Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
Scotland Construction News Archive for October 2012
31/10/2012
The main construction of new Glasgow entertainment venue The Hydro has been completed. One million work hours went into the new venue, which will form part of the city’s SECC venue as well as the Clyde Auditorium, known locally as the Armadillo. The the last roof bolt on the 12,000-seater arena ha
31/10/2012
Council housing debt in Scotland is expected to increase by £353m in the year to March 2013. This 13.4% increase will see the total debt reach £2,991.9m. The news came as Scotland’s chief Statistician released figures on Scotland’s local authority housing income and expenditure. Shetland will ret
31/10/2012
50% of Scotland’s electricity is to be generated from green power by 2015. Alex Salmond has unveiled the new target at the RenewableUK conference in Glasgow. He said: "When I became First Minister in 2007, I inherited a target for 50% of Scotland’s electricity to be produced by renewable sources b
31/10/2012
Scottish government plans to cut rates relief for empty shops and offices have been met with fierce opposition. Holyrood has made assurances by saying the move is just part of a plan to support town centres and that rates relief will still remain more generous than in England. The new legislation
31/10/2012
New North Lanarkshire council homes are to be built on the site of a former primary school in Airdrie. The former Albert Primary School site hold the £1.3m development, which will create 14 new two-bedroom flats as part of North Lanarkshire Council’s 'Building for the Future' programme. The disuse
31/10/2012
A controversial Lochaber hydro-electric scheme has received backing from Highland councillors. SSE are in charge of plans for the £800m, 600MW project to be constructed at Coire Glas near Spean Bridge. Opponents have warned it would damage tourism. The development would be the biggest ever hydro
31/10/2012
Discussions are continuing over the proposed partnership between the West of Scotland Housing Association and North East of England housing provider Gentoo. The management committee of West of Scotland Housing Association (WSHA) has agreed to continue discussions with Gentoo Group and plans to beco
31/10/2012
Argowan Hospice in Greenock has received new cabinet doors and fittings as a donation to cut down the costs of a kitchen refit. River Clyde Homes made the donation to the hospice after acquiring a surplus of unused units. The surplus came about when the housing association appointed new kitchen co
30/10/2012
The Scottish government has confirmed the cost of the new Aberdeen bypass will now be £653m. The Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR) had previously been predicted as costing £347m, but delays and inflation have caused that estimate to rise dramatically. The 28-mile-road was given the go-ahead
30/10/2012
A fundraising initiative has been launched to help restore an historic well in Edinburgh. St Bernard’s Well on the Water of Leith is over 220 years old and is in need of restoration works to restore it to its former state. The revamp is expected to cost over £230,000, but only £50,000 is actually
30/10/2012
£6m is being given to Scottish households to install energy efficiency measures such as loft and cavity installation to prepare for the coming winter months. The Scottish government will also be helping up to 10,000 households cut energy bills. A cash back voucher scheme i going live this week, wh
30/10/2012
A Scottish Council has become one of the first in the UK to celebrate achieving the 'Carbon Masters Standard'. West Dunbartonshire Council received the status for exceeding targets set for reducing its carbon emissions. The award was given to the Council after it demonstrated an 11% carbon emissio
30/10/2012
Councillors in Perth and Kinross are due to hear new plans regarding additional affordable housing in the region. Several new affordable housing schemes are to be added to the programme of local authority and housing association developments between 2012-2015. This will bring the total to 54 addit
30/10/2012
Construction is almost underway to begin a £5.4m council housing development in North Ayrshire. The Redstone Avenue area of Kilwinning will see 46 new homes built in the development. The project is still at its design stage and a further consultation is due next month. The project was discussed b
30/10/2012
The refurbishment of a centre for children with physical and learning disabilities has been celebrated with a photography exhibition. Children and young people at Angus Council’s Social Work and Health’s Strathmore Centre in Forfar have recently been involved in an artwork project and the creation
30/10/2012
A town in Fife has been nominated for a 2012 Scottish Urban Regeneration Forum (SURF) Award. Lochgelly has been shortlisted after being nominated by Fife Council under the Sustainable Place category. The Council said: "Lochgelly has achieved the short-listed status because of the physical, economi
29/10/2012
While the public and businesses may have welcomed last week’s news that the UK economy is technically out of recession, the construction sector has continued to contract. Construction output fell 2.5% in the three months from July to September. The previous quarter saw a decline of 3.0%. Output i
29/10/2012
The cost of the Borders Railway project is expected to rise by a further £50m, the Scotland on Sunday newspaper has reported. Ministers had insisted the anticipated budget of £235m-£295m would not be breached, but sources close to the paper have now reported the amount will total £350m It is also
29/10/2012
£2m of funding has been provided to two of Scotland’s biggest cities to spur a new transport and infrastructure regeneration. The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) programme has provided grants for two transport projects in Glasgow and one in Dundee. £1.2m will go towards Strathclyde Partn
29/10/2012
A risk assessment has been carried out of wind turbines at schools in the Highlands The turbines were turned off in May be the Highland Council following safety worries. The Council has decided to turn the turbines off in 100mph conditions, despite recommendations from the local authority that the
29/10/2012
The Highland Council has announced the Inverness East flood alleviation programme will cost £6.9m. The news came following a public exhibition and meeting at Culloden Academy in Inverness which was attended by around 60 people. Neil Gillies, Director of the Council’s Transport Environmental and Co
29/10/2012
One of the most famous feats of Scottish engineering is to be given a major birthday party to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its construction. The Forth Estuary Transport Authority (FETA) will hold a ten-day festival in September 2014 to celebrate the contribution of the Forth Bridge to the loca
