Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
Scotland Construction News Archive for November 2012
30/11/2012
A controversial £43m waste incinerator could be built in Easter Ross after plans were given the go-ahead. Following a public inquiry, it appears the development will now go ahead. A long and high-profile campaign has been actively opposing the Invergordon scheme. Local land-owner Mohamed Al Fayed
30/11/2012
Transport Scotland has awarded two trunk maintenance contracts after a bid to have a court suspension lifted was successful. The contracts, worth an estimated £230m, were awarded to Bear Scotland and Scotland TranServ for the North West and South West regions respectively. But public services prov
30/11/2012
A team has been set up to help Scottish eco-projects secure funding from the Edinburgh-based UK Green Investment Bank. The team will be led by Marcia Campbell, former Group Operations Director of Standard Life. Its purpose will be to identify and support potential Scottish bidders and help them ma
30/11/2012
Work has begun on a £215m low-carbon business park in Aberdeen. Construction of the facility in the Energetica Corridor began with a turf-cutting ceremony at The Core at the Bridge of Don in Aberdeen. The 100 acre site will accommodate more than 1.5m square feet of office, industrial, and distribu
30/11/2012
The Considerate Construction Scheme (CCS) has just released a new code of practice which has been in development for three years. All CCS-registered sites will be assessed on the new five-point code from 1 January next year. Scheme monitors will be using the new supporting checklist when assessing
30/11/2012
Aberdeen City Council have confirmed they will be applying to the Heritage Lottery Fund to redevelop Aberdeen Art Gallery. The refurbishment will see the creation of a new Museums Collections Centre. The Council will now submit the application for £10m of funding to the Heritage Grant programme.
30/11/2012
Members of the City of Inverness Area Committee are to be brought up-to-date with the progress of the Seven Cities Alliance next week. Inverness is one of seven cities, alongside Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Perth and Stirling, which has signed up to the project to help improve economic gr
30/11/2012
A key element of the Forth Replacement Crossing development is due to go live next week. Transport Scotland has revealed the Intelligent Transport System (ITS) will launch on the M90 in Fife from Tuesday 4 December. This will create a dedicated bus lane and variable speed limits which, during peri
30/11/2012
300 people have visited the Carrick Bildings in Girvan to have their say on designs for the new planned leisure and community facility. The £8m development will be located at Girvan Harbour. South Ayrshire Council says the public used words like "impressive" and "spectacular" to describe the plans
30/11/2012
The Shetland Islands Council has announced a special ceremony this Saturday to usher in a new pier and breakwater. The new facility at Hamarsness will be formally opened in Fetlar with a celebration in the local community. Construction of the pier and breakwater began as former Shetland Island Cou
29/11/2012
Historic and long-gone buildings from Glasgow’s waterfront have been brought back to life as part of a community arts project. UK sawmilling firm BSW has provided its ‘easi-timber’ to recreate replicas of the old Ferry Inn and Ticket Office which were once located on the slipway at Govan’s Water Ro
29/11/2012
The UK Green Investment Bank has opened for business, beginning with two eco-investments. The Edinburgh-based bank’s investments will help build a waste plant in Teesside and make Kingspan’s factories more energy efficient. Business secretary Vince Cable announced the two schemes in Edinburgh at t
29/11/2012
Work is underway to construct a new virus research centre at the University of Glasgow. The £20m Medical Research Council (MRC) Centre for Virus Research (CVR) at the university’s Garscube Campus will bring together scientists researching viruses and viral diseases in humans and animals. The Centr
29/11/2012
Construction of a new sports and community centre is running ahead of schedule, according to Aberdeenshire Council. The facility at Fraserburgh is expected to be completed by February 2013, when it will open to the public. The exact date is still to be confirmed. The local community will be given
29/11/2012
Plans to generate £85m of housing investment in Fife are to be considered next week. Councillors will discuss budget proposals for the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) at the Executive Committee on 4 December. Fife Council says the committee will consider recommendations to generate money for housing
29/11/2012
Funding for an empty homes scheme in Scotland has been extended to March 2014. Housing Minister Margaret Burgess has confirmed the Scottish government will continue to fund the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership, run by Shelter Scotland. The government says there are about 25,000 properties across S
28/11/2012
The Scottish construction sector has received a welcome dose of good news today as statistics show a rise in new homes started by private sector builders. Scotland’s Chief Statistician has produced a report which shows the number of new homes started by private sector builders in the year to June 2
28/11/2012
Aberdeenshire Council has announced the second phase of a major refurbishment project at Banff Swimming Pool. The work will start next week and will include repairs to the pool tank and the installation of a new air-handling unit. The pool will be closed for about six weeks during the works, which
28/11/2012
A new primary school has opened in South Lanarkshire with solar panels installed on its roof. Coulter Primary School received a £7000 grant from Carbon Neutral Biggar to help install the renewable energy measures. Pupils of the new school will monitor the solar panels to see how much energy they p
28/11/2012
Work has begun this week to restore an historic bridge in the Highlands. The £67,000 contract to refurbish Cantray Bridge near Croy has been awarded to Coffey Construction by The Highland Council. The work will see the firm strengthen the bridge by installing a steel bracing to the central span.
