Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
Scotland Construction News Archive for December 2012
21/12/2012
2012 was a record-breaking year for renewable energy in Scotland, according to statistics released by the government. The Department of Energy and Climate Change has released figures which show the first three quarters of 2012 generated 15.2% more electricity than the same period in 2011, the previ
21/12/2012
400 jobs are to be created by an energy firm expansion in the New year. The owners of Nigg Energy Park in the Highlands announced the plans. Global Energy Group bought the Nigg yard by the Cromarty Firth in Ross-shire in October 2011. The group is launching a Highlands-wide recruitment drive for
21/12/2012
The Scottish government is to introduce a new policy to improve the safety and efficiency of construction sites. All companies and staff engaged in new public sector construction contracts must be registered with the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) or an equivalent. The move follow
20/12/2012
Public sector purchasing group LHC has said the Scottish government’s Procurement Reform Bill will meet its objective. LHC provides advice and construction procurement framework arrangements across the UK. John Skivington, LHC Director, welcomed the reforms. He said: "The one size fits all approa
20/12/2012
Contractors have successfully run an Edinburgh Tram a full speed, as one of Scotland’s biggest infrastructure projects nears completion. It is thought the system will be ready for service in summer 2014. The tests are the final part the development of this section of the route. The 2.8km stretch
20/12/2012
Morris & Spottiswood has appointed the new leader of its mechanical and electrical (M&E) engineering divison south of the border. 38-year-old Jon Dunwell is to operate from Morris & Spottiswood's new £2m Warrington premises at Garrett House in Birchwood. He will be responsible for growing the M &
20/12/2012
2,000 jobs are to be created across Scotland in 2013-14 after a £205m package of construction and maintenance projects has been given the go-ahead. Finance Secretary John Swinney announced the plans, which will include: - £50m for housing, - £22m each for transport and regeneration projects, - £
20/12/2012
Plans for retirement homes in Kirkcaldy could see the Station Hotel building brought back into use. The building has been boarded up for five years, despite previous plans to refurbish the site, including for a 12-storey block of flats. But now Dow Investments Ltd has lodged plans to renovate the
20/12/2012
A new public plaza is to be built in one of Edinburgh’s most historic streets. The development will see performance space built outside the National Museum of Scotland in Chambers Street. The Scotsman has reported how the project will see a statue of Scottish architect William Henry Playfair built
20/12/2012
Engineering firm Cleveland Bridge has been awarded a contract to build part of the new Forth Road Bridge. The development will form a link between Edinburgh and Fife. It is thought more than 100 jobs will be created through the contract, which will see the company make steel girders to support via
20/12/2012
A 120-bed care home is to be built on the site of the former Blawarthill Hospital in Glasgow. The scheme is part of £80m being put up to build five care homes across the city to accommodate 600 elderly people. Four day-care centres will also be built. Sites have already been identified four of th
19/12/2012
A North Lanarkshire Council house-building project has reached a landmark in its development, with the opening of new homes at Millerston. The Coshneuk Road development includes 11 amenity bungalows, built on a former horticultural nursery area. Ogilvie were awarded the contract for the scheme at
19/12/2012
East Lothian Council has called for the duelling of the A1 from Dunbar to the English border. The Council was responding to the Scottish government’s national planning consultation. East Lothian Council has also requested the refurbishment of parts of the Edinburgh bypass to improve transport link
19/12/2012
Perth & Kinross Council has announced a scheme which enables young people to gain paid work experience in property upgrading. The Property Plus project is aimed at helping 16 to 24-year-olds who face significant barriers getting into work. A 13-week programme, the scheme sees teams of young people
19/12/2012
Ayrshire house-builder Hope Homes has seen a major profit increase following the decision to widen the scope of the firm’s activities. Hope Homes has seen profits rise from £1773 to £29,848 in the year to March 31, 2012, despite a drop in turnover from £10.1m to £7.1m. The company says its profita
