Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
Scotland Construction News Archive for May 2012
31/05/2012
An Argyll village is to get its first affordable homes for a generation. The construction project in Dalmally was announced by the new leader of Argyll and Bute council. Roddy McCuish said it was "great news for families" and should be rolled out across other rural villages. In his first official
31/05/2012
It is not too late to help shape the future of housing in Clackmannanshire. The consultation runs until July 1 and the council would like to hear from anyone with an interest in influencing the housing strategy of Scotland’s smallest council, an area including Tillicoultry, Dollar and Coalsnaughton
31/05/2012
A Renfrewshire town hall is to get a £1.6m refurbishment and be made more wheelchair-accessible. The work at Paisley Town Hall will be completed in time for it to host next year’s Royal National Mod. The festival of Gaelic culture will be held in the nineteenth-century building for the first time
31/05/2012
Scotland's minister for housing praised a development of Gold Standard passive housing. Following up on a meeting with Housing and Transport Minister Keith Brown last year, the people behind Scotland's first Gold Standard passive house welcomed him onsite at Inchkeith Drive, Dunfermline, where the
31/05/2012
A consultation into the future of Scotland's architecture has been announced. Ministers want to know how to promote high quality design, achieve a low-carbon economy, meet communities' needs and encourage public interest in built heritage. A document released by the Scottish Government stated: "We
31/05/2012
An Edinburgh tower block is to be pulled down and replaced with modern versions of the city’s historic colonies, the Scotsman has reported. Fort House, in Leith, will be bulldozed within weeks but work could last all summer, owing in part to the fact that some sections of the property are now liste
30/05/2012
Alarm greeted the news that only 15,150 new homes were built in Scotland last year, a 41% decrease on pre-credit crunch figures. Homes for Scotland said the statistics, released today by the Scottish government, should be a "wake-up call" to the construction industry and asked the government to int
30/05/2012
Scottish ministers have given the green light to the first of four strategic development plans (SDPs). The 20-year plan for Glasgow and the Clyde Valley provides a framework for future planning decisions in eight local authority areas. It outlines a west to east development corridor parallel to th
30/05/2012
A subsea centre has been opened in North Lanarkshire to serve oil and gas firm FMC Technologies. The centre in Belshill will host 170 jobs announced when the firm created 240 jobs less than a year ago. The other 70 jobs are based in Dumferline. Enterprise Minister Fergus Ewing performed the offic
30/05/2012
Work has started on a £90m facelift for a central district of Glasgow, set to “kick-start” the next few years of regeneration and building work. A government spokesman said the initiative would create jobs and deliver new homes, community facilities, shops and hotels in Laurieston, on the south ban
30/05/2012
A £54m medical research centre has been opened at the University of Edinburgh. The purpose-built Scottish Centre for Regenerative Medicine was officially unveiled yesterday by HRH the Princess Royal. The Centre, designed by Sheppard Robson, will hold up to 250 stem cell scientists in darker rooms
30/05/2012
Up to 5,500 empty shops could be re-opened in Scottish town centres as rates are reformed, the government claimed. Local Government Minister Derek Mackay today announced the reform, which it is hoped will nudge owners of empty business properties to bring them back into use. As part of a wider ref
29/05/2012
Anyone with ideas for sustainable building or greening businesses could get up 50% of their project paid for, through the European Commission (EC). The EC has a €34m cash pot to hand out to projects that prevent or reduce environmental impact, especially if they demonstrate potential for replicatio
29/05/2012
A Scottish casing firm is set to move its Middle East offices to larger premises in order to accommodate its growing staff. Downhole Products, headquartered at Portlethen near Aberdeen, reported a “significant increase in business in the region”. Three new Business Development Managers have been r
29/05/2012
Scotland's oil and gas industry needs to export more and double annual sales to a £30bn target by 2020, the First Minister has announced. Alex Salmond unveiled an industry strategy today at Aberdeen-based firm Hydrasun. The strategy, which was developed by industry, Scottish Government and public
29/05/2012
Householders in the north-east have been warned that ignoring radon “is not a safe option” for their health. The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has asked people to contact them for help with clearing the radioactive gas from their homes. Radon cannot be seen, smelt or tasted but each year it is be
29/05/2012
