in the construction of Edinburgh Napier University's new Sighthill campus was reached this week. The highest point of the redeveloped, multimillion pound campus - part of the University's £100m investment strategy - was completed as part of an official topping out ceremony. The e
03/07/2009
Balfour Beatty Engineering Services recently secured a contract for the mechanical and electrical services work for NHS Fife's new acute facility at Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy. The new 508-bed acute hospital is being built adjacent to the existing Victoria Hospital and will house all specialist a
03/07/2009
Work is underway on a £22.3m redevelopment of Coatbridge College. The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, Fiona Hyslop, visited Coatbridge College today and took part in a turf-cutting ceremony outside the college which is benefitting from the accelerated capital spend announced
03/07/2009
Apollo has appointed a new Divisional Director to strengthen its Glasgow-based team. Glaswegian, Brian Morrow joins Apollo's Scottish office following 10 years of service with Connaught in the West Midlands and in Glasgow. A Commitee Member of Barrhead Housing Association as well as a significant
03/07/2009
Acting on behalf of YWCA Scotland, J&E Shepherd Chartered Surveyors has secured a letting for a short term nine month basis of Lochend Centre, South Edinburgh, for an undisclosed sum. With Port of Leith Housing Association already identified by the landlord as the tenant, Shepherd was commissioned
02/07/2009
Arkleston Bridge over the M8 near Glasgow Airport is set to benefit from a £1.2m programme of investment. A number of high vehicles have struck the bridge since its construction in 1968, most recently in September last year when a lorry being carried on a flatbed trailer smashed into the bridge, dr
02/07/2009
Public opinion is being sought on the future of one of the country's best known tourist spots - John O'Groats. Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has commissioned planning consultants GVA Grimley to produce a masterplan of how the visitor attraction could be developed, with a specific focus on
02/07/2009
Musselburgh-based Eastern Exhibition & Display has produced and installed the White Feather: The Spirit of Lennon exhibition, which has been opened in Liverpool by Julian and Cynthia Lennon. Working together with design agency Cubit 3D, also in Musselburgh, and Edinburgh's Three Brand Design, Easte
02/07/2009
Significant gains in its housing business during 2008 has resulted in a robust performance for one of the UK's larger privately owned construction companies, despite the tough economic trading conditions. Morris & Spottiswood has reported revenues of £122.5m in 2008, down slightly from £125.3m the
02/07/2009
T.I. Dynamic Facades' Aerolite façade system has been installed at the new Malmaison Hotel in Aberdeen. Specified to match the Granite stone on the original parts of the C-listed building, the lightweight Aerolite Granite facade system creates the appearance of solid stone. Formerly the famous Que
02/07/2009
A team from Lovell housing solutions has raised more than £1,200 for Bobath Scotland - which helps children with cerebral palsy - by taking part in the charity's 2009 Dragon Boat Challenge. A Lovell crew of fourteen rowers and a drummer competed in the annual event, held over a 250-metre course on
02/07/2009
Shetland Islands Council has chosen Sheerframe curtain walling and windows to provide lasting protection against the elements for Bells Brae School - one of the most exposed schools in the UK. With over 300 pupils, the primary school, the largest in Shetland, is located in Lerwick and its South fa
02/07/2009
The new Blog for the Highland wide Local Development Plan has been launched. The Blog will be updated regularly with information on meetings and events hosted and attended by the Development Plans team at The Highland Council. Councillor Ian Ross, Chairman of the Planning, Environment and Develop
02/07/2009
Projects celebrating Scotland's achievements in tackling climate change are being invited to put themselves forward for the 2009 Green Energy Awards. The awards will be presented at a gala evening in the run down to the Copenhagen Climate Change summit in December, showcasing just how Scotland's wo
02/07/2009
An action plan to drive the development of renewable energy and capitalise on Scotland's natural resources to derive maximum economic benefit has been published. Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth John Swinney said that developing the right renewables infrastructure and boosting s
01/07/2009
The Edinburgh time ball has been successfully lifted back into place on top of the Nelson Monument, following a major restoration project. The work is part of the Twelve Monuments Restoration Project, a joint initiative of the City of Edinburgh Council and Edinburgh World Heritage, which will see s
01/07/2009
New offices being built for Dundee City Council will provide employment and training opportunities under a pilot project. Scottish Government Finance Minister Mr John Swinney met some of those who have already benefited from the scheme when he officially launched work on the new Dundee House. The
01/07/2009
The £980,000 revamp of Carnoustie Seafront was officially unveiled at a ceremony featuring local school children on Tuesday. The project was undertaken by Angus Council to ensure that the burgh continues to offer the best possible facilities for both local people and visitors. The refurbishment, c
01/07/2009
The future of over 40 dairy farms and 100 jobs has been secured after farmers' co-operative First Milk unveiled plans to build a new creamery on the Kintyre peninsula. It will replace the existing Campbeltown creamery, built in the 1820s as a whisky distillery before being converted to a cheese-man
01/07/2009
Graham + Sibbald have been instructed by BDO Stoy Hayward to market two major development sites in Scotland. The two sites comprise, the former Jewel Esk Valley College, Eskbank, Dalkeith and the iconic former BBC HQ, Queen Margaret Drive, Glasgow. Graham + Sibbald also held off stiff opposition
01/07/2009
Road users are now experiencing the benefit of the recently opened road improvement scheme on the A7. The Transport Scotland project upgraded 2.3km of carriageway, near Auchenrivock, south of Langholm. The benefits of the completed improvement scheme include improving the operation and safety of
01/07/2009
Eyemouth High School and Berwickshire High School, in the Scottish Borders, were officially opened on 12 and 19 June respectively. A number of Graham representatives attended the opening ceremonies for both schools. The Council, staff and students alike were delighted with their new facilities, wh
01/07/2009
An Angus company has been awarded the tender for the revamp of Kirriemuir Town Hall. Forfar company RS Hill will carry out the £800,000 project, which includes a new kitchen extension, external ramps, steps and walkways, alterations and refurbishment to the back stage areas incorporating accessible
01/07/2009
Applications worth in excess of £8m have been submitted by organisations across Aberdeenshire to access cash from the Scottish Government's Town Centre Regeneration Fund. The applications were submitted in time for the first round of funding under the scheme and are now being considered. The appli
01/07/2009
The National Specialist Contractors' Council (NSCC) has elected Hamish MacGregor, Managing Director of MacGregor Flooring Company Ltd, as its new President. Hamish, who founded MacGregor Flooring in 1985 following a management buyout, has been active in the flooring industry for many years and is