28/11/2012
Morris & Spottiswood has said it is aiming to double turnover in England and Wales following the opening of a new office in Warrington. George Morris, chairman of the £84m-turnover Scottish firm, said: "This is a huge moment for our business. "This investment is a statement of intent and aims to c
28/11/2012
The former Odeon cinema in Glasgow’s West Regent Street will be demolished next week as part of plans to build a new £60m office block. The old theatre lies between Queen Street and Central Station and will be demolished before the end of the year. It is thought the new 10-storey office building w
28/11/2012
Councillors are set to travel to Ardgay in the New Year to view the potential impact of a controversial wind farm project. The north planning applications committee has decided to organise a visit to the site of the proposed Glenmorie wind farm and to postpone a decision until after the trip. The
28/11/2012
A search has been launched by Transport Scotland to name Scotland’s biggest infrastructure project in a generation. Members of the public are being asked by Transport Minister Keith Brown to find a new name for the Forth Replacement Crossing. Suggestions will be accepted up until the end of Januar
28/11/2012
Tenants in Glasgow’s Maryhill and East End and a Fife hospital could be on the way to cheaper fuel bills as an eco-heating system is backed by Holyrood. Alex Salmond has announced £2.67m investment in three demonstration "district heating" projects. The projects will involve a central boiler gener
28/11/2012
Work to demolish the Fife Institute for Physical & Recreational Education (FIPRE) is continuing, as the region prepares for a new leisure and community centre. The new multi-million pound Michael Woods Sports and Leisure Centre is being built in Glenrothes and will include three pools, dryside faci
27/11/2012
Glasgow firm Inkdesign Architecure has been awarded work on an extension for the headquarters of Jim McColl's Clyde Blowers Capital. Planning permission and a building warrant has been secured by the company to extend the Clyde Blowers office building in East Kilbride. The £2.75m project is expect
27/11/2012
Plans for two new care homes for elderly care residents have been approved by councillors in West Dunbartonshire. The £20m project will see six residential care homes at Langcraigs, Dalreoch, Willox Park, Mount Pleasant, Boquhanran House and Frank Downie Care Homes merged. Two brand new modern 90
27/11/2012
Work has begun to restore a memorial statue of Robert the Bruce ahead of the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn. The weather-beaten statue at Bannockburn in Stirling has been surrounded with scaffolding, while fencing has been put up at the field-site of the battle. The area in which t
27/11/2012
A Dumfries and Galloway based insulation company has recently completed contracts for two Lothian-based social housing providers. Eco Insulate carried out retro-fit work to solve problems of damp, mould and condensation for Lothian Housing Association and Edinburgh’s Prospect Community Housing. Th
27/11/2012
Preparatory work has begun on the Aberdeen bypass. Transport Minister Keith Brown has been overseeing initial ground investigations for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR) The £1m contract for the project was given to Soil Engineering Ltd. It is thought these initial works will take up t
27/11/2012
The Inverness City Leader has labelled an empty DIY shop "an eyesore" and has called for urgent redevelopment of the abandoned property. Ian Brown has written to B&Q chief executive Ian Cheshire asking for talks to discuss the future of the premises on the Carsegate Industrial Estate. News of the
27/11/2012
Six firms have been shortlisted in the search for designs to revamp Glasgow’s George Square. 35 companies had expressed interest in the £15m project to redevelop one of the city’s most iconic landmarks. But now six have been selected to submit designs before the New Year. The architects on the sh
27/11/2012
The Scottish government has backed a planning application to build a £13m 'tourism village' in Midlothian. Midlothian Council has welcomed the decision. It is thought the new development by Oakbridge Property will create up to 300 jobs in the region during construction and within the operation of
27/11/2012
Glasgow City Council is preparing a major investment in the A739 Shieldhall Overpass. The £3.75m injection will go towards improving and extending the lifespan of one of Glasgow’s most important roads. The Executive Committee is due to be asked to approve the funding. The improvement works would
27/11/2012
Nicola Sturgeon has called on Westminster to increase funding for Scotland and facilitate the many 'shovel-ready' projects awaiting the go-ahead. The deputy First Minister made the call following Finance Secretary John Swinney’s letter to the Chancellor asking for extra capital spending in Scotland
26/11/2012
A new state-of-the-art recording studio has been completed at Prestwick Academy in South Ayrshire. Ayr Architects ARPL designed the new facility, which contains a live room, control room and digital music suite. The studio has been built within industry standards and boasts a soundproof studio wit
26/11/2012
Issues need to be addressed if Scotland is to achieve its 100% renewable energy target by 2020, according to a new report. The Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee has made recommendations in a number of areas including planning, finance, skills and infrastructure. The report found local authorit
26/11/2012
The construction of six primary schools in South Lanarkshire is set to begin, with Morgan Sindall named to helm the project. The latest section of the £150m programme will see the firm begin Phase 2, Tranche 2 of the framework. Morgan Sindall has just completed 13 schools in the first tranche of t
26/11/2012
Falls from height continue to blight the UK construction industry, with statistics showing a rise of 140% in the number of workers involved in such accidents in the last three months. The figures come from the Building Safety Group, who said falls from height now make up 23% of all accidents, up fr
26/11/2012
The Highland Council is advising motorists that the first phase of works on the River Ness Flood Scheme will begin today, starting with the diversion of water mains on Huntly Street in Inverness. The street between Young Street and Greig Street will now close until 3 December. Work should have beg
26/11/2012
Today Dundee City Councillors will vote to approve a £7.94m investment in improvement works to the Dundee Energy Recycling Ltd (DERL) plant at Baldovie. Councillors will vote today at the Policy and Resources Committee. The Council says the investment would help DERL increase productivity and secu
26/11/2012
Princes Street in Edinburgh has been fully reopened to traffic in time for Christmas. One of Edinburgh’s busiest shopping streets had been closed due to work carried out for the new tram system. But over the weekend businesses on Princes Street were given an extra boost to their Christmas trading
26/11/2012
Finance Secretary John Swinney has said the UK government needs to reverse cuts to capital in order to facilitate £800m worth of infrastructure projects in Scotland. Mr Swinney has published a list of 'shovel-ready' projects that he believes could be delivered before the end of 2013-14, provided th
23/11/2012
Dundee residents could be in line to benefit from a grant to improve insulation in homes. A £200,000 grant from the Scottish government has been announced by Dundee City Council. It will see loft and cavity wall insulation carried out for many homes as well as the completion of insulated render wor
23/11/2012