A Blairgowrie-based family business has been passed on to the new generation. Keira Proctor has taken over as Managing Director at the A. Proctor Group, which provides insulation, cladding and sound-proofing to the construction industry. She takes over from her father, Allan, who took the post fro
29/05/2012
A joint sod-cutting ceremony has been held to mark the start of work on a "ground-breaking" new health village and car park. The Aberdeen project (full title: Aberdeen Community Health and Care Village) will see a range of healthcare services under one roof. The multi-storey car park has a target
28/05/2012
Major Scottish cities are benefiting from being the most popular places for young professionals to buy property. Research by the Bank of Scotland found that the most popular location was the EH6 post code district in Edinburgh, in and around Leith. A survey run by the bank identified four popular
28/05/2012
The development which includes Edinburgh's first new council homes for a generation has won a national housing award. The Gracemount site was given the accolade in the 'Best Partnership in Affordable Housing Delivery' category of this year's Homes for Scotland Awards, a year after winning 'Communit
28/05/2012
Flats are to be demolished across Glasgow and new homes built in their place. After consulting with tenants, the Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) has decided to pull down seven blocks of flats, across Royston, Drumchapel and Cranhill, by 2016. Others, in Levernwood and Cranhill, will be refurbish
28/05/2012
Scotland’s world-renowned engineering marvel the Forth Railway Bridge could become a World Heritage Site. It has been put forward to UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) and the decision will be taken in 2015. The Victorian bridge, which links Edinburgh wit
28/05/2012
The north east of Scotland is to benefit from 500 new jobs created by a Norwegian oil and gas firm. Aker Solutions, which has five projects in the North Sea on the UK continental shelf, is expanding. Aker already employs 2,700 people in Dyce and Portlethen, around Aberdeen, and announced the creat
28/05/2012
An eco-friendly visitor centre has been given official credit for the principles behind its construction. Glentress Peel, near Peebles, is the flagship centre for Forestry Commission Scotland. It has been accepted into the Green Tourism Business Scheme with a Gold Star rating, the highest possible
25/05/2012
Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd has awarded GRAHAM Construction a £4.3 million contract to design and build a plant for the disposal of low-level radioactive waste from the clean-up and demolition of the site. GRAHAM Construction will design and build a plant to encapsulate waste in grout inside cont
25/05/2012
A key industry strategy to capitalise on Scotland's smart grid expertise and create thousands of new jobs in Scotland has been published. The strategy includes a target to create up to 12,000 new jobs by 2020, by supporting work to secure Scotland's place as an exemplar in smart grid adoption and a
25/05/2012
A one-off training event will seek to separate helpful renewable energy technologies from the hype. The course, at SHARE in Kirkhaven Church, Glasgow, is aimed at staff involved in maintenance, development or asset management within the housing sector. Trainer Bill Sheldrick will run through the i
25/05/2012
A member of the Scottish Parliament co-convenor told the Scottish construction industry it has a "crucially important" role to play in providing apprenticeships. John Park, of the cross party group on skills, was speaking at Edinburgh Castle during Scottish Apprenticeship Week, at an event launchin
25/05/2012
An engineering company that specialises in accommodation and construction has welcomed six new members of staff to its Aberdeen-based team. A spokesman for the Aiken Group said the appointments showed the company, which had a £12m turnover last year, was growing. Aiken Group, established 1987, emp
25/05/2012
The quality of eight Scottish manufacturers has been recognised at a UK-wide conference. They won bronze excellence accreditation at the Supply Chain 21 conference, held at SELEX Galileo in Edinburgh. The UK-wide Supply Chain 21 conference has been running for four years. It is delivered in Scotl
25/05/2012
National union Unite has launched a national campaign aimed at ensuring workers get agreed rates of pay as well as terms and conditions. The 'Play by the rules' campaign, launched on Wednesday at a national union meeting, will police key agreements across the UK and "enforce compliance". A spokema
25/05/2012
A "nutrient-rich" waste product could be used to fertilise sports grounds, soil and energy crops. The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) is funding two-year trials of digestate, similar to compost, across Scotland, England and Wales in the landscape and regeneration sectors. Those behind
24/05/2012