19/12/2012
Kingdom Housing Association has been giving Falkirk’s school children a lesson in building a house. Pupils from Westquarter Primary School have been visiting a live building site in the town’s Allison Crescent. The housing group is currently building 23 new homes on the site, 13 of which are desig
19/12/2012
Graham Construction has landed a £4.7m development at Langholm Primary School in Dumfries & Galloway. The contract comprises 1767m² new build accommodation and 122m² of refurbished accommodation. The finished development will consist of a 7-classroom primary school and nursery. Graham are working
19/12/2012
1000 new council homes are to be built in Fife, following approval of proposals at the Annual Tenants’ Conference. Executive Spokesperson for Housing, Communities and Local Services, Councillor David Ross, launched the consultation at the event, earlier this month. Speaking during the launch of Fi
19/12/2012
Fife Council has announced the opening of thirty new council houses in Dunfermline. Tenants have already moved into the new development, which features a mixture of detached and semi-detached homes of one and two storeys that offer 2, 3 or 4 bedrooms. Eight amenity bungalows and a further 4 proper
18/12/2012
The first new council houses to be built in Inverness for over 20 years have been launched. The Provost of Inverness, Alexander Graham, Councillor Dave Fallows, Chair of Finance, Housing and Resources Committee and fellow Councillors Allan Duffy and Graham Ross opened the development by welcoming t
18/12/2012
Glasgow City Council has announced plans to rebuild or refurbish every primary school in the city. The measures will also see work done on every remaining nursery and additional support for learning (ASL) school in the next five years. £5m was approved last month for the initial design, project ma
18/12/2012
A review of onshore wind energy policies in Fife is underway. A public consultation to engage with local communities will begin 14 January 2013 for an eight week period, ending on 10 March 2013. Fife Council says the consultation will work alongside the Local Development Plan Main Issues Report to
18/12/2012
CITB-ConstructionSkills has announced it will double the rate of grant available to employers for short duration training courses and in-house training plans. The group, which is responsible for 4,000 apprentices in Scotland every year, hopes the move will boost the industry’s skills base. It is t
18/12/2012
A fit-out contract for a new supermarket at Burghmuir in Stirling has been awarded to Barr Construction. The firm will design and deliver the entire interior fit-out of the 25,000 sq ft Waitrose store, due to open in early 2013. Barr will be on site for about six weeks, with up to 70 members of th
18/12/2012
Plans to build 115 new homes at Fasque House Estate in Fettercairn have been granted planning. The £55m Mearns housing project is expected to create at least 275 jobs. The project will see the homes developed along with other commercial enterprises, following the submission of plans to Aberdeenshi
18/12/2012
Construction output was down 10% for the three month period August – October, according to official stats. A report by the Office for National Statistics shows construction output fell 5% in October 2012, compared with the same month in 2011. David Crosthwaite, an economist for construction consul
18/12/2012
Plans have been submitted to Dundee City Council for a housing development which will be one of the largest seen in the city for over ten years. Planning for the 270-home development has been lodged by Taylor Wimpey and Bett Homes. The four-hectare Linlathen Estate site lies on the eastern edge of
17/12/2012
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has announced a Coastal Communities fund award of £283,341 towards the redevelopment of Ardveenish Harbour in Barra. The Comhairle has offered up capital funds to the project, while Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) have also agreed to contribute. The Comhairle is no
17/12/2012
A package of measures to further reform planning in Scotland has been announced. Agreement was reached on the new reforms following discussions between Local Government Minister Derek Mackay, Cosla leaders and other key stakeholders. Mr Mackay has announced measures to speed up the updating and pr
17/12/2012