26/10/2012
One of the Menie residents who was at the centre of the controversy regarding Donald Trump’s plans to build a golf resort in Scotland has called for a full public inquiry. David Milne has been a long-standing opponent of the Trump resort and was one of four homeowners threatened with compulsory pur
26/10/2012
Edinburgh architects RMJM have vowed to save 120 jobs through restructuring of the company. RMJM's three UK subsidiary companies have ceased trading after being placed in receivership. The firm says the steps have been taken with a "deep sense of regret". The move has seen restructuring company
26/10/2012
Work has begun on a new £9.2m integrated Grampian Police facility in Kittybrewster. The new building has been designed by GMA|Ryder Architecture and will comprise a 60 cell custody facility, a local policing team, criminal justice office, a virtual court facility and an identity parade suite. The
26/10/2012
The controversial Portobello Park high school scheme has reached a new stage in negotiations, as Edinburgh councillors vote to ask MSPs to get behind the project. The City of Edinburgh Council want to construct a new school to replace a 1960's tower block. But local community organisation Portobel
26/10/2012
A Scottish housing association has told Holyrood’s Infrastructure and Capital Investment Committee that new policy on housing investment needs to be urgently reviewed. The Glasgow and West of Scotland Forum of Housing Associations (GWSF) has challenged the Committee over the new rules. Giving evid
26/10/2012
A Scottish Housing charity has welcomed tighter rules for mortgage lenders imposed by the government’s Financial Services Authority (FSA). Shelter Scotland says it is pleased at new FSA rules which pledge to put "common sense" at the heart of the mortgage market. It is thought the legislation will
26/10/2012
Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) has announced plans to build eight new eco homes which will reduce bills and cut carbon emissions. The project began when four prototypes of the 'Glasgow House' were constructed in a partnership between GHA and City Building. Now GHA is incorporating elements of
26/10/2012
Argyll and Bute Council has been praised for its roads reconstruction projects in a new report released by Audit Scotland. While the report has acknowledged the Council budget may not meet the requirements of the road network, it nevertheless recognises the roads asset management strategy which is
26/10/2012
While the construction sector remains one of the hardest hit by the UK recession, a business and financial advice firm has claimed the industry remains the most effective at embedding sustainability goals into its Operations and Risk functions. The claim comes from a new report published by busines
26/10/2012
Three young East Ayrshire pupils have landed a work placement opportunity which will help them gain experience in the world of building and design. Sixth year Auchinleck Academy pupils Jenna Lau, Melissa McPartland and Duncan Wyllie had been developing their interest in the world of design by mento
25/10/2012
Plans to build a new windfarm have been rejected following Ministry of Defence concerns. The MoD said it was concerned about a bid to build a windfarm at Minnygap Heights near Moffat due to the potential impact on a seismic station which monitors breaches of a nuclear test ban treaty. Developers R
25/10/2012
Hundreds of millions of pounds of private investment have been unlocked as part of a plan to regenerate Glasgow’s city centre. The City Council’s £80m Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) scheme is expected to produce £310m in private investment and create almost 1,500 jobs, according to Holyrood. The
25/10/2012
A Scottish Housing charity has slammed Holyrood’s 45% cut to the social housing budget, branding it a "knockout punch" to low-income families. Shelter Scotland has said cuts in Scotland and UK welfare reforms could condemn many people across Scotland to poverty and ill health. Speaking ahead of th
25/10/2012
Scotland appears to be one of the most popular places for people living in the rest of the UK to buy second homes. The latest census figures from England and Wales show almost 50,000 people now have a second address in Scotland or Northern Ireland. This is the first time the question has been incl
25/10/2012
The chairman of ScottishPower has slammed David Cameron’s plans to force energy firms to offer their cheapest price plans to customers as anti competitive. Ignacio Galan was speaking in London as he unveiled the results for the Iberdola group, which owns ScottishPower. Mr Galan defended ScottishPo
25/10/2012
South Ayrshire’s empty housing strategy has been boosted by the implementation of a match making service which unites buyers and sellers. The new service is aiming to bring empty properties back into use, whether they require repair work or are in walk-in condition. This increases the market expos
25/10/2012
North Ayshire Council is to build 46 new homes in Kilwinning. The Redstone Avenue area of the town will see £5.4m invested in the development, which has edged even closer to beginning construction. A meeting of the Cabinet on Tuesday saw the project discussed by Councillors. It was agreed to exte
25/10/2012
Residents with specific housing needs in Fife will be able to help the council develop future support and services. Fife Council is is updating its Specific Needs Housing Approach; a scheme which attends to the specific accommodation needs of residents. At the Executive Committee this week it was
25/10/2012
Fife’s golf courses are set to undergo refurbishment and investment to the tune of £700,000. Work is due to begin on major improvements to all seven courses managed by Fife Golf Trust on behalf of the Council. The next two years will see £700,000 invested and Fife Council has already identified si
25/10/2012
A new development which will see Leith Shore connected with Portobello Promenade has been launched. The new route is part of Edinburgh’s Family Network, as set out in the Active Travel Action Plan. It will follow traffic-free paths and has seen the installation of a new ramp and bridge across Seaf
24/10/2012
The Scottish construction industry is outperforming its English counterpart, according to an industry head. Balfour Beatty chief executive Mike Peasland believes the industry is performing better in Scotland than most English regions. He told the Herald: "If you look across the country London is
24/10/2012
Amended planning consent for the public realm works in Colquhoun Square in Helensburgh has been approved. A referendum was held in June, whereupon the original plans were amended. Pricing is due in January 2013 and the contract will be awarded in early March. Work is expected to start in April ne