Homeowners were duped out of a whopping £260 million last year by dodgy builders doing slapdash work, according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). The research, conducted to launch the Master Builder of the Year Awards, shows that 48% of homeowners lose out by paying builders for the total
24/05/2012
A 22,000-member professional body for the housing sector has welcomed the Scottish Parliament's report into dealing with welfare reforms, but urged people not to "raise expectations". The Chartered Institute for Scotland (CIH)'s Scotland branch said: "Caution is needed in not raising expectations t
24/05/2012
The Scottish Design Awards black tie celebration dinner takes place tomorrow night (May 25) in the Radisson Blu Hotel, Glasgow. Winners were selected over two days in March this year. The winners of the Architecture Grand Prix, Chairman's Award for Architecture and Architecture Practice of the Yea
24/05/2012
A Scottish construction company has stepped in to help with a schools' design competition. The A. Proctor Group, based in Blairgowrie in Perth and Kinross, provided Styrofoam to the day-long Creative Spaces competition in Dundee for entrants to build their architectural models with. Doug Binnie of
24/05/2012
Scientists at the University of Glasgow have found a way to turn a toxic industrial waste product into a water de-contaminator. The chemistry team, working with Indian partners The Energy and Resources Institute, have found "encouraging signs" that a substance called red mud could be carbonised to
24/05/2012
A commercial property lawyer has welcomed the approval of a plan that paves the way for development in north-eastern Scotland. David Scott of Ledingham Chalmers LLP said the Aberdeenshire Local Development Plan (LDP) would give the local economy a "significant boost from the construction sector".
24/05/2012
Scotland can help other countries to manage their scarce water resources more effectively, Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment Alex Neil said in Glasgow yesterday. International experts from Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas were at a Global Water Scarcity Conference. M
24/05/2012
Residents in Formartine have been told they can get loft and cavity wall insulation installed for free, cutting their fuel bills. The initiative is under the Scotland-wide Universal Home Insulation Scheme and Aberdeenshire Council are delivering it in conjunction with SCARF (Save Cash and Reduce Fu
23/05/2012
The style and variety of Glasgow’s “incredible” architecture in the decades after the Second World War is celebrated in a new book. The free book, Glasgow’s Post-war Listed Buildings, is a partnership between the city council and Historic Scotland and Glasgow. There are 38 post-war listed building
23/05/2012
The UK’s largest renewable energy event is under way in Aberdeen. The All-Energy Exhibition and Conference showcases renewable and sustainable technologies. It is taking place at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre, with 580 exhibitors. The conference events cover bioenergy, sustainable
23/05/2012
An £18m fund to help develop Scotland's first commercial wave and tidal power arrays was opened today. First Minister Alex Salmond announced in Aberdeen that Scotland's Marine Renewables Commercialisation Fund (MRCF) is now open for bids by developers. Mr Salmond told the AllEnergy conference that
23/05/2012
Scottish Apprentice Week will be marked at a leading construction firm with an internal awards ceremony this Friday. A spokesman for City Building said the awards would "recognise the important contribution" made by its apprentices. The "Apprentice Awards" will be held at Queenslie Training Centre
23/05/2012
Zero carbon homes are just too expensive at the moment, according to a poll of 700 home building industry representatives. 70% of respondents considered this to be the biggest hindrance to meeting the target of proposed 2016 Building Standards, as opposed to lack of consumer demand (13%), unproven
23/05/2012
Dundee, Glasgow and North Lanarkshire are set to benefit from 200 new homes and local employment and training opportunities are written in to the construction agreement. Sanctuary Scotland Housing Association has announced the award of a £16.6 million contract to GRAHAM Construction and said the ho
23/05/2012
Blairs Windows have supplied all the timber windows to a new luxury hotel near Arrochar. Set in 50 acres of stunning Scottish countryside, once the grounds of a long demolished mansion, the Ardgartan Hotel occupies an elevated position with panoramic views down Loch Long, whose shore is just 30 yar
23/05/2012
The UK's top sub contract laser profiling specialists are to expand their operations into Scotland. The move to Motherwell represents their first foray north of the border and is the third new operation opened by the company in the past 6 months. SSC Laser will commence trading in May from the M
22/05/2012
Industry and business support organisations are putting their support behind a new campaign to get Scotland's economy moving again. Launched last week, the new campaign from Scottish Enterprise is calling on Scottish companies to say "Yes to Growth" and aims to stimulate greater investment by busin
