Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
Scotland Construction News Archive for February 2013
28/02/2013
Part of the wall along the River Clyde in Glasgow has collapsed. It was reported that the riverside walkway at Anderson Quay had been cordoned off on Wednesday. A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said: "A local contractor with a good working knowledge of the quay walls in the area is now on site
28/02/2013
The UK Government should abandon its plan to introduce a bedroom tax, Scotland’s Housing and Welfare Minister Margaret Burgess said. In a letter to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Iain Duncan Smith, Mrs Burgess urged for the policy to be scrapped, but added that if the UK Government wa
28/02/2013
BSW Timber, the UK’s largest sawmilling group, has appointed Gavin Adkins as purchasing director to lead commercial strategy within BSW’s 6-strong purchasing team. Adkins joins BSW after 10 years as Group Chief Accountant and Timber Procurement Director at Kronospan Ltd. He also brings 10 years’ e
28/02/2013
The Scottish Government today announced more than £4 million for new wave and tidal power research capacity, securing Scotland’s world-leading position in marine energy. Energy Minister Fergus Ewing told industry delegates at the RenewableUK Wave and Tidal Conference in London that the European Mar
28/02/2013
Fairsail, a global workforce collaboration provider, has announced that RICS has chosen its Auto-Enrol product to ensure compliance with the latest Auto-Enrolment legislation for employee pensions. RICS, which has been raising industry standards since 1868, works closely with organisations around
28/02/2013
The Highland Council welcomes Transport Scotland's announcement that a £1.3 million ground investigation contract is expected to be awarded early next month, for the dualling of the A9 Perth – Inverness road. Leader of the Highland Council, Councillor Drew Hendry said: "We are delighted that this e
28/02/2013
Farmland prices in Scotland fell slightly during the second half of 2012, says the latest RICS Rural Land Market Survey, H2 2012. The average price per acre for farmland in Scotland decreased to £3,750 during the second half of 2012 (from £3,906 during the first half of the year), despite prices ac
28/02/2013
Homeowners and landlords left frustrated by delays with Government's flagship Green Deal scheme are being urged to get round the problem by using cost-saving initiative to make their properties more energy efficient. As well as securing up to £900 in Government grants and £100 refund on property as
27/02/2013
Global real estate advisor CBRE announces that it has appointed Chris Brett as Head of International Investment for its UK business. In this newly created role, Chris Brett will advise international investors seeking to access commercial real estate opportunities in all sectors in London and the wi
27/02/2013
Local residents and community leaders in Helensburgh have gathered to mark the start of works on site. Those in attendance included Councillor Vivien Dance, Councillor Maurice Corry and Martin Gorman, Senior Development Surveyor at Waitrose, who is responsible for new Waitrose store sites in Scotla
27/02/2013
Seven distinguished churches are to have urgent and essential repairs carried out thanks to a funding package announced by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and Historic Scotland. From the first Roman Catholic church to be built after the Reformation to one of the best examples of a Modernist churc
27/02/2013
The Northern Joint Police Board have funded a £4.7 million project to replace the Area Command Police Building on the High Street Fort William. The new facility is approximately 1,747m2 and is being built on the Blar Mor Development site adjacent to the A830. The building will also house the Scott
27/02/2013
The deadline to enter Rising Stars 2013 is fast approaching.