Glasgow City Council will gift land to the Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice's (PPWH) Brick by Brick Appeal to help create a new hospice development. 7.46 acres of land will be leased adjacent to Bellahouston Park at a rent of £1 for 60 years. Glasgow City Council has gifted PPWH its current buil
17/12/2012
Over £3.7m grants have been confirmed by the Heritage Lottery fund to transform three parks across Scotland. Over £2.6m is to be spent on improvements at Hawick's Wilton Lodge Park. More than £500,000 is being put up for both Kelvingrove bandstand in Glasgow and Paisley's Grand Fountain. The fund
17/12/2012
A £14m archive centre for the nuclear industry has been given the go-ahead in Caithness. The archive will be built near the Dounreay experimental power complex and is expected to create up to 20 jobs. The facility would hold between 20 to 30m digital, paper and photographic records from civil nucl
17/12/2012
Three quarters of Scottish tenant homes are in a state of disrepair, according to an official survey. The same survey found almost a quarter were estimated to be in fuel poverty in mid 2011. The Scottish House Condition Survey, released by the Scottish government, found 70% of private rented homes
17/12/2012
Network Rail has announced BAM Nuttall will be the main contractor working on the new Borders Railway. The £220m contract will include design and construction of the new line. It is thought 500 jobs will be created by the project between now and 2015. The Borders Railway will open for service in
17/12/2012
Construction work is to begin on a project to create retail and office space for up to 1,200 workers in Glasgow City Centre. £50m funding is to be injected into the scheme at 110 Queen Street, which will see a former bank converted into 143,000 sq ft of Grade A offices and 20,000 sq ft of retail sp
14/12/2012
Scottish Power has altered plans for its new headquarters in Glasgow. Changes have been made to the exterior and floor lay-out ahead of the planning application. The energy firm says construction could begin within nine months and could be completed by 2015. The new headquarters will provide a ce
14/12/2012
The second phase of a £5m development on tenements at Rutherglen has begun. Housing group Link is working on the refurbishment of tenements at 13 – 15 Kirkwood Street, Rutherglen. This phase will amalgamate 42 flats into 32 new flats and is due to be completed in July 2013. Link Group says the or
14/12/2012
Perth & Kinross Council has said it will invest almost £25m in infrastructure projects, provided councillors approve the proposals at a meeting on Wednesday 19 December. The Council says the investment would benefit visitors, school pupils, residents and businesses. The proposal would see the Coun
14/12/2012
Highlands and Islands Enterprise’s new Inverness Campus is nearing completion, as over 70 construction labourers work to meet the deadline. The infrastructure completion date for the new facility is only five months away, and work is currently being undertaken to construct walls, build roads and de
14/12/2012
A report evaluating the impact of new sheltered housing arrangements in Aberdeenshire is to be discussed at Aberdeenshire Council’s Social Work and Housing Committee next week. The council says about 1,500 people who require housing support live in Aberdeenshire Council’s 63 sheltered housing compl
14/12/2012
50 construction jobs are to be created through the development of an out-of-town shopping centre in Glasgow. The decision by Glasgow City Council to extend the Fort shopping centre is also expected to create up to 450 more jobs once the additional retail and other facilities open. Glasgow City Cou
14/12/2012
Orkney-based Scotrenewables Tidal Power Ltd. has announced details of a foreign investment package worth £7.6m. The funding will go towards the design, construction, installation and testing of a new commercial-scale Scotrenewables tidal turbine, known as the SR2000. The investment will be topped
14/12/2012
Scotland’s Housing Minister Margaret Burgess has called on the UK government to act on rising fuel prices for Scottish households. The Scottish government says energy efficiency measures have prevented up to 35,000 Scottish households from falling into fuel poverty over the past year. But it says o
13/12/2012
£3.75m is to be invested on the A379 Shieldhall Overpass in Glasgow to extend its lifespan. One of the city's most important roads will be refurbished following funding approval by Glasgow City Council’s Executive Committee. The works are expected to start on the overpass in early 2013. Temporary
13/12/2012