Construction contractors have been invited to Aberdeenshire Council for a "meet the buyer" event. The event will take the form of a workshop designed to advise contractors how to bid for work from the Council. It is being hosted by the Council’s Head of Property and Facilities Management and other
23/11/2012
The people of South Ayrshire will be given the chance to voice their views on the new leisure and community facility planned for Girvan Harbour. Design sketches, plans and a model based on the current designs for the £8m project will be available. Attendees will be encouraged to give feedback on a
23/11/2012
Leading representatives from the contractors involved in the Edinburgh tram project have been visiting Holyrood to discuss the future of the transport system. Senior Directors met with Transport Minister Keith Brown and Transport Convener, Councillor Lesley Hinds. Dr Jochen Keysberg from Bilfinger
23/11/2012
A Scottish insulation company is seeking to turn round its misfortunes with the introduction of new technology. Stirling-based Superglass is investing in new "fiberising" equipment and cost-cutting measures to stay in business. The revival plan is being called Project Phoenix. Superglass is alrea
23/11/2012
A Scottish parliamentary inquiry has found there is no "robust" evidence to support Donald Trump’s claims that windfarms are hurting Scotland’s tourism industry. The US tycoon has claimed Scotland’s renewable energy policy is tantamount to "financial suicide". Donald Trump is currently engaged in
23/11/2012
Argyll and Bute Council are leading a lottery-funded regeneration of a rundown pavilion in Rothesay. Initial support for a Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) bid of £2.7m has been granted to revamp the Grade A listed Rothesay Pavilion, once a hub for Scots holidaymakers. Following confirmation of funding
23/11/2012
The Scottish government has clarified the law covering the fees letting agents and landlords are allowed to charge private tenants. Holyrood voted to approve secondary legislation which would outlaw all tenant charges, other than rent and a refundable deposit. The government feels the Rent (Scotla
22/11/2012
A £13.4m sports and social facility is to be built at the University of Glasgow. The plans would see the Glasgow University Union (GUU) on Gibson street demolished and replaced with the five-storey hub, which would then be connected to the Sports and Recreation’s Stevenson Building on Oakfield Aven
22/11/2012
Lovell is building 150 new council homes near Whiteside in Bathgate, West Lothian, in a £12.3 million scheme for West Lothian Council. One of the largest new-build council housing sites in Scotland, the scheme at Little Boghead is part of the council's new-build housing programme which will eventua
22/11/2012
Morgan Sindall is set to start work on the construction of six new state-of-the-art primary schools in South Lanarkshire – the latest phase in the £150 million Primary School Modernisation Programme in the region. The company is about to start Phase 2, Tranche 2 of the framework after completing th
22/11/2012
Transport Scotland has announced details of a roadshow to gauge the views of local communities on the A9 dualling programme. Transport Minister Keith Brown has been encouraging the public to give feedback when the exhibitions get underway next month. Mr Brown said: "Less than a year ago this Scott
22/11/2012
Midlothian Council has announced the granting of permission for 60 new homes at Mayfield. The contract has been awarded to Persimmon to build the new homes. The Council has approved the developer’s plans to build 35 detached houses, 15 semi-detached houses and 10 terraced affordable houses. The d
22/11/2012
An architecture firm has praised the public after a consultation resulted in revised and improved plans for the new railway station in Dundee. The five-storey complex will feature a hotel, shops and a café and will be built before the V & A centre opens in the city in 2015. Nicoll Russell’s origin
22/11/2012
An historic lecture theatre at Edinburgh University is the focus of a £20m refurbishment plan. The Old Anatomy Lecture Theatre will be part of the revamp project, expected to begin in January 2015. Design teams have now been invited to submit briefs for the project, although securing funding remai
22/11/2012
Homeless people in Scotland could be about to benefit from a law which would see settled accommodation acknowledged as a legal right. Following Parliamentary approval, the new law will come into effect from 31 December 2012. It will mean all councils in Scotland have to provide settled accommodati
21/11/2012
A block of flats in Paisley is to be demolished following an agreement between Renfrewshire Council and a property owner. Renfrewshire Council has been attempting for years to secure ownership of the Incle Street flats, and has finally agreed a deal with the remaining owner. The Council will now c
21/11/2012
The remains of a Mesolithic home have been unearthed during works for the new Forth Crossing. Archaeologists discovered a large oval pit of about seven metres in length, about half a metre deep and with a number of postholes. Hearths, flints and arrowheads were also found. It is thought the remain
21/11/2012
A consortium of construction and housebuilding companies has reached a deal to work together on the South West Scotland hub initiative. Galliford Try Investments, Equitix Holdings, Kier Projects Investments and John Graham Holdings will be cooperating as Alliance Community Partnerships to deliver t
21/11/2012
Highland residents are being invited to a public information day for an update on new renewable energy projects. The Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters wave and tidal energy projects will be put up for public consultation at The Pentland Hotel, Thurso, Wednesday 28 November from 15:00 – 20:00. The p
21/11/2012
Linwood Community Sports Hub in Renfrewshire has received one of the highest Considerate Constructors Scheme scores in the UK for a live working site. The £19.6m sports facility is being built by BAM Construction and is due to be finished by Spring next year. The development will include an adult
21/11/2012
A Scottish house builder has announced a rise in turnover and profits. Despite the ailing Scottish economy and construction sector, Springfield Properties' annual results for the year end to May show turnover is up 32% to £53m from £40m and profit is rising to £3.9m, a 56% rise on last year’s £2.5m
21/11/2012
The Cabinet Secretary for Cultural and External Affairs Fiona Hyslop is urging the Scottish public to get involved in protecting the nation’s built heritage. Figures have been revealed which show a majority of pre-1919 traditional buildings in Scotland are in need of repair. The call came as the C
21/11/2012
Scotland’s national poet Robert Burns has been recognised by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) for his work as a land surveyor. The title Honorary Chartered Surveyor was awarded to the poet at the Governing Council dinner yesterday in Edinburgh. It is the only posthumous membersh
20/11/2012
The former Trinity Church in Irvine in North Ayrshire is being redeveloped this month as part the transformation of the town centre. The repair and restoration began yesterday, as Fleming Masonry began work on the main church and hall. The company also began conservation work on the tower and spire
20/11/2012
A meeting is being held by Aberdeenshire Council tonight to discuss the deterioration of two road bridges in Strathdon. The future of the Milltown of Towie Bridge and Glenkindie Bridge will be debated. Both bridges are in declining condition and have vehicular weight restrictions imposed on them.