27/02/2013
Facilities management (FM) professionals who gain membership to RICS earn on average 30% more (£14,000 p/a) than their counterparts, according to the latest salary survey from RICS. Last year, the average salary for an RICS qualified FM professional in the UK was £63,927. This compares to just £49,
27/02/2013
Miller Construction, in partnership with Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Gateshead, has been helping the children of some of the staff to put their stamp on the new £30 million emergency care centre. Miller Construction launched an art competition for the children to design new hoardings to go round th
27/02/2013
Joint agents GVA and Jones Lang LaSalle have let 8,689 sqft of space to leading engineering consultancy WSP at Edinburgh Park in the west of the city. WSP has signed a 10 year lease on the ground floor of 7 Lochside View, joining existing occupiers JP Morgan, JDSU and Business Stream. More than 80
26/02/2013
A major milestone in the construction of the new £10 million Possilpark Primary and Community Health Centre took place recently when Health Secretary Alex Neill cut the first sod at a special ceremony. The new modern, state-of-the-art health and care centre for the people of Possilpark will incorpo
26/02/2013
Housing charity Shelter Scotland says it has evidence that the 'Bedroom Tax' will cost the taxpayer in Scotland’s cities more money, not less – despite assurances from the Westminster Government that it will save money. Its new analysis is released the day after the charity called on the Scottish G
26/02/2013
Irvine Bay Regeneration Company is to move office to its flagship national project in Irvine, the i3 Irvine Innovation and Industry business park, so that it can maximise the potential of the newly established Irvine Enterprise Area. The Enterprise Area was announced last year by the Scottish Gover
26/02/2013
A new emergency relief route on the A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful is now operational with vehicle convoy testing under way to ensure smooth running of the road in the event of a landslip. A further £4 million has also been made available to improve the A83 including progressing more landslip miti
26/02/2013
Users of the A9 will welcome news a £1.3 million ground investigation contract is expected to be awarded early next month, getting the A9 dualling underway in earnest. Subject to the mandatory standstill period, Transport Scotland will award the contract to Environmental Scientifics Group Ltd. Whe
26/02/2013
Following public feedback, the City of Edinburgh Council is set to seek funding from Sustrans in order to help improve provision for cyclists and pedestrians in Leith Walk. The Leith Programme currently has a £5.5m budget for a raft of environmental improvements to Leith Walk, Constitution Street a
26/02/2013
Scottish Water has today announced the biggest investment in the Greater Glasgow area’s waste water network in more than a century. The publicly-owned company is starting a £250 million, five-year programme of work which will continue to improve river water quality and the natural environment of th
26/02/2013
Jobless youngsters are building the foundations for successful careers in the construction industry as part of the regeneration of Dundee’s Ardler estate. Sanctuary Scotland Housing Association awarded a £22.7 million contract to create 269 high quality homes on four sites across Scotland to GRAHAM
25/02/2013
The next stage of Historic Scotland’s programme to enhance the safety of Edinburgh Castle’s rock face has been unveiled. The agency is about to embark on a community consultation process to discuss the £1million project for the southern face of the rock which rises above Johnston Terrace. The pr
25/02/2013
Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Scottish Enterprise have launched a research and development funding call to support project ideas with the potential to reduce the cost of producing energy from offshore wind. R&D funding is available to support the development of the offshore wind industry in
25/02/2013
The future of an iconic landmark on one of the world's most breathtaking coastlines has been assured thanks to one of the first grants from the Scottish Land Fund. The 167 year-old Covesea Lighthouse on the Moray Firth will now be brought into community use and developed as a tourist hub. It is
25/02/2013
A new purpose-built cycling hub is set to be created in the east of Edinburgh. The proposed investment would include the development of a regional track cycling facility and closed 1km road loop circuit at Hunters Hall Park, the home of the Jack Kane Sports Centre. Additional facilities, such as
25/02/2013
The City of Edinburgh Council is leading the fight against lead theft amongst local authorities in Scotland, working alongside Lothian and Borders Police, which is driving down the rate of this crime. As a response to metal thefts across Scotland, the Scottish Business Crime Centre set up a working