24/10/2012
Engineering students from the University of Abertay Dundee have been gaining experience at Scotland's Constructionarium. Second year BSc students undertook a week-long residential course and were given the challenge of building scaled-down versions of world-famous engineering projects. The drawing
24/10/2012
Construction work has begun on a new £14.5m "civic hub" in Renfrewshire. The new hub in Johnstone is being described as "the jewel in the crown" of the regeneration project which will see a new town hall, library, theatre and marriage suite built. The hub will also provide public facilities for th
24/10/2012
Plans by Fife council to build 170 homes in Halbeath will see the size of the village effectively doubled. Planning has been submitted for the North Fod site following a consultation with local residents in the summer. 25% of the new homes on the seven-hectare site will be affordable housing. It
24/10/2012
An Edinburgh property company has called for a shake-up of Scottish housing policy in order to rejuvenate the market. ESPC has said Holyrood must act to stimulate the sale of existing homes. The firm submitted written evidence to the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Committee's review of the
24/10/2012
A new initiative has begun which will see young people restore and transform part of the Scottish landscape. The Central Scotland Green Network (CSGN) aims to lead work on the landscape of an area stretching from Ayrshire and Inverclyde in the west, to Fife and the Lothians in the east. The first
24/10/2012
The Sydney Opera House is the latest historic building to become part of a hi-tec Scottish cataloguing project. The Scottish Ten is a five year project which uses laser technology to create accurate, digital models of Scotland’s five UNESCO designated World Heritage Sites and five international one
23/10/2012
Shell has announced it will begin drilling in one of its biggest Scottish North Sea energy projects in a decade. The Fram oil and gas field is located about 135 miles east of Aberdeen. Shell is seeking to develop the site, which is thought to have the potential to pump 5% of Britain’s gas needs. B
23/10/2012
Donald Trump has blasted the BBC over its decision to show a documentary documenting the development of his controversial golf course at Menie. It has been reported that the US billionaire attempted to stop the Beeb from airing the documentary, calling it a "highly biased and manipulative so-called
23/10/2012
A public inquiry has begun into plans to build a 31-turbine windfarm near Cairngorms National Park. The inquiry in Aviemore will be addressing German firm RWE Npower Renewables’ plans to develop a new site at Allt Duine in the Monadhliath Mountains. The plans have been backed by Kincraig Community
23/10/2012
A paper published by Edinburgh City Council has revealed the city’s new tram system is on schedule and on budget. Passenger services are expected to run by summer 2014, while full route tram testing from Edinburgh Airport to York Place is expected to begin late Spring 2014. The report also shows i
23/10/2012
£10m is being pledged by Holyrood to build or upgrade local facilities in communities across the country to get Scots active before Glasgow’s 2014 Commonwealth Games. The Legacy 2014 Active Places Fund is part of the Scottish Government’s Commonwealth Games Legacy 2014 programme and will see grants
23/10/2012
Two recently refurbished retail units have been let by Angus Council as part of the Township Heritage Initiative (THI). The project at 45 - 47 High Street, Brechin, has seen substantial building works undertaken, including the full stabilisation of the building, roof repairs and full re-roofing in
23/10/2012
Developer Donald Ogilvy Watson is hoping that a financial incentive could convince residents to permit the building of a controversial hydro scheme at a beauty spot immortalised by Robert Burns. Ogilvy Watson has offered local residents a half of any profits made from the scheme at Birks of Aberfel
23/10/2012
The town of Gretna would not have been built were it not for the First World War, according to a new publication launched today. 'Gretna – A Munitions Town' is being published by Historic Scotland and shows how a decision to build a factory to deal with a shortage of artillery shells led to a build
22/10/2012
The Scottish government has pledged to invest £45m of funding to go towards about 1,200 new homes. Holyrood’s financial injection into housing will help fuel the Scottish economy while at the same time creating new council and housing association homes for rent. The news follows Finance Secretary
22/10/2012
The renewable energy industry in Scotland says low carbon electricity production is displacing carbon emissions. Scottish Renewables says 15% of the country’s total carbon output has been displaced by renewable energy emissions. 8.36m tonnes of CO2 emissions have been offset by wind and hydro proj
22/10/2012
Scottish construction is aiming for a 10% increase in productivity by 2016. The new industry strategy document is being launched in Glasgow today at the Construction Scotland and BRE Scotland joint annual conference. Building for the Future: the Scottish Construction Industry’s Strategy 2013-2016
22/10/2012
Holyrood has pledged to reduce greenhouse gases across the NHS in Scotland by creating more energy efficient hospitals. The new projects will reduce carbon emissions and attempt to make facilities more eco friendly. It is thought that greenhouse gases will be reduced by 10% and will save £4m in en
22/10/2012
A law centre has called on Holyrood to step in and mitigate the effects of Westminster’s welfare reforms on tenants of Scottish councils and housing associations. "Bedroom tax" is due to come into effect in April 2013 and will see tenants of councils and housing associations have their housing bene
22/10/2012
The Highland Council has granted planning permission for a new block of student accommodation in Inverness. The development of the 8-storey high building will be the first regeneration in the city centre for a number of years and will cost £6m. This is the first phase of a £30m re-generation proje
22/10/2012
Refurbishment work has been completed on the bridge over the former railway line at Lady Mary's Walk in Crieff, Perthshire. Perth & Kinross Council's Environment Vice-Convener and other, local elected members have welcomed the news. The popular beauty spot and nature trail by the River Earn had be
22/10/2012
Construction is to begin on a new car park as Arbroath Infirmary in Angus continues to expand. The new development will be in Rosemount Road adjacent to the infirmary and is expected to be completed in six weeks. The project will cost about £90,000, with £61,000 of funds provided by NHS Tayside.