22/05/2012
Historic Scotland is celebrating Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2012 with a demonstration of traditional building skills at Edinburgh Castle. Launched today by the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop, the event is run in partnership with Construction Skills, Telford Colle
22/05/2012
Calls have been made for the Scottish Government to put pressure on Scottish Water in their attempts to engage with householders in the Strath about the problems with their supply. Rhoda Grant, Labour MSP for the Highlands and Islands, responsible for the call to action said: "I was delighted to be
22/05/2012
The Common Services Agency (or NHS National Services Scotland) is seeking to appoint five contractors to the six-year framework for construction, conversion, adaptation and repair of clinical facilities. Previous contractors have included Bam Construct, Galliford Try, Interserve, Laing O’Rourke and
22/05/2012
5000 construction workers in Scotland are feared to be on employers' blacklists because they might call for better working conditions, according to the Scottish Trade Union Congress. Many of those targeted are simply members of a trades union or a political party. The STUC's Ian Tasker said: "If we
21/05/2012
Work is now well underway to transform Newmonthill, Forfar where five blocks of flats in the old, unpopular scheme have been demolished to make way for new homes. Forth Demolition began work on site in March and is well on schedule to complete their demolition works in July. A separate contractor
21/05/2012
Midlothian Council has been selected for the new build housing into Scottish Home Awards finals. Its Social Housing Programme has reached the final stage in the Large Affordable Housing Development of the Year category. The winner will be announced at the Scottish Home Awards 2012 in Glasgow on 28
21/05/2012
The multimillion pound regeneration of one of Aberdeen's most popular parks is gathering pace and on schedule for completion later this year. Aberdeen City Council and the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) are joint funders of the project which aims to revitalise the historic 44-acre Duthie Park, encoura
21/05/2012
The Scottish Government announced today that 43 groups across Scotland have been awarded over £6.9 million for the next three years under the Climate Challenge Fund (CCF). The CCF helps communities reduce their carbon footprints and contribute to Scotland reaching its ambitious climate change targe
21/05/2012
The economic downturn has had a dramatic effect on construction apprenticeship numbers in Scotland but the industry is starting to turn the corner with more apprentices registered last year than in 2010. That was the key message from the Scottish Building Apprenticeship and Training Council (SBATC)
18/05/2012
Hundreds of Scottish housing and construction professionals are expected to visit a groundbreaking £3.3 million Housing Innovation Showcase which was opened in Fife by the leading designer Wayne Hemingway. The Dunfermline site boasts 27 new homes constructed by 10 different partnerships using moder
18/05/2012
NHBC have announced the appointment of Sir Muir Russell KCB FRSE to its main Board as Chairman of the NHBC Scottish Committee. Sir Muir, who takes over from Dr. David Smith OBE, has over 30 years' experience working within the civil service and has held a number of senior positions in Scotland and
18/05/2012
Lovell has been appointed by social landlord River Clyde Homes to carry out a £3.3 million housing programme to transform 880 homes in Inverclyde, Scotland. The internal refurbishment work will introduce a range of improvements for homes across the Inverclyde area to ensure that they meet the Scott
18/05/2012
Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Planning Committee has approved plans to build a 348KW hydro scheme. The development was submitted by Callander Community Hydro Ltd, a subsidiary of Callander Community Development Trust. The hydro scheme will run from Stank Burn, approximately 5km North
18/05/2012
Alex Salmond has announced a £10 million funding package to support plans for a deep-water quay facility in Shetland to secure decommissioning work on major offshore structures from the Northern North Sea. Following a meeting in Oslo on Tuesday with senior executives of AF Group and Lerwick Port Au
18/05/2012
A team of apprentices from GHA and Glasgow City Council joined volunteers in helping spruce up the area round a community centre in the north of Glasgow. The horticultural apprentices joined GHA housing staff and environmental wardens, as well as Community Janitors, to plant shrubs and build a pati
17/05/2012
When RH Partnership Architects in Cambridge were working on a project of low cost and affordable housing in Newmarket, Suffolk, one of the products specified was maibec® Timber Cladding. maibec® is a natural softwood timber, with an unrivalled 50 year warranty against rot and decay, and an 18 year
17/05/2012