25/02/2013
A new national campaign aimed at making Scotland’s growing private rented sector fit for families and fairer for all is launched today by Shelter Scotland. The charity is launching its campaign in Edinburgh and is calling for an end to the destructive cycle which sees tenants forced from pillar to
25/02/2013
The Scottish Government has announced a £1.3 million funding boost to help first-time buyers in the Highlands on to the property ladder. The Rural Rent to Buy model will support those on low and modest incomes who will initially rent a newly built property for five years before purchasing it at a r
25/02/2013
The introduction of tax changes in the UK oil and gas sector has resulted in the highest investment for more than thirty years. According to Oil & Gas UK, which today published its 2013 Activity Survey, thousands of jobs are now being created across Britain and the production of UK oil and gas and
22/02/2013
Clyde Gateway has outlined £250 million of development activity which will take place within its boundaries in the current year. The £¼ billion worth of work ranges from the speculative build of a new office development on the banks of the Clyde and the first phase of the Athletes Village for the 2
22/02/2013
Inverclyde council will spend £113m over the next three years on capital projects across the area. The sum was agreed at the council's special budget meeting. Inverclyde Council leader, Councillor Stephen McCabe, said: "We are proposing another hugely ambitious capital programme for the people of
22/02/2013
Prospects for housing-based regeneration face the double whammy of lower grant rates and the general economic downturn, according to CIH Scotland. A recent CIH survey of councils and housing associations indicated that whilst there was still a significant degree of ongoing regeneration work, there
22/02/2013
Renfrewshire Council Leader Mark Macmillan is urging the Scottish Government to legislate to prevent tenants being evicted for rent arrears caused by forthcoming cuts to housing benefit payments. Councillor Macmillan believes ministers should use their devolved powers on housing legislation to prot
22/02/2013
Miller Construction has made two key national appointments. Jeremy Bowley and Nick Salt have joined the construction firm as Procurement Director and Director of Rail, respectively. Jeremy and Nick’s appointments highlight the company's strategy to remain focussed on chosen markets and its conti
22/02/2013
The South-West hub Company (hubCo), established to deliver value-for-money on public sector community-based infrastructure across Ayrshire, Lanarkshire and Dumfries & Galloway, has appointed John McClelland CBE, as Chairman. Over the years John has held numerous senior board positions with various
22/02/2013
Energy Minister Fergus Ewing has warned the UK Government that investment uncertainty created by electricity market reform is risking thousands of offshore wind jobs. Ahead of a debate on the Energy, Enterprise and Tourism Committee’s report on the achievability of the Scottish Government’s renewab
22/02/2013
Caithness Rugby Football Club are celebrating after their application for £10,000 from The Highland Council’s Landfill Community Fund was approved by the Caithness and Sutherland Area Committee. The money will go towards building a pavilion with four changing rooms and associated facilities. Curre
21/02/2013
A pupil from Greenwood Academy has beaten off tough competition to win a prestigious competition to help design a new landmark for Irvine. Lucy Hulbert, now in fourth year, has been named as the winner of a contest organised by Irvine Bay Regeneration Company to design a new weathervane for Trinity
21/02/2013
Transport Scotland has narrowed down the shortlist for the M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements to two bidders, bringing the project a step closer to construction. Connect Roads and Scottish Roads Partnership will move forward to the next of the procurement process. This is the first roads infrastruct
21/02/2013
Lovell has contributed to a solid set of preliminary results for the year ended 31 December 2012, released on 19 February 2012 by parent company Morgan Sindall Group plc, the construction and regeneration group. Against a backdrop of challenging trading conditions Morgan Sindall Group delivered a s
21/02/2013
A high-level team of experts from the Home Office and the Metropolitan Police visited Glasgow to learn how GHA is making communities safer. Representatives from the Home Office’s Violent and Youth Crime Prevention Unit and the Met’s Trident Gang Unit visited GHA’s Community Improvement Partnership
21/02/2013