19/10/2012
Glasgow is currently on the lookout for a contractor to construct a new temporary running track at Hampden Park for the 2014 Commonwealth Games. The new track and field warm-up facility will cost £14m and the tender has already been sent out. It will include work to create the temporary facility a
19/10/2012
Steps are already being taken to deliver the new Aberdeen bypass. The action follows a ruling by the UK Supreme Court that the bypass, long awaited by the council and SNP, can now proceed. Campaigners had launched a last-chance appeal against the long-debated project, but now those opposed to the
19/10/2012
Labour MPs have criticised Nicola Sturgeon for lack of action on the Stranraer regeneration plan. She has been criticised for only visiting the town when "diary commitments allow" and for relocating the taskforce’s meetings out of town. Ms Sturgeon also faces criticism over her apparent focus on t
19/10/2012
Edinburgh City Council has confirmed its intention to build two new schools on local parkland. A report shows the City of Edinburgh Council remains committed to replacing the existing Portobello High School and that the intention is to build it on part of Portobello Park. A statement from the Coun
19/10/2012
Energy regulator Ofgem is proposing measures which would force suppliers to inform customers about the cheapest gas and electricity tariffs. Ofgem said it planned to radically improve the competitiveness of the household energy market. The regulator also wants to work with suppliers on a proposal
19/10/2012
The construction of a new windfarm at Cairngorms National park is the equivalent of building a Tesco in the Grand Canyon, according to a Scottish conservationist. Chris Townsend, author, photographer and former president of the Mountaineering Council of Scotland, has warned against the building of
19/10/2012
Residents at a housing development in Edinburgh have been putting the 'art' into participation. The Dunedin Canmore Housing development at Slateford Green has held an Open Day to celebrate two art projects. The projects were undertaken by students from the Edinburgh College of Art and Edinburgh Un
19/10/2012
The National Construction College (NCC) Scotland has been awarded a 98% mark in a health and safety audit. The British Safety Council (BSC) five star Health and Safety Audit is an internationally recognised award. As a reward for achieving one of the highest scores in the history of the award, NCC
19/10/2012
Surplus Highland Council buildings are being sold off to the highest bidder. The Council is currently looking for offers for a number of properties, including a village hall, a former care home, a former school, an office building, a workshop garage and a house. There are a range of asking prices
19/10/2012
Ashtead Technology Offshore has announced it will be moving to new global headquarters in Westhill. The company, which supplies equipment for underwater positioning and surveying, ROV operations, remote visual inspection and non-destructive testing, has recently invested in the new premises. The n
18/10/2012
Alex Salmond has welcomed news that the Aberdeen bypass is to proceed as planned, following the rejection of an appeal by the UK Supreme Court. The First Minister said it was now time to "crack on and deliver" with the project, after opposition campaigners suffered a unanimous rejection of their ap
18/10/2012
Diageo has announced major expansion plans for the Glen Ord distillery on the Black Isle which will see production capacity increase by 5m litres a year. The drinks conglomerate is expected to submit a planning application to the Highland Council. The project will see the number of fermentation ve
18/10/2012
Glasgow’s Southside Housing Association has announced the appointment of its new $4.8m contract to undertake works to 219 properties. The Association has awarded the contract for over-cladding works within three 10-storey blocks of flats at 20-220 Moss Heights in Cardonald to construction company I
18/10/2012
The UK government’s new Edinburgh-based Green Investment Bank (GIB) has been given the go-ahead by the European Commission. The news follows a decision by the EC that plans to lend funding for low-carbon projects did not break European state aid rules. £3bn of government funds can now be used, but
18/10/2012
The Scottish government has released statistics regarding lets made by social landlords. The report of Registered Social Landlord (RSL) lets in 2011/12 was released by Scotland's Chief Statistician. The report was generated from the Scottish Continuous Recording System (SCORE), which monitors new
18/10/2012
Construction is underway to build the first rural council houses in Angus for 40 years. Angus Council has begun work on the old brown-field site at Inveraldie as part of its affordable housing programme. The site was originally home to timber lock-up garages, but the buildings had fallen into disr
18/10/2012
Public buildings in Aberdeenshire are to be refurbished as part of the Council’s participation in a European energy efficiency scheme. The Europbuild (Energy Upgrade Refurbishment of Public Buildings) project aims to increase energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy within buildings in Abe
18/10/2012
Fife Council is due to consider a report next week into proposals to build a new two-storey care home in Kirkcaldy. The Council’s Executive Committee will analyse the report and consider options regarding the construction of the new £5m, 60-bed care home and day centre. The facility will replace t
18/10/2012
The Highland Council is to produce a report on a rock cutting operation which last year saw the closing of a major road. The A890 Stromeferry road which runs on the south side of Loch Carron was closed following a major rock fall on 22 December last year, creating a 140 mile diversion for local tra
18/10/2012
A northeast organics recycling firm is celebrating a double win in one of Scotland’s biggest business awards. Keenan Recycling scooped two prizes in the Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce Northern Star Business Awards. The firm won in the Overall Small Business and Green Award categories. Ke
17/10/2012
The construction sector in Scotland has seen an annual decline of 10%, according to the latest report on Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Construction sector output grew by 2% during the second quarter of 2012. The report was released by Scotland’s Chief Statistician and shows that GDP as a whole fel
17/10/2012
An appeal against the controversial Aberdeen bypass has been rejected by the UK Supreme Court. Scottish ministers gave the 28-mile road the go-ahead in 2009, but campaigners have been opposing the plans throughout an ongoing legal battle. A two-day hearing at the court in London was held earlier t
17/10/2012
The Olympics and recent wet weather are being blamed for a sharp decline in Scottish house prices. The latest LSL/Acad Scotland House Price Index shows the average cost of a home in Scotland was down 1.2% in August to £143,867, making it the biggest monthly decline since March 2009. The average ho
17/10/2012
Donald Trump’s opposition to plans to build wind turbines off the coast of his new Aberdeenshire golf course shows little sign of relenting, as the US billionaire calls for a public inquiry. The windfarm project is a joint venture by Vattenfall, Technip and Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group. Donald
17/10/2012
Energy company E.ON has announced it will be engaging with community residents regarding plans to build three onshore windfarms in southwest Scotland. The firm will be sending details of the proposals to all residents within 15km of the sites. A number of information sessions will be hosted by E.O
17/10/2012