An energy centre which will serve Glasgow’s Commonwealth Games Athletes Village has been completed. The structure has been designed by RMJM and will deliver hot water to the 700 homes, as well as a 120 bed care home which is being built on the east end site. City Legacy is delivering the project o
13/12/2012
Miller Construction has appointed a new director for its Scottish operations. David Leishman is a Chartered Quantity Surveyor with 30 years’ experience working in the Scottish construction industry. He has joined Miller from Forth Electrical Facilities Management Ltd where he held the position of
13/12/2012
Homes in Keith, Moray are due to have their energy bills cut due to a £280,000 grant to help against fuel poverty. 80 properties in Mar Court are to become the first in Scotland to benefit from the Scottish government’s National Retrofit Programme. The measures will see insulated cladding fitted t
13/12/2012
Almost a quarter of Scottish households (582,000) in Scotland were estimated to be in fuel poverty at mid 2011, according to new statistics. Scotland's Chief Statistician has published the Scottish House Condition Survey (SHCS): Key Findings 2011 Report. The findings includes statistics on the con
13/12/2012
Plans to develop a beachfront pavilion at Broughty Ferry in Dundee have been given the seal of approval. The news follows a study commissioned by the Broughty Ferry Development Trust which found last month that the group faced "high risks in relation to funding" of the £2.7m project. The Trust has
13/12/2012
The contract for the fifth phase of a housing development for war veterans in Renfrewshire has been awarded to Mactaggart & Mickel Contracts. The £1.1m contract will see the firm work on the development to provide accessible accommodation for war veterans. The project is being undertaken in Bishop
13/12/2012
A new health centre for East Renfrewshire has been approved by the Scottish government. Construction will begin on the site of the former Isobel Mair School at Drumby Crescent, Clarkston. The development is expected to be finished in 2015. East Renfrewshire Council has put up £8.4m, while the Scot
12/12/2012
Work is underway to create 45 new affordable council houses for Angus. The development at Wirren Gardens, Montrose is part of Angus Council’s drive to provide more housing choice for hard pressed families in Montrose. The new homes are being built on the site formerly known as Dungman’s Tack and w
12/12/2012
Plans to build a mountain bike centre in the Borders have been approved, following the news that the development would not disturb a colony of nearby bats. The £5.5m park, near Innerleithen, Peeblesshire, will include a mechanical chairlift, toboggan run and visitor centre. There was concern over
12/12/2012
A Norwegian energy company has begun construction of a 66.7MW onshore windfarm in the Scottish Highlands. Statkraft is hoping the work on the Berry Burn Wind Farm, 30km east of Inverness, will strengthen its position in the UK renewables market. The project will use 29 wind turbines provided by En
12/12/2012
The Moray Council has welcomed news that the vast majority of council house tenants are happy with the service they are receiving. The Council says a survey carried out earlier this year found 88% of tenants were satisfied or very satisfied with the housing service. This is the first survey of its
12/12/2012
Irvine Councillors have been learning about a new scheme to refurbish one of the town’s most iconic buildings. Irvine Town House is to undergo a revamp as part of the new £17m leisure centre for the town. It will be redeveloped as a cultural and historical centre. Irvine Area Committee Councillors
12/12/2012
Work has begun on a £520,000 refurbishment for homes and businesses in Kilwinning town centre. North Ayrshire Council has announced the work is being carried out at flats and retail units at the town's Almswell Road and Main Street. The Council is working with Irvine Bay Regeneration Company on th
12/12/2012
The Highland Council says work on the River Ness Flood Alleviation Scheme in Inverness is progressing ahead of its temporary closure for the Christmas holidays. The contractor will cease work between 20 December and 7 January 2013. Douglas Row on the eastern side of the river is closed to vehicles
12/12/2012
Plans for an offshore windfarm in Scotland have been delayed by ScottishPower Renewables. The Argyll Array scheme was to be developed near Tiree, but has now been temporarily delayed for 12 months. ScottishPower says it will use the time to study the project’s potential impact on the environment.