20/11/2012
Edinburgh tenants with an unoccupied bedroom are being encouraged to seek advice from the council over the new welfare reforms. The City of Edinburgh Council is currently contacting those tenants who will be affected. The reforms will target anyone 'under occupying'. Tenants will lose 14% of housi
20/11/2012
Fife Council is currently attempting a rescue bid for a designed landscape in Valleyfield Wood. A meeting of the council’s South West Fife Area Committee this week saw councillors told funding is needed to restore the area, otherwise the planned landscape will be in danger of being lost forever. C
20/11/2012
Aberdeen City Council is putting forward the future of two new developments for public consultation. Proposals for the Maidencraig Masterplan and Loirston Development Framework Proposed Supplementary Guidance are being set forth to interested and relevant parties. The Maidencraig Masterplan sets o
20/11/2012
A new schools project could be given the green light by Dundee City Council. The £40m development will be put forward in a report to the education and policy committees on November 26. Plans for the new primary and nursery schools in the Coldside, Menzieshill and Strathmartine areas will be outlin
20/11/2012
Graham Construction has been celebrating two awards, from Building Better Healthcare (BBH) and Glasgow Institute of Architects (GIA). The Best-Out-of-Hospital Care Facility Design award from BBH went to Barrhead Health & Care Centre, while Maryhill Burgh Halls scooped the Conservation category at t
20/11/2012
The Craighouse Partnership has submitted its planning application to build on the former Edinburgh Napier University campus. The City of Edinburgh Council has received the plans for the 51 acre campus site. Work will begin to build new residential homes on the grounds once the University leaves in
19/11/2012
One of Europe’s largest offshore wind energy companies is to locate its UK turbine-manufacturing site at Scotland. French energy company Areva has signed an agreement with Scottish Enterprise, indicating its intention to relocate its turbine operation and blade-manufacturing facilities. The move w
19/11/2012
A new national centre for blood-testing in Scotland has been given the go-ahead. The National Centre for the Scottish National Blood Tranfusion Service (SNBTS) will be built at Heriot-Watt Research Park near Edinburgh. The £36.4m facility will centralise the processing and testing of blood and tis
19/11/2012
Fife Council has approved new planning guidance for public consultation which will help to enhance and supporting existing green spaces in the area. The approval of the Green Infrastructure Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) follows the Fife Greenspace Strategy in November 2010. Fife Council’s
19/11/2012
The controversial Portobello Park school in Edinburgh looks set to become a reality, after a report is submitted to the council in favour of the development. The report has concluded it would be quicker, more affordable and ultimately mean building a better school. A debate has been generated over
19/11/2012
Barratt Developments has announced a drop in sales of social housing this year. Last week the group released an interim management statement which showed a 39% fall in the value of forward sales of its social homes. £178.1m has been recorded so far in 2012 compared to £292.2m in the same period la
19/11/2012
Work begins today to divert vital services in the Highlands to make way for the new flood scheme at the River Ness. The scheme is being implemented to protect some 800 homes and 200 businesses in Inverness. The vital preparation work will impact on the Ness Bridge at its junction with Castle Road,
19/11/2012
Drop-in sessions are being organised for communities concerned about the proposed rail line in Scotland. Communities from the Borders to Edinburgh are being offered the chance to learn more about the scheme and raise any concerns. Today sees the beginning of a string of sessions, starting off in S
19/11/2012
Scottish households are being encouraged by the government to act now towards preparing their homes for the winter ahead. A recent survey found 77% of Scots are concerned about the cost of energy bills over the coming months, according to the Scottish government. The figures show 45% would be inte
16/11/2012
A new trail in France has been launched in celebration of one of Scotland’s most famous architects. The Charles Rennie Mackintosh Trail in Roussillon focuses on the watercolour paintings of the renowned architect. It features reproductions of his paintings at the spots where they were created. 30
16/11/2012
Scotland’s offsite construction sector is expected to grow 9% over the next five years, according to a review commissioned by the Scottish government. Holyrood’s Innovation, Investment and Industries Division funded the strategic review, which predicts the sector will grow from £220m to £240m. The
16/11/2012
The quarterly price index for the average domestic property in Scotland has dropped by 5.8%. The figures for the three months ending October 2012 were revealed in the latest Scottish House Price Monitor from Lloyds TSB Scotland. The figures also show Scottish house prices have fallen by 0.3% on an
16/11/2012
Scottish gas company Centrica has defended a 6% price hike, due to begin today. Centrica says the increase is due to costs out of its control. The news comes as the UK’s biggest energy companies seek to play down claims of price manipulation amid profit jumps and price hikes. SSE, the energy comp
16/11/2012
East Lothian Council has announced it will be forming a partnership with Sainsbury’s under new plans to regenerate Haddington. The Haddington Vision Steering Committee will be aided by the Council and the supermarket giant amid plans to regenerate Haddington and put the town 'firmly on the map'. S
16/11/2012
Fife Council has released information on the Forth Replacement Crossing (FRC) project. The new motorway will open in phases from December 4 2012, with the second phase predicted for early 2013 and the third and final phase being finished in 2016. The FRC is being built as a 'managed' motorway, usi
16/11/2012
Glasgow Council has approved the development of a new joint operations centre for the city’s traffic management and CCTV functions. Phase one funding has been given the go-ahead, with the council’s executive committee voting yesterday to approve the motion. Traffcom, the city’s centre for monitori
16/11/2012
Perth and Kinross Council is planning a project which will help private owners bring empty and unused properties back into use. A seminar is being organised for 30 November and will mark the beginning of the vacant property development project. Owners will be provided with a range of advice and as
16/11/2012
Aberdeen City Council has chosen Lovell to carryout a £3.7m refurbishment programme for three multi-storeys. The city tower blocks will receive new rainscreen cladding with insulation and windows. Lovell will be working on three 14-storey high-rises: Grampian Court, Brimmond Court and Morven Court
16/11/2012
Edinburgh’s cyclists have been enjoying the completion of a new 3km bike route. The Quality Bike Corridor was upgraded this year, making the route even more popular with the students and commuters who use it daily. Edinburgh City Council has refurbished the Corridor, providing new bus and cycle la