Oil and gas industry provider Aker Solutions has announced a new multi-million pound deal which will see up to 150 jobs created at both its Shetland and its Aberdeen sites. The company has secured a three-year contract to provide services to Total E&P UK Ltd and its joint venture partner DONG E&P L
17/10/2012
Small house builders’ workloads have declined due to the continued recession for small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in the construction sector. The news comes as part of the latest Slate of Trade Survey from trade association the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). Workloads in the SME cons
17/10/2012
Environmental campaigners have launched an appeal against a legal rejection of their court challenge to the Cairngorms National Park Local Plan. The Cairngorms Campaign is currently fighting a legal battle to oppose the building of 1,500 homes at An Cama Mor near Aviemore, 117 at Carrbridge, 300 at
17/10/2012
The new Construction Industry Leadership Group has been designated with a chairman in the form of Tim Clarke, Divisional Managing Director of Balfour Beatty Construction Scottish and Southern. The new Industry Leadership Group is intended to be a driving force for construction in Scotland and Mr Cl
17/10/2012
Transport Scotland has announced a £1.8m injection to ease conjestion during the Kessock Bridge resurfacing works next year. The £18m upgrade of Kessock Bridge will commence in February 2013 and will last until June 2013. A second phase will take place the following year over the same period. Ef
16/10/2012
A leading engineering and training firm has announced the expansion of its Aberdeen team as part of plans to increase turnover. Jee Ltd, which has offices in Aberdeen and Kent, will be expanding its Aberdeen offices and moving the new team into Westhill premises following a goal to increase turnove
16/10/2012
A Scottish housing charity plans to tell the government to uncover the full extent of the country’s housing crisis at the SNP conference in Perth. Shelter Scotland will tell the new Scottish Housing Minister Margaret Burgess that the government needs to "initiate new, in-depth research aimed at ide
16/10/2012
A special conference is to be held to discuss the impact of the government’s green energy targets on the delivery of housing in the future. The reality of targets set by the Scottish government to cut the impact of climate change and carbon emissions is to be debated, as Scottish housing output has
16/10/2012
Plans to erect a statue of one of Scotland’s most famous engineers are facing funding issues. Angus born Sir Robert Watson-Watt graduated in Engineering in 1912 from University College, Dundee and later went on to create an early warning radar for the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. H
16/10/2012
Scottish households are will be experiencing a hike in utility bills in the near future, as Scottish Power becomes the latest energy firm to announce price increases for gas and electricity. Scottish Power will be increasing prices by 7% from December 3, making the average annual fuel bill for the
16/10/2012
A Labour MP has accused the Scottish government of ignoring the opinions of local people over plans to build more windfarms. Galloway MP Russell Brown said he handed over a petition to Energy Minister Fergus Ewing which showed 2000 signatures in opposition to the erection of more wind turbines in t
16/10/2012
Plans to commence the long-awaited River Ness Flood Alleviation Scheme in Inverness are already underway, with phase one due to begin on 22 October. The £23m project is being designed for the Highland Council by Mott MacDonald. The firm had previously worked as one of three flood defence framework
16/10/2012
Contraction in the UK construction industry is due to increase both this year and next, with declines of 6.3% and a further 1.4% predicted for 2012 and 2013, respectively. This is the latest forecast from the Construction Products Association. The Construction Industry Forecasts do suggest a retur
16/10/2012
Plans for the installation of two wind turbines at Kinloch in St Fergus have been rejected. The Buchan Area Committee was told during a meeting at Peterhead’s Arbuthnot House that the Ministry of Defence raised objections to the proposal due to the possibility of interference with RAF radar equipme
16/10/2012
The construction of a new food waste treatment facility just south of Edinburgh could be set for 2014. Zero Waste: Edinburgh and Midlothian is a joint-council project which was set up by the government to help Scotland become a waste-free society. The project has awarded the contract to Alauna Ren
15/10/2012
A new development plan for the Shetland Islands has been given council approval. The Shetland Development Plan will see the implementation of a new guide regarding decisions on future development in the isles. The Local Development Plan (LDP) will affect various aspects of procedures and guideline
15/10/2012
Several construction sites across Scotland are currently under scrutiny following a substantial and intensive inspection regime by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). HSE has revealed how a total of 78 sites were inspected across the country throughout the first three weeks of September. The Ex
15/10/2012
A £9m 'masterplan' has been given the go-ahead for Lochside in Ayr. The development will see the building of 58 new affordable home for Council tenants in South Ayrshire, along with the demolition of nine maisonette blocks and the creation of open spaces and modern leisure facilities. A refurbish
15/10/2012
A 1923 'time capsule' has been uncovered during renovation works in Inverness. Work being carried out on Inverness steeple has revealed a little bit of Scottish history, as contractor workers found a package of old documents nearly one hundred years old. The documents were passed to High Life High
15/10/2012
A social housing development in Glasgow’s east end has been announced the winner of a top award, despite having been opened just two months ago. Thenue Housing won the title of Social Housing Development of the Year in the Herald Property Awards for Scotland 2012. The £11m pound development on Lon
15/10/2012
A new, six-home development has been opened to address the need for more affordable housing. Eildon Housing Association’s development in Peebles was opened by Executive Member for Social Work, Councillor Frances Renton and local Councillor Graham Garvie, Convenor of Scottish Borders Council. The p
15/10/2012
Improvement work in Leith is due to begin in the New Year. A programme of utilities works on Leith Walk and Constitution Street is being put off until after Christmas in order not to disrupt trade during December. The work will begin in the New Year and is planned to be completed in early summer 2
15/10/2012
Drilling in the North Sea continues to rise due to a return of confidence in the oil and gas sectors, according to a new survey. The report, released by Deloitte, shows drilling activity during the first three quarters of 2012 exceeded the same period during the previous year and is a mere 6% off t
15/10/2012
The construction of the HMS Queen Elizabeth made further progress on Sunday, as a 11,000 tone section of the new aircraft carrier was moved in preparation to leave the Clyde construction yard. The ship’s largest hull section was moved out of BAE’s shipbuilding hall in Govan in an operation that too
15/10/2012
Three young unemployed people have gained work at a West Dumbarton lighting manufacturer. Ledtek Lighting, which designs and manufactures LED products, joined forces with Ingeus in Dumbarton in order to access the Youth Contract wage incentive. James Kirkpatrick, Jade Leddie, and Douglas Macdougal
12/10/2012