11/12/2012
Scottish contractor Robertson has credited a change in strategy for its 16% turnover increase. The reshaping of the firm last year saw turnover up 16% to £269m and operating profit up £4.3m to £5.6m for the year ending March 2012. Robertson says it reduced activity in private house building and sp
11/12/2012
Homes for Scotland has called for a halt to Planning Minister Derek McKay’s plans to build new homes to cut carbon emissions by 75%, compared to building standards in 1990. Minister Mackay has announced the launch of a consultation on the proposals, which ministers say will cut fuel bills for famil
11/12/2012
Construction work has been finished on a new recycling centre for Perth & Kinross. The Inveralmond Recycling Centre is based at the Inveralmond Industrial Estate in Perth. The facility on Ruthvenfield Road has been developed to provide improved access to recycling facilities for residents living t
11/12/2012
Construction is now complete on the extension to the Premier Inn at Newhaven Place in Leith. Lawrence McPherson Associates designed the 53-bedroom extension, which brings the total number of bedrooms now to 134. The works also included an extension and upgrade to the reception of the hotel. Ogilv
11/12/2012
There has been a 7% fall in private housing construction orders compared with last year. New data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows although 2012 has seen some improvement in the industry, business continues to be blighted by contraction. Orders are down 5% over the first three q
11/12/2012
Planning has been submitted for a new hotel and urban resort development in the north of Edinburgh. The new £20m facility will include a 120-bedroom hotel, a health and fitness club, business and conference facilities and food and drink uses. Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners (NLP) submitted the plan
11/12/2012
A new survey has found optimism is "creeping back into the housing market". The comment follows an increase in inquiries from would-be buyers in most parts of Scotland in November. Demand is still historically low, however. The amount of homes being put up for sale has also increased, according t
11/12/2012
Work is to begin on a new pier for the Isle of Mull to boost the island’s timber business. Forestry Commission Scotland is paying for the new £3m development, being built at Fishnish. Work is due to begin before Christmas, with the pier completed and operational by summer 2013. Mull-based TSL Cont
10/12/2012
Thousands of homes across Scotland are to benefit from insulation, double glazing and central heating systems. The Scottish government has invested £3.5m in 19 projects which will see old properties given extra help to heat homes this winter. The aim is to drive down fuel bills by making propertie
10/12/2012
Construction group Robertson has won a £3.9m contract to work on visitor centres in Dumfries and Galloway. The Forestry Commission awarded the contract for work on its new flagship visitor centre at Kirroughtree and the refurbishment of two existing centres at Clatteringshaws and Glentrool. All pr
10/12/2012
The winner of the first Scottish Empty Homes Champion of the Year award has been announced. Homes Again is a project working to bring some of Scotland’s 23,000 long-term empty homes back into use. The accolade was presented at an awards ceremony in Glasgow organised by housing and homelessness cha
10/12/2012
Bellway has said the Scottish government’s MI New Home scheme has the potential to be as successful as the NewBuy programme south of the border. The announcement came as the housebuilder reports a "steady improvement" in home sales in Scotland. Bellway has been reaping the rewards of sites in sout
10/12/2012
A consultation has been launched over proposals to make new Scottish buildings more energy efficient. The Scottish government claims proposed measures could reduce carbon emissions in new buildings by a further 20% and new non-domestic buildings by up to 40% beyond current standards. It also claim
10/12/2012
Edinburgh Councillors will be asked to approve a contract this week to confirm the provider of ticket vending machines for Edinburgh’s new tram system. The contract has been awarded to Parkeon to provide and maintain the vending machines. It has a capital cost of £1,185,757 with an annual maintena
10/12/2012
One of Edinburgh’s best known night clubs and arts facilities is being given £75,000 towards the refurbishment of its new venue. The Bongo Club in Edinburgh is moving to the basement of the Edinburgh Central Library building after the lease of its previous home, Moray House, was cancelled. Creativ
10/12/2012
Dundee’s velodrome has been reopened following major improvements by Dundee City Council. Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport Shona Robison MSP officially opened the revamped facility. Sportscotland contributed a grant of over £121,000 towards the £320,000 cost of the works. The developmen
07/12/2012