The Scottish Government will work with partners on a detailed investigation of potential solutions to protect the jobs at the Millport marine science base. This follows a productive meeting in Edinburgh, where key partners were updated on progress around the potential options and made a commitment
21/02/2013
CKD Galbraith, one of Scotland's leading independent property consultancy, believes that a generally flat residential property market over the last few years has now created a situation where large rural houses are offering prospective purchasers 'outstanding value for money'. John Bound, a senior
21/02/2013
GVA RGA has secured planning consent for a new 112 bedroom hotel development on behalf of its client Goldserve Ventures, who own the former Inn on the Green hotel building in the east end of Glasgow. The historic building, dating back to the 1850s, has been vacant for around five years since the pr
21/02/2013
The Highland Council’s South Planning Applications Committee has voted to have a site visit before debating an application by Scottish & Southern Energy Renewables to erect 83 wind turbines near Fort Augustus. The application seeks Section 36 consent from Scottish Ministers. The Scottish Governmen
20/02/2013
The next phase of construction has been reached at the Aquatics Centre at Aberdeen Sports Village with the arrival of its Olympic standard diving boards. The delivery of the 40 tonne 3, 5, 7.5 and 10 metre boards, the weight equivalent of four double decker buses, means the world-class centre, whi
20/02/2013
PD&MS Energy has secured a multi-million pound contract with BP. The Aberdeen- based firm will provide engineering, procurement and offshore construction services for upgrades on drilling platforms in the North Sea. Simon Rio, managing director of PD&MS Energy, said: "We are delighted. This signif
20/02/2013
Property consultancy CBRE has purchased of Unit 2, Halbeath Interchange Business Park in Dunfermline on behalf of Scottish Bakers. The self contained 2,682 sq ft modern office unit, spread over two floors and forming part of a wider development incorporating five stand alone buildings, was the pref
20/02/2013
Forty nurseries and early years centres in Edinburgh are benefiting from an investment into garden water features to give young children the opportunity to experience natural, active play outdoors. £68,000 has been set aside to support improvements to nursery grounds for water play over the next fe
20/02/2013
First Minister Alex Salmond has urged Scotland's young people to join the country’s renewables revolution and take advantage of the "unparalleled opportunities" for employment being opened up in the sector. Speaking before a Strathclyde University event to mark the award of honorary degrees to six
20/02/2013
Joint agents GVA and Jones Lang LaSalle have let 8,689 sqft of space to leading engineering consultancy WSP at Edinburgh Park in the west of the city. WSP has signed a 10 year lease on the ground floor of 7 Lochside View, joining existing occupiers JP Morgan, JDSU and Business Stream. More than 80
20/02/2013
The Scottish Government is working with the UK Government and other devolved nations to prevent Scotland losing millions of pounds of European Structural Funds, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirmed today. It follows the recent agreement by the European Council on the EU’s budget for 2014
20/02/2013
Inverness Campus contractor Morgan Sindall is working with Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) to ensure all final arrangements are in place before installing a new cycle and pedestrian bridge over the A9 in the coming weeks. The bridge, which weighs 290 tonnes, is being pieced together on HIE’s
20/02/2013
Belfast Harbour has handed over its new £50m offshore wind terminal to DONG Energy and ScottishPower Renewables. The terminal, the first purpose-built offshore wind installation and pre-assembly harbour in the UK or Ireland, will be used as a hub to help service a market valued in excess of £100b
20/02/2013
MGM Timber Ltd is proud to announce the launch of their new online store. It officially opened on 15th February and now ready for business. A spokesman said: "We stock a large range of wood and laminate flooring from all the well-known brands and aim to offer these at competitive prices, with gre
19/02/2013
A new oil field has been discovered around 80 miles north-east of Shetland. The joint venture between The Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA) and Fairfield Energy has found two columns of oil since drilling began in November at the Darwin field. Leo Koot, managing director of TAQA's UK oil an
19/02/2013
Around 250 jobs may be safe at lifting and safety equipment manufacturer Cosalt Offshore. The collapse of the company would have risked offshore operations in Aberdeen and Norway. NBGI Private Equity, which owns ATR Group in the same sector, has agreed to buy the business for an undisclosed sum.