15/11/2012
A 150-year-old Scottish engineering icon is being celebrated this month. The Butt of Lewis Lighthouse has been an iconic structure in the Western Isles for a century and a half. Standing 121ft high and built between 1859 and 1862 by David and Thomas Stevenson, the lighthouse rests in the windiest
15/11/2012
A Highland MP has criticised the way land is owned and used in Wester Ross. The Applecross Trust owns 61,000 acres of land and has refused to open up its membership to the public. Six landowners run the Trust and live on the land. MP Charles Kennedy wrote a letter to Applecross, suggesting locals
15/11/2012
Transport Minister Keith Brown has been visiting the site of Edinburgh’s tram system to view the progress being made. The new system, when operational, will see trams running from Edinburgh International Airport to the city centre in under 30 minutes. But the installation of the new transport netw
15/11/2012
The energy company behind Scottish Hydro has announced a jump in profits of nearly 40%. The news from SSE comes just a month after it announced a 9% increase in bills. SEE also owns Southern Electric and Swalec and is the UK's second-largest generator of electricity. It said the £398m half-year p
15/11/2012
The Scottish Borders Council has backed an affordable housing scheme in Peebles. Eildon Housing Association won the contract to build 16 homes at the Dunwhinny Lodge care home on the south side of the Tweeddale town. The move follows councillors’ support of the application at a planning committee
15/11/2012
The Highland Council has revised its guidance for the building of small-scales windfarms. A public consultation had shown there was a high demand for small-scale wind turbine developments in the area, and so the Council reworked its Supplementary Guidance. The document will now be passed on to the
15/11/2012
A conservation project in South Lanarkshire has led to the completion of improvements to heritage buildings and landmarks. A number of public realm improvements in the Leadhills were carried out following a consultation with residents. A total of 45 properties directly benefited from grants to ass
15/11/2012
The future of Lews Castle was discussed yesterday, as a meeting was held following the announcement that the main contractors carrying out refurbishment work have gone into administration. Northern Ireland company Patton Group had a £2m contract to carry out repairs at the castle, which is undergoi
15/11/2012
A Scottish construction company has put its operations under review due to falling UK orders. Kier Group announced in a statement: "We are experiencing a good level of bidding activity across the group, however today's trading environment remains difficult with little sign of improvement in the UK
15/11/2012
Fife has recorded its best employment land development figure since 1999. The area’s Employment Land Audit has announced the development of an extra 36.95 hectares (3.9m sq ft) in 2012; an increase of approximately 24 hectares (2.6m sq ft) since 2011. The news comes as Fife looks towards future de
14/11/2012
McTaggart Construction has announced a new partnership with Hanover (Scotland) Housing Association to develop 16 amenity units in East Renfrewshire. The £1.9m development will create housing for older people and is being undertaken in partnership with East Renfrewshire Council. Work started in Aug
14/11/2012
Fife Council has approved plans for up to 1,650 new private and affordable homes. A strategic framework planning document has been approved by members of the Levenmouth Area Committee. The Strategic Land Allocation (SLA) will see the phased development of 15 hectares of employment land, as well as
14/11/2012
Ken Livingstone has been speaking at a low-carbon conference in Glasgow. The former London mayor delivered his speech yesterday at the event, which is intended to showcase Glasgow’s ambitions to become one of the greenest cities in Europe. The meeting centered around discussions as to the renewal
14/11/2012
A new £90m lab facility has just opened, bringing lifesaving treatments and technologies to the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area. The laboratory on the Southern General campus is reported to be one of the most modern facilities in the UK. The facilities include a genetics laboratory and a blood scie
14/11/2012
Falkirk Council should work to make more efficient use of its rented buildings, according to a report. A report to the Council’s Policy and Resources Committee yesterday is to lead to a wide scale analysis of Falkirk Council’s use of assets. It was highlighted that Falkirk Council currently spends
14/11/2012
A strategy to regenerate the waterfront at Stranraer has been temporarily put on hold. The move came after the Labour group expressed fears that the wider regeneration of the town was being overlooked. It invoked a clause to bring the issue back to next full meeting of Dumfries and Galloway Counci
14/11/2012
The largest dry ski slope in Europe has reopened following a major refit. The Midlothian Snowsports Centre at Hillend was threatened with closure two years ago and was temporarily closed to bring it back up to scratch. It is due to reopen to the public today. £600,000 of improvements were carried
14/11/2012
Scotland and the north of England should work together to ensure their cities benefit from the new high speed rail link, according to Alex Salmond. The First Minister made the comments last night in a speech to the North East Economic forum in Newcastle. He said: "The current proposals for high sp
13/11/2012
A Highland Councillor has suggested demolishing Jimmy Savile’s Glencoe cottage after it was vandalised for a third time. Orange paint was used in an attack on the cottage at Alt Na Reigh in Glencoe at the weekend. The incident follows similar attacks last month, when stones were thrown at the cott
13/11/2012
The shortlist for this year’s Vision in Business for the Environment of Scotland (VIBES) Awards has been announced. One company which is celebrating making the list is forklift truck firm the Carrylift Group. Carrylift has made the shortlist in two categories; Collaboration and Transport. It made
13/11/2012
The new V&A museum at Dundee will be moved further away from the water to ensure the development keeps within budget. This is despite one of the aims of the new building being "strengthening the connection between the river and the city centre" The V&A will now be built 100 metres inland from its
13/11/2012
The Scottish government has said it is pressing ahead to create a rail link which could see the journey between Glasgow and Edinburgh reduced to under 30 minutes. Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced Holyrood’s plans to bring high speed rail to Scotland by 2024. If the proposals can be
13/11/2012
A squatter has attempted to sell a cottage in the Scottish Borders for £70,000 without the owner's knowledge. A court heard how 36-year-old Ewan Turner moved into a two-bedroom cottage in Walkerburn after realising the property was vacant. He then tried to make money from the sale of Kirnie Cottag
13/11/2012