An engineering firm has taken on two apprentices following support from North Ayrshire Council. Apprentices Brendan O'Reilly, from Irvine, and Darren Gowrie, from Stevenston, started work with McEvoy Engineering last month. The three-year apprenticeships will give the young workers on-the-job trai
12/10/2012
A community in Edinburgh has been divided over controversial plans to redevelop Scotland’s oldest rugby ground. Plans and an artist's impression have been unveiled detailing the £8m revamp of Edinburgh Academicals in Stockbridge. The ground hosted the world's first rugby international in 1871. Pl
12/10/2012
Tributes have been paid to a Scottish architect who was killed while photographing a bird hide he had designed for the RSPB. Architectural assistant Euan Wright, 30, slipped while taking pictures of a shelter he built Fowlsheugh nature reserve near Stonehaven on Saturday. A search launched on Tues
12/10/2012
The Scottish Building Federation (SBF) has said its own statistics concur with those released by the Scottish Chambers of Commerce (SCC). The latest SCC report showed the Scottish economy weakened more than expected during last summer. SBF Chief Executive Michael Levack said: "The results of the l
12/10/2012
The hunt is on for the most dismal town in Scotland. The controversial Carbuncle Awards, sponsored by Scottish magazine Urban Realm, have been set up in order to find the town in Scotland with the most aesthetically dismal architecture. Candidates so far include Newmilns in Ayrshire, Leslie in Fif
12/10/2012
The Highland Council has issued a warning to residents to be wary of cold-callers offering free home insulation. The council says Trading Standards are receiving calls from residents in connection with a Universal Home Insulation Scheme being operated by Carillion Energy Services within the Highlan
12/10/2012
Scottish Gas and Shelter Scotland have announced a five-year partnership as part of a campaign to improve quality of living and safety standards in Scottish households. 'Better Homes for Britain' is a three-point, UK-wide plan set up by UK housing charity Shelter to improve the standard of 1m homes
12/10/2012
A new children’s centre which was part of a £1.3m extension development was officially opened on Thursday October 11. Inverclyde Council’s Children’s Centre was opened in Gourock after an extensive refurbishment of the former Binnie Street Community Centre. The building was revamped and is now the
12/10/2012
A new study has shown Scottish waters offer the majority of UK wave energy resources. A report by the Crown Estate that Scottish wave energy has the potential to produce 18GW (gigawatts) of power, compared to the 8.7GW offered around the coast of England and Wales. The study also found that, in ge
12/10/2012
A Scottish energy firm has announced it will create 340 jobs to support its retail business. Scottish Power is due to create 300 in customer service in Glasgow, while the remaining 40 positions will range from boiler engineers to back office support staff. The customer service roles were enabled b
11/10/2012
A two week festival celebrating one of Scotland’s most famous and celebrated architects has been announced. The Creative Mackintosh Festival will run in Glasgow from 15 to 28 October and will see a celebration of world-renowned designer and architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh. A launch is to be he
11/10/2012
Miller Construction has announced the appointment of a new Managing Director for the company’s Scottish operations. Charlie Dunn has over three decades’ experience in the construction sector, having spent 32 years with BAM Construction Ltd. and, latterly, with C Spencer Ltd. A statement from Mille
11/10/2012
A new survey has revealed a less than optimistic outlook for the construction, manufacturing, tourism and retail sectors in Scotland. The Scottish Chambers of Commerce (SCC) has revealed a new report which shows the Scottish economy weakened more than expected over the summer. Activity in construc
11/10/2012
£20,000 has been pledged towards the development of a Business Improvement District in Paisley. Local Government Minister Derek Mackay made the announcement on Wednesday. Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) put forward financial models in order to support businesses in specific areas of towns, c
11/10/2012
The ongoing debate over the future of the Hall’s of Broxburn meat processing plant has seen new revelations, with the Scottish government pledging its support of the taskforce. Dutch owners Vion have provided two bidders with deadline extension to enable them to finalise their position. Meanwhile,
11/10/2012
The growing number of derelict and run-down properties in Fife is to be addressed by the council in a new regeneration drive. Grants of up to £5000 are being offered to property owners and tenants as an incentive to renovate properties in Leven, Buckhave and Methil. The money will be used to refur
11/10/2012
Alex Salmond has hit back against claims that his government is guilty of "indefensible" energy policies. An analysis by the Guardian newspaper found that Holyrood’s oil and gas strategies could release 10bn tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere. In an address on Wednesday to a conference on low-carbo
11/10/2012
Construction has begun on a hotel complex in Ednburgh’s Cowgate following the purchase of the development by LaSalle Investment. Designed by ICA Architects, the £30m scheme was bought from Jansons Property and is expected to be open by December 2013. The 259 bed Ibis hotel will contain a new shop
11/10/2012
Work has begun to construct a new £14.5m town hall and 'civic hub' for Johnstone. The development began with the demolition of an existing swimming pool in the town. In place of the pool, Renfrewshire Council is building a library, theatre, marriage suite and community space, as well as office spa
11/10/2012
A new Aquatic Centre at Aberdeen Sports Village is due to be finished early 2014. The news follows the commencement of the steel frame construction. The new £22m centre will be home to a 50m, 10 lane pool as well as a 25m pool with competitive diving facilities. The project is being undertaken by
10/10/2012
The Chairperson of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors Scotland has been discussing the importance of the industry working with education establishments. Dr Fiona Grant was meeting with RICS members in Dumfries and Galloway to highlight the need to meet the demand of the current economic env
10/10/2012
Tollcross Housing Association has awarded a £700,000 contract to fit out its properties in the east end of Glasgow.. City Building have been awarded the contract, which has been drawn up to fully refurbish 126 properties. Work has already begun following the completion of surveys in August. Four
10/10/2012
The Chartered Institute of Housing Scotland has slammed Chancellor George Osborne’s housing benefit cuts for people aged under 25. The proposals are based on misconceptions and myths regarding the actual living circumstances of younger people, the Institute has warned. The announcement was made by
10/10/2012
Twenty flats are set to benefit from a programme of improvements to Angus Council’s sheltered housing stock across the country. The dwellings at the sheltered housing scheme in Ferryden, Montrose are to be modernised as part of the project. The £793,000 improvement was agreed at a meeting of Neig
10/10/2012
Infrastructure and construction company Robertson has begun work on a new 60,000 sq ft building and a one and a half storey carpark. The project is being undertaken to construct a new facility in Aberdeen for project management, engineering and construction firm Technip. Enabling work was carried
10/10/2012