19/02/2013
With 13 weeks before the opening of All-Energy 2013, the UK's largest renewable energy exhibition and conference, key component parts are all in place. Some of the influential speakers taking part in the multi-stream conference have been announced, as has a new and invaluable feature - The Energy
19/02/2013
The City of Edinburgh Council has agreed investment in three new city schools over the next five years. The Council has committed £7m to building a new St. John's RC Primary School and £6.38m towards a new St. Crispin's Special School, the final two remaining schools of the Wave 3 School Replacemen
19/02/2013
More than £540k of funding has been awarded to Scotland’s brightest and most innovative start-ups, Finance Secretary John Swinney will confirm tonight at the Scottish EDGE Awards. Seventeen young Scottish businesses that have demonstrated the greatest potential to grow and succeed have secured awar
19/02/2013
People across Scotland are to be helped on to the housing ladder with a £20 million funding boost announced by Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. Over 500 people on low to moderate incomes will receive help to buy their first home through Scottish Government funding for shared equity schemes ne
19/02/2013
CITB-ConstructionSkills, the leading sector skills council and construction industry training board, has announced that the total number of new apprentices coming into the industry under their managing agency increased by 15% in 2012 compared to 2011. The industry body oversaw 1,269 new starts ent
19/02/2013
Transport Minister Keith Brown has made a site visit to the new emergency route for A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful as the road nears completion. The relief route, which uses the 'Old Military Road', forms part of a £3.7 million programme of work to mitigate against landslides on this section of ro
19/02/2013
GMB, the union for construction workers, is asking the Scottish Affairs Select Committee which is investigating blacklisting to establish how and why environmental activists were added to the construction industry blacklist. Some of these were women. The investigation should seek to establish if t
19/02/2013
Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) is launching a £50million blitz to bring every one of its communities up to scratch. Tenants are at the heart of GHA's ambitious plans – and are being asked to help raise environmental standards by grading their communities and agreeing how they can be improved. W
18/02/2013
Sheppard Robson has completed a £14 million remodelling of the University of Strathclyde’s Lord Hope and Curran buildings in Glasgow city centre for the newly formed Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences. Forming part of the university’s new Humanities and Social Sciences Quarter, the extensive a
18/02/2013
Planning consent has been granted for a wind farm in the South-West of Scotland. It could power the equivalent of more than 130,000 homes and create jobs for the area. The Kilgallioch Wind Farm, in Dumfries and Galloway and South Ayrshire, is expected to have 96 turbines and have a generating capa
18/02/2013
A contractor salary calculator has just been launched by Tarpon. The new calculator has been created to provide contractors with a quick and easy way of estimating how much take home pay can be earned as a contractor working through Tarpon, after all tax, national insurance and fees have been deduc
18/02/2013
BT has announced a major expansion of high-speed fibre broadband in Scotland, which is expected to help create jobs and give a big boost to the local economy. A further 291,000 homes and businesses across the country are to be included in BT’s £2.5 billion commercial roll-out of fibre broadband in
18/02/2013
There has been an increase in the importance of apprenticeships within the workplace. Although traditional apprenticeship schemes including engineering, electrical, welding and fabrication are still popular, disciplines like administration and logistics are becoming more in demand. According to Sk
18/02/2013
Graham Construction is set to develop Deaconess House on Edinburgh’s Pleasance. The scheme, by Mace Real Estate, with architects Kalyvides Partnership, is worth £14.5m. It will see the construction of 315 new student apartments on the former hospital site. Once completed in 2014 the apartments w
15/02/2013
Six sites across Scotland are to receive Historic Scotland Building Repair Grants worth almost £600,000. £587,049 is being made available through the grants scheme, which will help property owners meet the cost of repairs using traditional materials and specialist craftsman. John O’Groat’s Mill is
15/02/2013
East Ayrshire could be in line for a new golf course, club house and academy following the submission of plans to redevelop the former Loudoun Castle theme park. The £300m redevelopment plans for the 600 acre site include a whisky distillery, new homes and a food and drink centre of excellence. It
15/02/2013
Sheppard Robson has just finished work on the University of Strathclyde’s Lord Hope and Curran buildings in Glasgow city centre to the tune of £14m. The work involved remodelling the building for the newly formed Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences. Each floor has been given an open plan work
15/02/2013