An appeal has been lodged against a decision to reject plans for a new wind farm in the Borders, despite the development having been reduced in size. Borders Council have rejected the proposal from energy group E.On. The firm originally proposed 21 turbines for the site at Corsbie Moor near Westru
07/12/2012
LM Construction has been presented with a Gold Considerate Constructors award at a ceremony in London’s Plaisterer’s Hall. The East Kilbride received the award at the ceremony on Friday 30 November. The event was attended by Joyce McGerty, Business Operations Director, who received the award on th
07/12/2012
Renewable energy has been hailed as vital to the Scottish economy. Members of the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) made the claim after revealing the renewable sector is responsible for £1 in every £8 spent on infrastructure. CECA Scotland said in the last year they saw more than £
07/12/2012
City Building has been awarded a £2.5m three-year contract to carry out maintenance work for Maryhill Housing Association. The contract begins on 14 January next year and will see the Glasgow-based company carry out maintenance work to the housing association’s entire housing stock portfolio. In o
07/12/2012
The Federation of Master Builders has announced the reelection of Najem Al Hasan as its Scottish President. Mr Al Hasan is from Livingston, West Lothian, and was elected on Wednesday 28 November at FMB Scotland’s Annual General Meeting in Glasgow. He is director of Livingston Chartered Building Co
07/12/2012
NHS Lothian has announced the search for a private partner to build a new Royal Hospital for Sick Children at Little France in Edinburgh. The chosen partner will design, build, maintain and finance the facility. The development will include a new centre for clinical neurosciences, currently based
07/12/2012
Plans to improve and provide affordable homes in a Borders town have taken a step further this week, as a signing ceremony marks the beginning of the £5m regeneration. The Stonefield estate in Hawick is getting closer to receiving the refurbishment work, with the signing of the legal transfer of ex
07/12/2012
The future of planning in Fife has been considered by the council’s Executive Committee, following the disclosure of four potential options. The four options set out in the Planning Review paper were: Option 1 - A single Development (Planning) Committee for Fife Council. Option 2a - Two committee
07/12/2012
Plans for a £7m development for Highland Hospice have been unveiled. Following numerous proposals, the plans will see bedroom numbers increase from four to nine, with one shared room, as the hospice seeks to increase choice and levels of privacy offered to both patients and their families. Day hos
07/12/2012
Renfrewshire Council has granted planning permission for the development of 147 homes at Dargavel Village in Bishopton. Taylor Wimpey has been awarded the contract, which will see the beginning of the first phase of the project in the west of Scotland. The 16.5 acre site development will include a
06/12/2012
Plans to regenerate industrial and business land on the outskirts of Ruthglen have been approved by South Lanarkshire Council. The £15m regeneration will see work carried out on land around the former Shawfield Industrial Estate. Meanwhile, councillors have also approved a £6m scheme to revamp a d
06/12/2012
Lovell has been selected to work on a £3.14m affordable housing development in Edinburgh. The contract has been awarded by Dunedin Canmore Group as part of the latest phase of a major housing regeneration programme for the Oxgangs area of the city. The scheme will see Lovell build 22 flats and 12
06/12/2012
Mott MacDonald is working as design engineer on a new £12.5m facility at the University of Dundee. The Centre for Translational and Interdisciplinary Research (CTIR) will be dedicated to translating research into cures for disease. A four-storey development, the research building will be in the un
06/12/2012
South Lanarkshire Council has confirmed plans for a £2.7m primary school have been given the go-ahead. The new school in Lamington will be built following the demolition of the old building. The primary school has been designed in a U-shape to enclose the playground and locate it away from public
06/12/2012
Scottish industry leaders have called for the £394m funding announced in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement to be invested in housing. Philip Hogg, Chief Executive of home building industry body Homes for Scotland, said: "Whether helping to meet housing need, maximising economic return, creating vit
06/12/2012
Aberdeenshire Council is currently looking at ways to modify how the authority allocates housing. Following recent approval by the Social Work and Housing Committee, the Council is now engaging with key partners and all elected members on the issue. Proposed changes to the housing allocation polic
06/12/2012
Dundee’s new Olympia swimming and leisure complex will be built and opened to the public in time for summer 2013, according to the City Council. Construction company Mansell are currently working on the project, and are expected to have completed the new Olympia and adjoining multi-storey car park