There was a buzz of excitement among pupils and staff alike at last week’s opening of the impressive new Calderbridge Primary School in Wishaw. Built on the site of the former Coltness Primary, the futuristic facility also includes a nursery and community centre – ensuring its place as a focal poin
17/05/2012
The £19.3 million development project to transform two 19th century Kintyre hotels is now complete, promising major economic benefits for the area. U.S. firm, Southworth Development LLC, awarded GRAHAM Construction the £5.8m contract to overhaul the Royal Hotel in Campbeltown and the Ugadale in Mac
17/05/2012
Scotland’s biggest social landlord and Strathclyde Police are joining forces to tackle anti-social behaviour and make GHA communities across the city safer. Chief Constable Stephen House and GHA Chair Gordon Sloan signed a formal partnership which will see 15 officers – 12 constables, two sergeants
17/05/2012
The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) has welcomed the first report of the Scottish Parliament’s Welfare Reform Committee, released today on Wednesday 16th May 2012. Maureen Watson, Policy Director at SFHA said: "We welcome the Committee’s report which takes on board the seriousne
17/05/2012
Lovell has struck gold in a national customer satisfaction survey of new home buyers. The research by In-house Research found that over 90 per cent of Lovell homebuyers surveyed would recommend Lovell, leading to a Gold customer satisfaction award for the company. The accolade comes just a few week
16/05/2012
Scotland’s Minister for Youth Employment today toured Scotland’s largest apprentice-training facilities and paid tribute to its employees and apprentices. City Building employs over 500 apprentices, making it the largest apprentice-training provider in Scotland. Its impressive apprentice training c
16/05/2012
The opening ceremony of Mallaig's new Yachting Marina celebrating the £950,000 development at the port has taken place. Officials from Donegal County Council, who are leading on the EU funded Sail West marine tourism project, and from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and the Highland Council,
16/05/2012
Casing accessory and completion tool company Downhole Products have announced a key appointment to the UK team. Peter Byth has joined the company in the role of finance officer, bringing to the Portlethen-based team 30 years of financial experience in electronics, food ingredients, pharmaceuticals,
16/05/2012
People recently made redundant from construction company UBC are being invited to an event to help them back in to employment. It is hoped those affected will attend the Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE) redundancy support event being held on Wednesday 23 May. The event, organise
16/05/2012
Plans by Aker Solutions to add another 500 jobs to its current 2,700 strong operation in the North East were announced as First Minister Alex Salmond held talks at the international oil services company’s headquarters in Oslo, Norway, on Tuesday. Aker Solutions, already one of the largest employer
16/05/2012
Thousands of Scottish companies are landing contracts after signing up to a free website for public sector work, a report revealed today. The Public Contracts Scotland (PCS) site advertises billions of pounds’ worth of contracts offered by the Scottish public sector. According to the PCS annual re
15/05/2012
Stewart Milne Homes has won the Homes for Scotland award for Best Low Carbon Initiative after impressing judges with the delivery of its first low energy and low carbon homes in Portlethen and Prestonpans. Judges highlighted the implementation of lessons learned on previous low carbon projects and
15/05/2012
People recently made redundant, including those from construction company UBC Ltd, are being invited to an event to help them back into employment. Two PACE (Partnership Action for Continuing Employment) redundancy support events will be held, one in Stornoway and one in Uist Led by Skills Develop
15/05/2012
One of Scotland’s leading offshore engineering and fabrication companies is establishing its first permanent base in Norway this week, First Minister Alex Salmond announced today during his visit to the country. Global Project Services, a subsidiary of the Global Energy Group, which has been operat
15/05/2012
All Council tenants are invited to Midlothian Tenants Day at Dalkeith Arts Centre on Saturday 26 May. The event will run from 10am until 1pm. This is THE event for Midlothian Council tenants to find out more about the issues which affect you: * Welfare benefits reform * Extra Care Housing develop
15/05/2012
Staff at leading north east architecture and space planning firm, William Lippe Architects, have been putting their best feet forward by winning a new running challenge in Inverurie. A team from the firm took part in the first ever Run Garioch Inverurie Business Challenge which was held as part of
15/05/2012
The V&A Museum at Dundee has been awarded a first round pass award of £9.2m from the Heritage Lottery Fund. Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs, said: "The V&A at Dundee will make an important contribution to Scotland's rich heritage and distinctive cultural identity, a