It is expected an announcement will be made on the future of the Hall’s of Broxburn meat processing plant at some stage today. Dutch company Vion, which owns the factory in West Lothian, is expected to tell staff whether or not the 1,700 jobs at risk will be saved or lost. With redundancy talks al
10/10/2012
The First Minister is due to announce the launch of a £103m fund for renewable energy projects in Scotland. Alex Salmond will announce the Renewable Energy Investment Fund, which has been established in order to encourage more private investment inn the sector. The main forms of renewable energy w
10/10/2012
Nearly a third of all Scotland's new affordable housing planning approvals were made in Edinburgh last year. The news comes as Scottish government statistics show the city council gave planning permission for 1,420 new affordable homes. The figure amounts to 30% of the total approvals throughout t
10/10/2012
West Lothian Council has described the news of the closure of Vion’s Halls of Broxburn plant as a "devastating blow". The closure of the meat processing factory will mean the loss of 1,700 jobs. The council says it has explored "every avenue" throughout the 90-day consultation with the aim of savi
10/10/2012
Plans to install two wind turbines at St Fergus Moss in Aberdeenshire look set to be rejected by planners. The application from Greenspan Electric is being considered by members of the Buchan are committee. The committee will have to decide whether to permit the construction and installation of th
09/10/2012
Dundee University has been given £12m funding by the UK Research Partnership Investment Fund (UKRPIF) to complete the construction and development of a new biomedical centre. The Centre for Translational and Interdisciplinary Research (CITR) is a £38m project and is expected to create about 180 job
09/10/2012
Legal action has begun over claims an estate in North Lanarkshire was built on toxic land. The 78 residents in who live on or near the Watling Street estate in Motherwell have had 42 claims launched on their behalf by Collins Solicitors They claim the site was never properly decontaminated and ha
09/10/2012
Pupils of a Primary School in East Ayrshire have been handed the key to their newly refurbished classrooms and upgraded facilities. The 33 pupils of Littlemill Primary School and Nursery Class in Rankinston turned out in full force to witness the re-opening of the building. The school has recentl
09/10/2012
The development of a new waste-to-energy facility at Oxwellmains is continuing, following the granting of planning permission by East Lothian Council for an application to normalise waste reception criteria at the site. Plans for the 300,000 tonne facility were backs by the government in 2010. Was
09/10/2012
Construction work on a new high speed rail network which will see the journey to London reduced to three hours is due to start later this year. UK Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin made the announcement at the Conservative Party conference. Under the scheme, the £34bn High Speed 2 project wou
09/10/2012
Holyrood’s controversial new security extension has come under further fire from opposition campaigners. They claim Lee Boyd’s new security facility for the Scottish Parliament building breaches the Royal Institute of British Architects’ (RIBA) stand-off guidance. With construction of the £6.5m ex
09/10/2012
The housing market in Scotland is expected to end on a "flat note" this year, with many surveyors expecting prices to decline even further in the next three months. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has published a report which shows conditions are far from improving in Scotland.
09/10/2012
Investment in broadband infrastructure will create nearly 15,000 new jobs, according to the Deputy First Minister. Nicola Sturgeon has made an announcement detailing the increased job opportunities which will be a result of Holyrood’s investment in faster broadband access for business and communiti
09/10/2012
Dundee’s Waterfront Project continues to take shape as the city council announces the new grid patter of streets will be completed on Wednesday 10 October. The development will make space for the final configuration of on/off ramps for the Tay Road Bridge and will cut through a site immediately eas
09/10/2012
An anti-windfarm protest in Perth is due to be staged during the SNP’s annual conference. Protestors are planning to take to the streets in protest against what they see as the government’s obsession with windfarm energy. Campaign groups like the Scottish Mountaineering Council and Communities Aga
08/10/2012
Scotland’s arts agency has rejected restoration plans for one of Edinburgh’s most celebrated concert venues. The Queen's Hall had been hoping to win backing for multi-million-pound plans to overhaul its main auditorium and create a new 125-seater venue. But the £8.5m plans were rejected by Creativ
08/10/2012
US billionaire Donald Trump has launched a fresh attack on the decision to build windfarms off the coast of his new Aberdeenshire golf course. He said the new course and adjoining hotel would only fulfill its planned July opening if the wind farm development plan was rejected. The £230m renewable-
08/10/2012
An Aberdeen energy firm has announced plans to expand operations in Dubai as part of the first phase of a Middle East development plan. Xodus has invested £2m setting up a new office in the Jumeirah Lake Towers area. Initially, a team of 19 will be based at the new department, which intends to off
08/10/2012
The new V&A at Dundee gallery will receive £3m of funding in 2013/2014, the government has announced. Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs Fiona Hyslop confirmed the funding while visiting an exhibition of photographs from the V&A collection, 'Selling Dreams: One Hundred Years of Fash
08/10/2012
Alex Salmond has described the new Crichton Campus development at Dumfries as going "from strength to strength." The First Minister was visiting the site and met with college and university staff, as well as representatives of some of the other on-site organisations. The development is part of the
08/10/2012
A government taskforce will continue to work towards minimising the damage caused by the closure of a large meat processing plant in Broxburn. The announcement on Friday that Hall’s meat factory in Broxburn, West Lothian would be closing caused anger due to the 1700 jobs which could be lost. But F
05/10/2012
Five new custom-built family homes for Scottish war veterans are to be constructed in Carnoustie. The veterans’ charity, Houses for Heroes Scotland, is working in conjunction with Angus Council to help the new development go forward. Angus Provost Helen Oswald announced the project at an event in
05/10/2012
Industry professionals and associations have welcomed news of a review into the way Scotland’s £2bn public construction contracts are awarded. Scottish Building Federation chief executive Michael Levack said: "I strongly welcome this announcement since a review of the public procurement process is
05/10/2012
The name of Edinburgh’s new £3.53m Gaelic Primary School refurbishment has been revealed. 'Bun-sgoil Taobh na Páirce' or 'Parkside Primary School' is the chosen title of the city’s new Gaelic school. The name was devised by pupils of the Tollcross Primary Gaelic Unit. The young people were helpe
05/10/2012
Design work has begun on the Inverness West Link Road project. The Highland Council has appointed Capita Symonds to aid in the design and engineering of the new £27.2m road. The Inverness West Link Road will be located at the western boundary of Inverness city and will link the Southern Distributo
05/10/2012
Scotland’s cycling routes are to undergo a £6m refurbishment. Transport Minister Keith Brown has confirmed the details of the funding, as announced in the Budget a fortnight ago. Improvements to the network will include the Land’s End to John O’Groats route. The Barnton Junction to the Forth Road