06/12/2012
Fife Council has voted Pipeland as the site for a new Madras College. The decision follows an analysis of 13 different sites in and around St Andrews. It was decided only two options were deliverable within a reasonable timescale; a new build at Pipeland or a remodelled and extended Kilrymont. Fo
06/12/2012
Fife Council has announced proposals to invest £85m on housing to cut the number of people on waiting lists. It is expected the investment could deliver over 750 new council homes before 2017. The development is part of a package of measures which the Council’s Executive Committee is putting up fo
06/12/2012
Trident Energy has agreed a lease with Kishorn Port which will see the firm test its new wave energy generation technology in the area. Trident’s PowerPod will now be tested at the port in the North West of Scotland, facing the Isle of Skye. The news follows a recent fund-raising boost and the awa
05/12/2012
New motorway technology has been launched on the M90 in Fife as part of the Forth Replacement Crossing Project. The Intelligent Transport System (ITS) works through creating variable mandatory speed limits, which can be used to smooth traffic flow during periods of congestion. The system was offic
05/12/2012
Carillion Energy Services Scotland has secured contracts worth £4.2m from Partick Housing Association. The contracts will be carried out over the next three to five years. The move sees Partick award Carillion its reactive repairs contract for the second time and its gas contract for the first tim
05/12/2012
An Aberdeen construction firm has announced the award of new contracts worth over £2m. Anderson Construction made the announcement of its latest contracts as the north-east company recovers from a very busy spell during the summer. Work undertaken by Anderson will now include alterations and exten
05/12/2012
Ten new council homes have been completed in Invergordon, as The Highland Council works towards its 257-house project target with support from the Scottish Government. The construction of the council houses was undertaken in partnership with Albyn Housing Society. Albyn has completed an additional
05/12/2012
Angus Council has announced it will be receiving additional funding to help build social housing for rent across the county. The Scottish Government is giving an extra £588k of grant funding to the Council and housing associations through the affordable housing supply programme. The extra injectio
05/12/2012
Aberdeenshire Council is inviting the residents of Turriff to view plans for the new primary school expected to be completed by the end of 2017. The draft plans are being displayed at the Gateway Community Centre on Thursday 13 December between 15:00 and 19:00. The consultation will see architects
05/12/2012
Dundee City Council has announced an extra £1.1m funding from the Scottish government, which could see more affordable houses built in the city. The funding has been added to the Affordable Housing Supply budget. Dundee’s allocation for the next three years is now £6.1m. Jimmy Black, convener of
05/12/2012
Kingdom Housing Association has won a business award for commitment to environmental excellence. The group won the Collaboration Award at this year’s VIBES 2012 for its Housing Innovation Showcase. The £3.3m project saw Kingdom experiment with new construction technologies to discover the best met
05/12/2012
CITB-ConstructionSkills is seeking to attract former soldiers into the construction industry. The UK training organisation has launched an initiative to help the industry benefit from soldiers’ "transferable skills". It is thought the influx could help the sector meet projected demand for 46,240 n
05/12/2012
South Lanarkshire Council has approved plans to regenerate industrial and business land on the outskirts of Rutherglen. The £15m refurbishment has been backed by the Council, and will now see the regeneration of land around the former Shawfield Industrial Estate. Councillors also approved a £6m sc
04/12/2012
The Hunterston B nuclear power station in Ayrshire has its operations extended until 2023, according to power firm EDF Energy. A technical and economic evaluation of the plant has shown it can operate for a further seven years. The power station was initially scheduled to be closed in 2011, but th
04/12/2012
The Scottish government has introduced a bill to replace the UK’s stamp duty land tax in Scotland. The bill will enable Holyrood to set and collect a proportion of its own revenue, in what Finance Secretary John Swinney has described as an "historic first". The Land and Building Transactions Tax (
04/12/2012
Contraction has returned to the construction industry, according to buyers. A new report from Markit has shown a drop in confidence in the market due to a lack of new business to replace completed contracts. The Markit/CIPS UK Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index fell to 49.3 in November down f
04/12/2012