14/05/2012
Energy Minister Fergus Ewing today welcomed analysis which shows that household bills will be lower with green policies and renewable energy than if we continue with the status quo. The Department for Energy and Climate Change estimates that consumer bills by 2020 will be £94 lower with low carbon
14/05/2012
Historic Scotland’s Medieval Construction Science Shows are heading to East Lothian for the first time. The shows are free to schools and free for families when paying entry to the sites. The shows will take place at Dirleton Castle, one of the oldest surviving castles in Scotland and Seton Col
14/05/2012
New figures prompt SBF to question accuracy of official long term construction trends Responding to figures released today on Friday showing output from the UK construction fell by 4.8% during the first three months of 2011, Scottish Building Federation Chief Executive Michael Levack said: "There i
14/05/2012
Highland construction bosses will seek urgent clarification on the level of future funding to be committed to affordable housing across the region when they meet Scottish Government ministers in Inverness today. Last week, the Scottish Government announced plans to allocate almost £20 million of f
14/05/2012
Developer, Sheratan Ltd, has lodged a planning application to develop land at the Edmonstone Estate, in close proximity to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary at Little France. This well designed new neighbourhood of 114 houses is situated in the Walled Garden and Eight Acre Field of the site and will
14/05/2012
Scotland and Norway will both play a key role in Europe’s increasingly integrated energy market, building on the two nations’ long-established expertise in the hydro-electricity and offshore oil & gas sectors, Alex Salmond said today as he addressed an international renewables conference in Bergen.
11/05/2012
Edinburgh retailers, Glasgow restaurants, and Alloa industrial parks are amongst businesses in Scotland who are joining forces to recycle more and save on costs. The projects are being showcased by the Scottish Government after a landmark step towards creating a zero waste society in Scotland was t
11/05/2012
Voting began this week to decide if Queensferry is to become a Business Improvement District. This initiative, spearheaded by Queensferry Ambition, is a unique opportunity for Queensferry to reach its full potential and for businesses to take ownership and collectively enhance trading conditions.
11/05/2012
Shelter Scotland has raised concerns over the increase in homeowners fearing repossession. Responding to CML figures showing little change year-on-year in the number of repossessions, but an increase in the number of homeowners with arrears of ten per cent and over, Gordon MacRae, Head of Communicat
11/05/2012
Home building industry body Homes for Scotland has elected Andy Pearson, Managing Director of Borders-based Tweed Homes as Chairman for the next 12 months. A Chartered Surveyor by profession, Pearson (50) established Tweed Homes in 1996 and has been a Board member of Homes for Scotland since 2009.
11/05/2012
Blairs Windows have again led the way in innovative timber window design by achieving Secured By Design status for a Fire Escape Window. Allan French of Blairs stated: "The Blairs Double Swing window is a fantastic solution for many applications. Looking like a sliding sash but able to have both sa
10/05/2012
Forty-five leading furniture makers and interior textiles companies from across Scotland will join forces later this month to create a unique one-off exhibition at Clerkenwell Design Week in London from 22-24 May. For the first time Textiles Scotland and the Scottish Furniture Makers Association (
10/05/2012
A luxury accommodation provider in Aberdeen has announced a new key appointment this month. Lucy Powrie has been appointed as General Manager of Kepplestone Manor which offers luxury serviced apartments in Aberdeen’s West End. Lucy brings a wealth of experience to the role having more than 15 year
10/05/2012
Country house gem, the Roxburghe Hotel and Golf Course in Kelso, has undergone a major transformation of its public rooms by London interior designers, Leveson Design. By retaining the country house charm while bringing style and comfort up to date, the designer has refreshed and revitalised the
10/05/2012
A website launched to help private sector tenants reclaim fees unlawfully charged by letting agents has helped 73 people to start proceedings to reclaim over £11,400 in its first 24 hours. Reclaimyourfees.com, launched by leading housing and homelessness charity Shelter Scotland, was visited by ove
10/05/2012
Bell Ingram has appointed Oban’s first Commercial Property Consultant to provide specialist commercial surveying advice from its fast growing Oban office. Gregor King, who has more than 25 years experience, will oversee the firm’s expanding list of business sales and commercial property instruction
10/05/2012