ABZ Development Ltd is to take forward plans to build a £3.5m serviced office facility at its £100m business park in Aberdeen. The 25,000ft premises will be the fourth development at the business park, ABZ, following two new airport hotels, subsea imaging technology specialist Bowtech Products' new
15/02/2013
An historic building in Perth which has been described as an "eyesore" is to be demolished to make way for affordable housing. The former offices of the Scottish Executive Agriculture and Fisheries Department in Jeanfield have been selected for demolition. Originally the Fechney Industrial School
15/02/2013
Work is to begin on a new care home for Arran. North Ayrshire Council is about to commence construction of the new £4.6m care home and resource centre in Brodick, which will replace the existing Montrose House and Stronach day services. The investment is expected to provide 30 residential places f
15/02/2013
A three year budget plan has been approved by Inverclyde Councillors that will see £113m invested in capital projects. Council Leader Councillor Stephen McCabe has committed to invest an extra £10m in roads, pavements and lighting. £400,000 will go on the development of a new community facility an
15/02/2013
Public sector bodies and housing associations are being invited to a free seminar focussing on renewable woodfuel heating and the benefits for reducing carbon emissions. The seminar on 4 March 2013 will promote the Biomass Energy Supply Framework, developed by the Scottish government’s procurement
15/02/2013
Aberdeen City’s revenue budget for the coming year will see the Council spend £433m on key services such as planning, infrastructure and the environment. £50.4m is to be spent on enterprise, planning and infrastructure, £39.9m on housing and environment, £174.7m is to be spent on education, culture
15/02/2013
Aberdeen City Council is reminding professionals in the offshore energy and renewables sector there are still opportunities for businesses to be part of Offshore Europe 2013. Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Council's double-deck pavilion will offer exhibitors the chance to gain international exposu
14/02/2013
Over 200 construction students have been visiting Glasgow’s most anticipated building site this month, as Cruden Building & Renewals (CBRL) builds the 2014 Commonwealth Games Athletes' Village. CBRL is one of four construction companies in the City Legacy Consortium working on the development. 210
14/02/2013
A £2.8m replacement water treatment works for Scotland's most northerly inhabited island has been finished. About 1,000 Scottish Water customers in Shetland are now benefiting from the new facility on Unst, which has around double the normal drinking water storage capacity of a typical treatment wo
14/02/2013
Construction is underway on a new home for the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO) in Glasgow. The purpose-built rehearsal and recording facility and 600-seat music venue is being constructed at a cost of £17.6m. The RSNO was tasked with achieving a fundraising target of £2m before constructi
14/02/2013
The National House Building Council (NHBC) is freeing fees on products as a gesture to help Britain’s house building sector. Fees will be frozen at current levels until at least March 2014. This will apply to services including warranty products, building control services and registration fees. N
14/02/2013
Up to 250 construction jobs are expected to be created by the building of a new wind farm in the south west of Scotland. It is thought the Kilgallioch Wind Farm in Dumfries and Galloway and South Ayrshire could provide energy to power over 130,000 homes. It is expected to have 96 turbines and a ge
14/02/2013
A new all-weather athletics training area has been announced for Montrose in Angus. The facility will be built next to the Montrose Sports Centre and Montrose Academy campus and is expected to cost about £100,000. Funding will be provided from various sources including £44,000 from sportscotland,
14/02/2013
A team at Caledonian University is working on a project that could see abandoned mines underneath Glasgow help to heat the city’s homes. It is thought the geothermal power harnessed could generate up to 40% of the city’s heat. Scientists at Caledonian have received funding from ScottishPower to ma
14/02/2013
The Leader of Renfrewshire Council has called on the Scottish government to help prevent tenants being evicted for rent arrears as a result of cuts to housing benefit. Mark Macmillan says ministers should use devolved powers on housing legislation to protect council tenants affected by the new 'bed
14/02/2013
£75.5m has been approved by Falkirk Council for a three year spending programme which will see investment in infrastructure, the environment and education. £1.6m is to be spent on business property reinvestment to encourage economic growth, while £4.15m will go towards the regeneration of Denny tow
14/02/2013
Part of the Kessock Bridge works were closed yesterday, after a mobile crane became entangled in a temporary barrier. The incident occurred at 10:00 and involved the crane becoming entangled and blocking the northbound lane. The southbound lane was closed to aid recovery of the vehicle, meaning th
13/02/2013
Perth & Kinross Council has agreed with Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) to invest over £3.5m to bring new shops and jobs to Perth City Centre over the coming year. An extension to the St John's Shopping Centre is already being redeveloped to accommodate a new store for fashion retailer H&M