05/10/2012
A project in Fife designed to help young people find work continues to provide training and employment opportunities in the construction sector. The Fife Works initiative, which was established in 2008 by the Kingdom Housing Association, is celebrating the success of their latest apprentice. Danie
04/10/2012
Highland businesses are to be given help and advice on taking advantage of wind farm opportunities. UK energy group RWE npower is hosting 'Meet The Buyer' events in Inverness and Thurso for business owners interested in seeing their company become more environmentally friendly. RWE is the develope
04/10/2012
Essential work on the Edinburgh Trams project will be undertaken in Gyle this weekend, as the public transport development continues to make progress. The South Gyle Access Road will be closed from 07:00 on Saturday 6 October until 19:00 on the following Sunday 7 October. Work will be carried out
04/10/2012
A £2.3m project has begun to convert a 19th century mill building in Arbroath into housing. Brothock Mill, previously home to the Arbroath Herald, is undergoing conversion by Muirfield Contracts under the direction of the Caledonian Housing Association. The project is expected to take 60 weeks to
04/10/2012
A renovation job to turn Sir Jimmy Savile’s Highland cottage into a holiday retreat for the disabled has been put on hold. Following recent claims of sexual abuse and rape surrounding the late broadcaster, chiefs at the Jimmy Savile Charitable Trust say the hideaway, which was to be named "Jimmy's
04/10/2012
The public are to be given the chance to view plans for a proposed supermarket in Greenock. Asda have revealed they are intending to invest £20m on a new store on the site between Campbell Street, Union Street, Robertson Street and Brougham Street in the West End. According to the supermarket gian
04/10/2012
A review of the way Scotland’s £2bn public construction contracts are awarded was launched today. Nicola Sturgeon announced the review, which will look at the extent to which public construction bodies are streamlined and deliver value for taxpayers. The review will also address the use design and
03/10/2012
Opposition to plans for wind turbines to be built off the coast of Donald Trump’s new golf course in Aberdeenshire has been dropped. The US billionaire is publicly opposed to windfarms and has been particularly outspoken regarding plans for an 11 turbine offshore farm near his golf course developme
03/10/2012
Public art could become a feature of a flood alleviation scheme in Inverness. Construction for the first phase of the £21m River Ness Flood Alleviation Scheme begins this month and has been designed to protect about 800 homes and 200 businesses in the city centre. There are two options concerning
03/10/2012
A road which collapsed during torrential rain last year is set to reopen following £1/4m of repairs. The Dunrod Road in Inverkip is set to re-open on 12 October. Inverclyde Council says it used "emergency powers" to repair the road at a cost of £250,000. Substantial road diversions in place throu
03/10/2012
Glasgow’s new indoor velodrome has been christened by perhaps the most qualified person to do so: Sir Chris Hoy. Hoy became to first cyclist to ride the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome ahead of its opening on Friday October 5. The facility is Scotland’s only indoor velodrome and features a 250m, timber cy
03/10/2012
Planning has been approved for the extension of the Lochluichart wind farm. Energy Minister Fergus Ewing approved the plans, which will see the number of turbines at the wind farm rise to 23 and create a total capacity of 69MW. This could power the equivalent of 32,568 homes, according to a stateme
03/10/2012
An American automotive company has established a new manufacturing and engineering centre of excellence in Glasgow, which will support approximately 80 jobs. AAM Europe is investing some £3.6m on new capital equipment, machinery and R&D at its Albion Automotive site in Scotstoun, Glasgow. The proj
02/10/2012
Kilmarnock’s Opera House building has been restored with a brand new, unique addition. The refurbished building has been fitted with windows designed under a partnership of St Joseph’s Academy students and East Ayrshire Council. Scott Bracki, Liam Gallagher and Siobhan Connelly, three St Joseph’s
02/10/2012
The widow of the architect behind the iconic parliament building at Holyrood has voiced concern over the new £6.5m planned security extension. Benedetta Tagliabue, wife of Holyrood architect, the late Enric Miralles, has warned her husband’s famous design is about to be ruined forever. Ms Tagliabu
02/10/2012
Alex Salmond has announced the commencement of work on an expansion of GE’s Oil & Gas Centre of Excellence in a project worth £9m. Builders have moved onto the Montrose site and work is already taking place to prepare the ground before construction begins. Work is expected to be completed early nex
02/10/2012
£2.49m of loans will be offered up by Holyrood to help implement district heating schemes and cut fuel bills and carbon emissions. Energy Minister Fergus Ewing made the announcement, which comes as figures show the Scottish government is on course to meet its target of 11% of heat coming from renew
02/10/2012
Older, harder to heat homes are to be transformed into eco-friendly dwellings which are easier and cheaper to heat. The Scottish government has pledged the initiative as part of its National Retrofit Programme, which will see houses across Scotland benefit from solid wall insulation, double glazing
02/10/2012
Paisley-based construction and quarrying firm Barr ran up substantial losses last year as a result of two loss-making divisions it has since sold or closed. The Scotsman website has reported that the group, said Solway Steel and Solway Precast ran up losses of £6.6m, pushing it towards the red and
01/10/2012
First Minister Alex Salmond has come face-to-face with a new Scottish art project, in the shape of 100 foot high, mythical Scottish beasts. The sculptures, which will form a brand new art installation over the Forth and Clyde canal, are Kelpies: to-scale models of art which are forming part of the
01/10/2012
The average price of a detached house in Scotland has been increasing by an average of £800 every month for the last decade, according to new figures. The latest research, carried out by the Bank of Scotland, has found that detached properties have maintained their worth to a greater extent than ot
01/10/2012
A small island with historic and cultural significance will remain in the hands of the public, according to the Scottish government. Eilean Bann, a six-acre island below the Skye Bridge, was inhabited by Ring of Bright Water author Gavin Maxwell for more than a year before his death in 1969. The i
01/10/2012
The project to regenerate Stranraer’s waterfront will take between 15 and 20 years to complete, according to new revelations. The Wigstown Area Committee was told at a public meeting on Wednesday that the planning policy would need to be fully developed. Jason Syers, strategic projects manager for
01/10/2012
The Scottish government has pledged £300,000 for local authorities striving to meet a rise in demands for wind turbines. The increase in applications for wind turbines has seen Holyrood offer the funds for planning authorities, after Aberdeenshire and Fife Councils requested a temporary halt to new
01/10/2012
Edinburgh’s controversial tram development could be finished and up and running six months earlier than originally planned. The city’s £776m tram network was not due to be operating until 2014 at the latest, according to the original timetable. But now it seems so much progress has been made that