With just a few days until the opening of Scotland’s largest consumer exhibition for self-builders, home renovators and improvers, The Scottish Homebuilding & Renovating Show, make sure you don’t miss out on a FREE pair of tickets to the show worth £16 – click here to register for your free tickets
09/05/2012
Hundreds of millions of pounds are to be spent across Scotland on increasing the supply of affordable housing, creating jobs and boosting the economy, it was confirmed today. The announcement will see all of Scotland’s 32 councils receive a share of almost £582 million in subsidy over the next thre
09/05/2012
Transport Minister Keith Brown has issued a call to arms to newly-elected council leaders in the north of England, and Boris Johnson the London Mayor, to join the campaign to bring high speed rail to Scotland. Among the first items to land on the desks of new local authority chiefs over the Border
09/05/2012
Specialist Contractors are experiencing improvements in trade according to the latest NSCC State of Trade Survey. A total of 44% of respondents reported an increase in enquiries in the first quarter of 2012, up from 32% last quarter, and 37% an increase in orders, up from 30%. Whilst a post-winter
09/05/2012
Scottish building firm UBC Group, formerly Uist Builders (Construction) Limited has gone into administration. According to Administrators Zolfo Cooper the construction company employs 277 people. UBC managing director Seumas Pedrana said: "The directors have looked at every possible option to avoi
09/05/2012
Nicoll Russell Studios have beaten global competition to secure a £1m contract to deliver a unique visitor experience, which will form part of one of the most exciting community projects in the UK. Nicoll Russell Studios, have been selected to deliver the prestigious contract following a design com
09/05/2012
New home building industry leader calls for alternative approach to 'disproportionate' low carbon proposals. In the largest annual gathering of its kind, some 700 senior representatives from the country’s home building sector met in Edinburgh on Friday (4 May) where they heard from both the new Cha
08/05/2012
A team of apprentices from GHA and Glasgow City Council joined volunteers in helping spruce up the area round a community centre in the north of Glasgow. The horticultural apprentices joined GHA housing staff and environmental wardens, as well as Community Janitors, to plant shrubs and build a pati
08/05/2012
A celebration was held to mark the opening on 15 new affordable homes and a church centre in Granton by Port of Leith Housing Association (PoLHA). The Association bought the Granton United Church site in 2010 and was committed to providing a centre for a local congregation as part of its building p
08/05/2012
First Minister Alex Salmond has written again to Prime Minister David Cameron calling for increased capital spending to support Scotland’s economic recovery. On April 30 2012, Mr Cameron replied to Mr Salmond's letters refusing to release infrastructure investment for more than 30 “shovel-ready” pr
08/05/2012
Minister for Energy Fergus Ewing responded to Ofgem's review of transmission charging. He said: "We have Europe’s best renewable energy resources, yet the unfair system of locational charging continues to result in Scotland facing the highest charges in the UK, while subsidies are paid to generator
08/05/2012
An alarming rise in Scottish construction firms going bust requires immediate action to prevent further job losses, industry bosses have warned. New figures released by the Insolvency Service show the continuing impact of the recession on the Scottish construction industry with 49 Scottish building
08/05/2012
Celebrating the key achievements of the home building industry across a range of initiatives, trade body Homes for Scotland has announced the winners of its 2012 Awards. The Awards focused on four key themes which remain critical to the industry’s future success - customers, people, partnership and
04/05/2012
Robertson, the infrastructure, support services and construction group, has completed the latest phase of Aberdeen City Council's new-build council housing programme, with tenants already moved in and enjoying their new homes. The Marchburn Park development comprises 18 two-bedroom flats and 17 thr
04/05/2012
Work on the new Auchmuty High School is progressing rapidly with another building landmark reached, the completion of the steel structure. Headteacher Alan Pithie recently took a short walk out to the site with some staff and pupils to see how the building was growing and was delighted with the vie
04/05/2012
A tenement block on London Road in Glasgow is to be demolished after it was found to be in a dangerous condition. Following evacuation of the buildings earlier in the year, owners of the block - which takes in 590-598 London Road and 2-8 Landressy Street - were served with a notice to either repair
04/05/2012
The Embassy of Brazil in London and Aberdeen City Council will host a seminar that aims to assist international educational and training centres in the oil & gas offshore and maritime sectors that are seeking investment and cooperation opportunities in Brazil. The event - III BRAZIL-UK Oil & Gas Me