Robertson Group has been awarded a £7.5m contract to build a new facility at Leverndale Hospital in Glasgow. The new Adult Acute Admissions Unit will further modernise the provision of inpatient psychiatric care at the hospital. It will replace the existing facility, which is currently housed in a
13/11/2012
While the number of homes on the market in Scotland has risen, the number is not being matched by new buyers, according to a new survey. The latest figures by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) show housing prices are declining. 3% of surveyors said they had seen a slight increase,
13/11/2012
£200,000 funding could soon be used to bring empty homes in North Ayrshire back into use. The council’s cabinet has agreed to apply for the money from the Empty Homes Loan Fund. Drawing on the Scottish government’s £4m cash pot set aside for improving empty homes, the decision by North Ayrshire Co
12/11/2012
Plans are now in place to transform five sites in the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. The 5 Lochs Visitor Management Plan is being implemented to improve facilities and increase visits to the sites. £850,000 is to be spent on the improvements, which will include new campsites, parking
12/11/2012
Holyrood is calling on Westminster to extend the proposed high-speed rail network into Scotland. A two-day conference takes place today and Tuesday at Glasgow's Grand Central railway hotel. Scottish politicians are to join representatives from the north of England, business leaders from London, ra
12/11/2012
The Highland Council continues to seek engineering solutions to the A890 Stromeferry bypass following news of a minor landslip last week. A survey was undertaken on Friday following the slip by the Council’s engineer, URS consulting engineers and TRAC geotechnical contractors. Concrete barriers h
12/11/2012
Shetland Islands Council has revealed new plans which will implement a new alternative engineering solution for the Ulsta and Toft ferry piers. The Council’s Ferries Service has been in discussions with contractors and has developed the news plans to allow work to go ahead while minimising disrupti
12/11/2012
Maggie’s Gartnavel in Glasgow has been given the Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award 2012. The building, by Dutch architects OMA, won the prize out of a shortlist of fourteen buildings. The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland hold the awards every year. All fourteen projects on
12/11/2012
Balfour Beatty has warned 2012 profits will be lower than initially expected. Shareholders are being told that 2013 will provide new worries for the company. "After a small decrease in the first half in the Construction Services order book, we saw a more significant decline in the third quarter,"
12/11/2012
The Scottish Building Federation has warned that the latest figures for UK construction indicate a "deepening crisis". The Office of National Statistics (ONS) said construction output in the third quarter of 2012 fell by 2.6% compared with the second quarter of 2012, making it the lowest since the
12/11/2012
South Ayrshire Council has secured funding to improve the accommodation at Marr College in Troon. The improvements will see the modernisation of the Marr College building and the development of new accommodation. Funding has been secured, in principle, from the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT), throug
12/11/2012
New school projects for Aberdeenshire are to be put before the council’s Policy & Resources Committee this week. Projects being considered include plans for the new Alford Community Campus, major alterations to Kemnay Academy and plans for a new build primary school in Drumoak. The three projects
12/11/2012
Approval has been given to deliver a facelift to Fife’s Rothes Halls theatre and conference venue. The Glenrothes Area Committee has agreed to inject £12,933 from the area budget to undertake improvements to the Rothes Halls Side Entrance. The news follows the submission of plans to vastly improve
09/11/2012
The construction of the Borders Railway project will be handled by Network Rail. Transport Scotland has handed responsibility for the completion of the £294m project to the rail operator, which will see it build the 48km route and seven new stations by 2015 at the latest. News of the construction
09/11/2012
An Edinburgh construction supply company has been fined after admitting a failure to ensure the health and safety of one of its employees. The Builders Supply Company Limited of 8 Inglis Green Road, Edinburgh, was fined £5,000 at Edinburgh Sheriff Court. The Incident occurred on 26 April 2010 when
09/11/2012
An abandoned Argyll and Bute village originally built to house construction workers in the 1970s is to be redeveloped after being sold to administrators. Pollphail, which has been described as a 'ghost village' and overlooks Loch Fyne, has been bought by a forestry firm for over £250,000. The sale
09/11/2012
Argyll and Bute Council has announced a "very successful year" for planning performance. The planning service in Argyll and Bute won three awards in 2012, including two at the Scottish Government’s prestigious Awards for Quality in Planning. The Argyll and Bute Woodland and Forestry Strategy won a
09/11/2012
River Clyde Homes has agreed a contract to provide an electrical apprenticeship to a young man from Greenock. 19-year-old George Morrison has just begun his four year apprentice ship with fit-out, housing & maintenance contractor Morris & Spottiswood. Mr Morrison is set to begin work in the Inverc
09/11/2012
Shetland Islands Council has provided residents with an update on work to complete a new high school and halls of residence. A funding application for the Anderson High School and associated Hall of Residence was submitted to the Scottish Government on 2012. The bid was confirmed as successful by C
09/11/2012
Residents of East Ayrshire are to be given the chance to have a say in the future development of the council, following the launch of the new Main Issues Report (MIR). The council is consulting local people on the Report, which will play a major part in shaping the Local Development Plan. A statem
09/11/2012
The Highland Council has begun the next phase in the development of the new £27.2m Inverness West Link Road project. Following the appointment of Capita Symonds to assist the Council’s Project Design Unit in providing civil engineering and supporting services, the Council has awarded a contract for
08/11/2012
A conference on fuel poverty in Scotland is to be held in Dundee. The two-day event will discuss the problem of cold homes and how fuel poverty can be tackled in Scotland. Energy Action Scotland has organised the conference, which is being opened by Joe FitzPatrick, Minister for Parliamentary Busi
08/11/2012
Glasgow Airport is set for a £3.5m expansion. Gama Aviation has announced the development, which will see new and improved services and facilities at Glasgow Airport implemented by Spring 2013. Work carried out by the aviation company will include the construction of a dedicated Gama Aviation hang
08/11/2012
It has been announced that essential building work at Lews Castle in Stornoway will stop following the collapse of a construction firm. The news comes as Northern Ireland construction firm Patton Group announces it has gone into administration. Patton had a £2m contract to carry out repairs at the