An archaeological 'time team' has been invited to dig at the site of the Aberdeen Bypass to uncover the history of the North-East. The £3m archaeology project will involve a team of specialists digging to reveal a glimpse of the past, while at the same time providing information for the future deli
04/12/2012
The Tyne Esk Leader programme in East Lothian has opened for another round of funding to assist local community projects in the area. The programme has already seen £3m given to local projects. East Lothian and Midlothian groups and organisations that are undertaking projects to enhance local comm
04/12/2012
Edinburgh City Council has begun a public consultation on the construction of the new controversial Portobello High School. It will invite the public’s views on proposals to take a Private Bill to the Scottish Parliament in early 2013, to address the legal issue currently preventing the use of Port
04/12/2012
The Highland Council has awarded a £1.5m contract to provide new access to the Inverness Campus being developed by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) at Beechwood. The contract has been awarded to Wills Bros Ltd., which will see work begin in the New Year to widen Culloden Road. HIE is contrib
04/12/2012
Taylor Wimpey has appointed a new managing director for its east Scotland business. Peter Matthews is based at Taylor Wimpey’s Dunfermline office, and has been selected to lead the business and build on operations in locations such as Fife, Edinburgh, the Borders and the Lothians. Mr Matthews has
04/12/2012
Automatic Protection Limited (APL) of Biggar, South Lanarkshire has achieved the ISO:9001 2008 quality management scheme. The accreditation means all work must be undertaken to the highest standards regarding quality, safety, execution, performance, reliability and cost. Under the scheme, APL wi
04/12/2012
Tenants have moved into a new affordable housing development in Larbert. Link Group Ltd's 21 two-storey terraced family houses at Kinnaird Village were designed and built by Persimmon Partnerships under the Scottish Government's Innovation and Investment Fund. The company was allocated £860,000 to
03/12/2012
Engineering and construction workers have agreed to a 7.7%, three-year pay deal between 2013 and 2015, according to the Unite union. The agreement will apply to 50,000 construction workers and covers major construction projects across the UK in oil and gas, petro-chemical and energy. It includes 1
03/12/2012
A refurbishment and renovation scheme is being carried out in Edinburgh which will see work done on nine listed buildings. Interserve is currently assisting on the scheme, carrying out work to five of the nine buildings. The project is taking place within the old town conservation area and a UNESC
03/12/2012
Planning has been granted for a new 180 bed hotel at Pacific Quay in Glasgow. The new Premier Inn and Thyme Restaurant has been designed by Lawrence McPherson Associates for Whitbread PLC at Pacific Quay in Glasgow. The 6-storey hotel will be located next to the BBC Scotland building and directly
03/12/2012
Glasgow Film Theatre is to be given £500,000 towards a £1.6m expansion project. The grant from Glasgow City Council will go towards a third cinema screen, improving disability access and customer services and relocating the existing catering facilities. The decision had cross party support and was
03/12/2012
The three overall winners of the Cairngorm National design award have been named. A trio of new build schemes were named as the winners of the first ever design award, staged in recognition of exemplar design within the Cairngorm National Park. The announcement follows a total of 56 entries for th
03/12/2012
The Scottish Housing Regulator (SHR) has published a report of recommendations on East Renfrewshire Council's housing service's approach to asset management. The SHR report covers a range of issues. As announced by the group, the inquiry's recommendations are that the Council should: - complete i
03/12/2012
A power station located deep within a Scottish mountain has won an engineering award. The 'hidden' hydro station was built inside Ben Cruachan between 1959 and 1965. Located within the mountain, Argyll's Cruachan power station was the world’s first high head reversible pumped-storage hydro scheme.
03/12/2012
An iconic mound in Aberdeen City’s Duthie Park has been restored to the splendour of its original Victorian design. The mound, one of Aberdeen's most popular green spaces, had work carried out to restore the spiral walkway and flag pole set on a granite plinth to reflect the 19th Century design. I
03/12/2012
The City Chambers in Dunfermline has reopened following a £1.2m refurbishment. Fife’s historic landmark was closed in order for the 10-month facelift to be carried out. The revamp included the addition of new facilities such as a local office, meeting and interview rooms, toilets and baby changing
03/12/2012
The A Proctor Group has announced it will be working on a new European-wide project to cut carbon emissions from properties in historic urban districts. The Energy Efficiency for EU Historic Districts’ Sustainability project (EFFESUS) works to upgrade traditional building fabrics to modern standard