04/05/2012
Tom Wallace of N.E.T.WATERJET LTD is now an approved instructor for the Water Jetting Association. These industry leading courses are operated under guidelines, set by the UK Water Jetting Association (WJA) and give the certification required by anyone using High Pressure or Ultra High Pressure
03/05/2012
A North-east student was announced the winner of a prestigious award at a national property industry competition held in Aberdeen recently. Architecture student Stephanie Else, from the University of Dundee, was crowned the winner of the Northern Scotland Women in Property Student Awards at a cerem
03/05/2012
The 54 week £11.5M Phase 2 Shell and Core contract on the Scottish Government's new Scottish Crime Campus was successfully has been handed over. The Campus is the first of its kind in the UK and will bring together on a single site a number of agencies involved in tackling and preventing serious or
03/05/2012
On Thursday 26 April, exactly 134 years after the keys first turned, visitors were welcomed into the newly created vibrant community asset with public halls, a business centre, nursery and cafe with exhibition and recording studio space at Maryhill. Guests at the invite only ceremony included the
03/05/2012
Blairs Windows are supplying the timber windows for the ongoing refurbishment of Glasgow Royal Infirmary. The latest work is on Ward 6. Allan French of Blairs stated: "This project is a typical example of the value that Blairs can bring to our clients. Using an experienced team of experts, we surv
03/05/2012
Leading independent timber importer, Swedscot Timber Ltd, is relocating from its current headquarters in Inverness to Westfield North Courtyard in Cumbernauld - which is owned and managed by Highcross. The warehouse unit, extending to just under 14,198 sq ft, has been let to Swedscot on a competiti
02/05/2012
Schoolchildren in Irvine are working on a hat-trick of imaginative projects designed to ensure they put their mark on the ongoing £25 million regeneration of the town centre. Irvine Bay Regeneration Company, who are carrying out the regeneration work in partnership with North Ayrshire Council, are
02/05/2012
Edinburgh resident and former Scotland rugby star Scott Hastings officially opened Inverleith Park’s new fitness trail, Tuesday 24th April, at a special ceremony. Funded by the City of Edinburgh Council, wooden fitness equipment has been installed in ten stations around the perimeter of the north s
02/05/2012
A scheme offering financial assistance to land managers, owners and tenants has been launched to enhance drinking water for around 330,000 people in Scotland by reducing diffuse pollution. Scottish Water’s Best Practice Incentive Scheme will help land managers, owners and tenants implement measures
02/05/2012
The Crown Estate has announced three further agreements for lease for wave and tidal energy projects. The sites result from the third application window in the leasing process for projects in connection with the Scottish Government's Saltire Prize (in Scottish waters) and demonstration projects (al
02/05/2012
Fairdeal Autos, the largest independent garage in West Lothian, has opened a new branch in Edinburgh. Located at 1 Fords Road in West Edinburgh, the business has signed a 10 year lease with landlord JB Mackenzie Holdings Ltd for 4,731 sq ft of space in Edinburgh at a rate of £6 per sq ft. The new b
01/05/2012
Kier has acquired certain construction operations of Aberdeen-based Stewart Milne for a total cash consideration of £1m paid on completion. This latest move will see approximately 20 personnel transfer to Kier, together with contracts in progress valued at approximately £15m and a pipeline of poten
01/05/2012
Dundee College’s 4.09 acre Graham Street Campus site has been purchased by Persimmon Homes. Proceeds from the sale of the Graham Street site, which was brought to market by Jones Lang LaSalle, have contributed towards the redevelopment of the College’s Gardyne Campus which provides modernised educa
01/05/2012
Probationary tenancies are the not the only answer to dealing with anti-social behaviour, the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) said in a wide-ranging response to the Scottish Government’s proposals on how social homes are allocated. The Federation, which broadly welcomed the propo
01/05/2012
A contract worth an estimated £80m to build around 800 new homes in the Pennywell/Muirhouse area of Edinburgh has been advertised by the City of Edinburgh Council. The project is the second phase of the Council’s 21st Century Homes programme which aims to build up to 1,400 mixed tenure homes for sa
01/05/2012
The severe shortage of social homes across Scotland is once more in the spotlight ahead of Thursday’s council elections as Shelter Scotland reveals new analysis showing it would take more than seven years to clear waiting lists. The charity says Thursday’s poll is a perfect opportunity for people t