08/11/2012
A £110m emergency care centre has been completed in Grampian. The new centre, one of the largest in Europe, has been completed on time and within budget. The development is the result of a three-year construction project by Robertson. The company used a technique during construction which had nev
08/11/2012
A new residential centre in Dumfries has moved a step closer to finish with the completion of the traditional 'topping out' ceremony. Planning permission was received in spring last year, following discussions with the local community and the drawing up of designs for the Hardthorn Road site. Chai
08/11/2012
North Ayrshire Council has given the go-ahead to a new £42.5m campus development. The Three Towns campus plan was approved by the Council’s Cabinet, following the approval of a funding bid for £22.5m by the Scottish Government in September. The modern campus will bring together pupils from Ardross
08/11/2012
£3.2m of funding is to go towards the development of an industrial site, which will help create construction jobs in North Lanarkshire. It is thought the Dundyvan project in Coatbridge will create around 100 jobs, with an additional 12 full time construction positions also being opened up through t
08/11/2012
The Scottish government has launched a £50m 'Warm Homes' fund. Housing Minister Margaret Burgess has announced the fund, which will see money invested in green energy projects to help heat homes across the country. Two pilot schemes in Glasgow and the Highlands will be the first to benefit from th
07/11/2012
Dundee City Council has granted Gladman Developments with planning consent to develop a new mixed-use business park. The company will be building the new Dundee Business Park, which will include a hotel and pub restaurant, car show rooms, vehicle maintenance facility and cash and carry. Planning c
07/11/2012
Dundee City Council has announced a series of regeneration plans to improve the city’s open spaces. £100,000 is to be invested and a list of improvements across the city is to be considered by the environment committee on Monday November 12. The improvements, as announced by the Council, are as fo
07/11/2012
Repair work being undertaken on the Burntisland clock tower in Fife has uncovered the cause of the structural damage. The problems initially occurred following the discovery of damage to the tower. Work was then carried out to remove the affected stone. But this week the further removal of two of
07/11/2012
Pupils in Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire have been celebrating the opening of their new £44m school. The building was opened this week and will now be home to Buchanan High School, St Ambrose High School and Townhead Community Centre. The contract was won by Balfour Beatty. Councillor Jim Logue, Co
07/11/2012
The Scottish government’s announcement of the construction and reopening of the Borders Railway has been welcomed by the council. The government has said the railway system will be opened by 2015 at the latest. Councillor David Parker, Leader of Scottish Borders Council, said: "Today's announcemen
07/11/2012
Aberdeenshire Council’s Social Work and Housing Committee will be asked tomorrow to approve the Local Housing Strategy 2012-17. The strategy will focus on the issues facing the council over the next five years. Councillors will also be considering a review of the way housing is allocated to potent
07/11/2012
Preparations for Shetland’s first wave power scheme are to ramp up, ahead of planning application in 2015. European energy company Vattenfall and Edinburgh based Pelamis Wave Power are working in coordination to deliver the project to the islands. They are expected to tell representatives this wee
07/11/2012
Homes for Scotland has described the latest planning performance statistics released by Holyrood as an "outrage". The organisation has pointed out that the Scottish government's figures show decisions on major housing applications are taking 77 weeks on average. Homes for Scotland Director of Plan
06/11/2012
Dumfries and Galloway Housing Partnership (DGHP) has announced the winning bidder for its five-year repairs contract worth £25m. Lovell has been selected for the deal, which will be formally awarded in December. The contract is set to begin in April 2013 and would see the company undertake respons
06/11/2012
The latest school to be part of Inverclyde Council’s £200m refurbishment and school building programme has been opened. Whinhill Primary School in Greenock was opened by Duncan McNeil MSP. The £5m refurbishment project is an amalgamation of two schools; Highlanders and Overton. The original buildi
06/11/2012
Edinburgh’s tram project is progressing as planned, as preparations are made for the overhead powerlines to go live from 26 November. The lines between the tram depot at Gogar Castle Road and Edinburgh Airport will be switched on to allow the Tram System to be tested and commissioned. This will si
06/11/2012
Eight 'zero-heat loss' homes have been built in Anstruther. The Fife homes are a mixture of 2 and 3 bedroom houses and are the first council homes to be built in the town for over 20 years. Oliver & Robb Architects designed the new homes, which were built according to enhanced specification. Spri
06/11/2012
Fife Council has announced the building of new affordable housing in Dalgety Bay. The Council is working in partnership with Barratt East Scotland to provide 31 new homes for the Oakfield Gait development at Ridge Way. The £3.7m project will consist of two and three bedroom homes and 2-bedroom hom
06/11/2012
Scottish based Malcolm Group has reported a £4.9m rise in profits and announced a new £50m, five year refinancing deal. The construction and logistics company has revealed pre-tax profits of £4.9m in the year to January 31 and an increase in turnover of 11.7%, from £170.4m to £190.3m. The company
06/11/2012
The keys to a new community centre have been handed to City of Edinburgh councillors, as the facility prepares for its November 26 public opening. Jo Elliot, Chair of hub South East Scotland, presented the keys of the East Neighbourhood Centre and Craigmillar Library to Councillor Andrew Burns, Lea
06/11/2012
Homes for Scotland (HFS) has unveiled what they are calling "an innovative new solution to achieving Scottish Government targets on climate change and fuel poverty". The organisation has released details of its 'Retrofit Reward' scheme, which states priority must be given to upgrading older propert
06/11/2012
Construction activity has declined in the third quarter, despite an overall return to growth for the UK economy. It is expected the sector is unlikely to experience growth until at least 2014. The findings come as the latest Construction Trade Survey is released. Building contractors revealed tha
06/11/2012
The construction of the Forth Replacement Crossing has reached a major milestone. As the project continues to progress at the Rosyth dockyard site, large sections have been put in place to form the foundation for the bridge’s central tower. These sections will be the first part of the central tower
05/11/2012
The largest hull section of a new aircraft carrier has embarked on a journey from its Clyde construction site to the assembly point at Fife. HMS Queen Elizabeth left BAE's shipbuilding hall at Govan three weeks ago and was loaded on to a barge, but bad weather had held up the journey. It is now on
05/11/2012
A new Highland windfarm has been granted planning consent. It is thought the new Beinneun windfarm near Invergarry will generate £30m a year for the Highland economy and £500,000 for local communities. Energy Minister Fergus Ewing has approved the plans for the 85 megawatt wind farm, which will ha
05/11/2012
Developers in Perth and Kinross could be asked to contribute towards the cost of new transport infrastructure under new plans. Members of the Enterprise and Infrastructure Committee are expected to be told about the new policy on 7 November. The approach would see rules implemented which are simil
05/11/2012
A self employed contractor has been fined £20,000 in damages following the death of one of his employees. Boyd Lamont, from Buckhaven in Fife, was fined after a man working for him on a site fell to his death through a warehouse roof. Lamont pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the health and safet
05/11/2012
A range of refurbishment and development projects for Oban has been approved by Argyll and Bute Council. The new CHORD project will include the creation of a North Pier Quarter, as well as an improved seafront which will provide greater access to the town via ferry, train and bus. Argyll and Bute
05/11/2012
A development to build three new schools in Wick is currently on track to be completed by its target date of August 2015. The Highland Council’s adult and children services committee is expected to be told the news at a meeting in Inverness on school provision on Wednesday, 7 November. The two new
05/11/2012
An East Ayrshire Council work experience programme is giving five young people a 20-week course to prepare them for a career in construction. The 'Get Ready For Work' programme at Dumfries House Estate will see Tyla Crockett, Scott McHallum, Scott McGillvary, Edward McIlwain and Kris Leitch given e
05/11/2012
A local Fife council is due to hear how a multimillion pound sports leisure centre is on time and on budget. Glenrothes are councillors will receive an update on the Michael Woods Sports and Leisure Centre on Wednesday 7 November. Roof and wall cladding on the development has already been complete
02/11/2012
Industry leaders in Scotland have called on Westminster to intervene and increase the availability of mortgages to boost confidence in the market. Homes for Scotland’s Board has issued the call in order to "stop the housing crisis from deepening even further". The organisation says house sales for
02/11/2012
The company that makes Gore-Tex have officially opened their newly refurbished fabrics plant in West Lothian. A £5m investment has gone towards the new design, which will see energy consumption reduced by almost 25% through recycling the heat generated at the production area. WL Gore and Associate
02/11/2012
Sir Robert McAlpine has announced it will be opting for propping over structural steel on its redevelopment of Glasgow’s School of Art. The firm will be using hydraulic shoring equipment on the project, claiming it will offer the benefits of speed of installation and the capability to monitor loads
02/11/2012
The approval rate of planning applications in Scotland continues to rise. The rate of approval for the quarter April to June 2012 was 94.1%, an increase on the previous quarter’s 91.3% and on the 93.1% in the equivalent quarter in 2011 The news came as Scotland’s Chief Statistician released the la
02/11/2012
Edinburgh Castle has been voted the top UK Heritage attraction for the second year running. While controversy continues over the extension to Scotland’s modern parliament building at Holyrood, it seems one of Edinburgh’s oldest constructions continues to be at the forefront of the city’s landscape.
02/11/2012
A development plan which lays out details for the future of land use in Dundee has been given the go-ahead. The new plan will see around 5,000 letters sent to households living within 20 metres of sites of future developments, both housing and commercial. A review of the existing local plan will b
02/11/2012
Fife Council’s new leisure centre has won the refurbishment category in a 'building of the year' awards. The new centre in Dunfermline was awarded the refurbishment category in the Society of Chief Architects of Local Authorities (SCALA) Civic Building of the Year awards. The building also receive
02/11/2012
A major Scottish energy firm has announced its expansion with a new £750,000 engineering hub in India. Wood Group is hoping the completion of the hub will create up to 100 jobs in India, where the company has operated since 2000. It currently employs 130 people in the country. The expansion is exp
01/11/2012
The Scottish government has passed a bill which will give local authorities the power to double the level of council tax on empty homes. The Unoccupied Properties Bill is intended to deal with the 25,000-plus long term empty homes across Scotland Housing Minister Margaret Burgess said: "While peo
01/11/2012
Two developers have launched legal action after their proposals to build an 1800-home village on the edge of Perth. Savills and Pilkington Trust have submitted an appeal at the Court of Session in Edinburgh for the new Almond Valley village development. The developers are arguing Perth and Kinross
01/11/2012
Dunfermline City Chambers are due to reopen following a £1.2m refurbishment. The 10-month project at the City Chambers was undertaken under the Council’s Office Rationalisation Programme, the purpose of which is to reduce the number of office properties the Council occupies from 95 to 27. The work
01/11/2012
A company which designs and installs micro hydro schemes throughout Scotland has become the first business to take advantage of the Highland Council’s Graduate Placement programme. Proterra Energy applied through the scheme to acquire a graduate who would be able to identify new hydro scheme sites,
01/11/2012
Construction has begun on Fife’s new £10m transport interchange. Halbeath 'Park and Choose' will become Fife’s new transport hub and will include six bus stances, a facilities building and parking space for 1,000 vehicles. It will be located north of Crossgates roundabout in Dunfermline and is bei
01/11/2012
The Scottish Affairs select committee has heard how two construction firms have been accused of blacklisting workers. Yesterday construction union Ucatt gave evidence to MPs that Sir Robert McAlpine and Skanska had run blacklisting checks for workers on high profile public sector contracts. Ucatt
01/11/2012
A Glasgow urban design consultancy has criticised plans to demolish tenement housing in Port Glasgow. Willie Miller, of Willie Miller Urban Design, has been discussing plans to demolish parts of Clune Park which have fallen below standard. He said: "The buildings themselves do represent energy and
01/11/2012
Shetland will become the last local authority in Scotland to abolish the Housing Support Grant. The new measure will see Shetland Islands Council receive financial support from the Scottish government to help it adapt to the new changes. The Council was the only one in Scotland to continue to rece