13/02/2013
Tourism experts from Caledonian University have been tasked with assessing the feasibility of converting an historic church into a mountain biking and sports resource centre for the Commonwealth Games in 2014. The team from the Glasgow university’s Moffat Centre for Travel and Tourism Business Deve
13/02/2013
Morgan Sindall has been awarded an £8m contract to build new offices for The Highland Council in Wick. The work will see the firm demolish the existing listed council building in Market Place, which was originally constructed in the 1860s. 24,000 sq ft of contemporary office space is to be built i
13/02/2013
Oxfam Scotland has announced its support of a proposed change in law to help tenants affected by the so-called 'Bedroom Tax'. The charity is supporting a petition to the Scottish Parliament by Govan Law Centre that is calling for an amendment to existing housing law. The amendment would mean rent
13/02/2013
A new Land Use Strategy pilot is to be introduced for the Borders. Environment Minister Paul Wheelhouse announced the pilot scheme, which will consider how land is used in the area and where improvements can be made. The scheme will aim to balance the conservation of natural resources with essenti
13/02/2013
A community centre in Galston has been refurbished as part of a £1m regeneration investment. The Orchard Street centre was one of the first buildings to be developed as part the regeneration of the Irvine Valley. The East Ayrshire centre boasts a new main entrance with ramp and steps, while the ac
13/02/2013
£850,000 is to be spent in East Lothian on town parking improvements over three years, while an extra £900,000 has been approved for coastal and flood protection schemes. This was the news as East Lothian Council approved its spending plans for the next three years. The services for communities bu
13/02/2013
A Scottish swimming pool company is celebrating after being honoured at the Swimming Pool and Allied Trades Association (SPATA) Awards. Alba/SB Pools, based in Brechin, has won an award for its construction of a new pool at Tattershall Lakes Country Park in Lincolnshire. The pool is between two l
12/02/2013
Over 300 new student apartments are to be created as part of a £14.5m development of the historic Deaconess House on Edinburgh’s Pleasance. Graham Construction has been appointed as the main contractor on the development, which is being planned by Mace Real Estate. Deaconess House was opened in 18
12/02/2013
Irvine Housing Association is encouraging tenants who would like to sign up to the government’s Green Deal scheme to get in touch . The Association can be contacted for permission to have energy saving works carried out as part of the scheme, which allows people to pay for energy saving improvement
12/02/2013
Scottish councils must consider turning to capital budgets to fund infrastructure costs and aid the advancement of major housing schemes. This was the upshot of a new study by commercial property consultancy GVA. The report found that over two-thirds of the housing land supply in parts of Scotland
12/02/2013
Offenders in East Renfrewshire have been paying their debt to the local community by assisting with an £82,000 renovation of Cowan Park tennis courts. The work was a joint project between the criminal justice team and the environment department. The renovation was funded from Scottish government's
12/02/2013
Camperdown Country Park could be the chosen location for the new National Performance Centre for Sport, according to Dundee City Council. The Council’s Policy and Resources Committee has been asked to approve use of the south east corner of the country park for the facility, provided the city’s bid
12/02/2013
A planning charity is to run a series of workshops to explore the benefits the offshore renewable sector can have for communities across Scotland. The initial workshop has already been held in Edinburgh on Friday, during which Planning Aid for Scotland (PAS) brought together experts from renewable
12/02/2013
Construction work is underway to restore a Broughton Ferry nursing home that had been destroyed in a fire and develop it into luxury flats. Westbay Nursing Home on Albert Road was destroyed in a blaze in May 2005. 33 residents were helped to safety from the burning building with the assistance of
12/02/2013
Argyll and Bute Council has announced the refurbishment of Cardross Library. The building will close after the Thursday 21 February session for about 6 weeks in order for the refurbishment work to be carried out. The Council says it will inform the public of the re-opening date as soon as it is co
12/02/2013
Transport Scotland has praised drivers’ patience during major resurfacing works, which are causing delays on Kessock bridge. Delays are thought to be reaching twenty minutes maximum, with traffic on the bridge reduced to one lane in each direction and a 30mph speed limit in place. Cameron Gair, Tr
12/02/2013
ScotRail is to make a major £2m investment to transform the stations which will be serving the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced the funding, following agreement with the Scottish government. The refurbishments to Queen St low level, Charing Cross
11/02/2013
Communities in the Outer Hebrides are being given support to tackle coastal erosion as part of the Scottish government’s Climate Challenge Fund. Minister for Environment and Climate Change Paul Wheelhouse today announced the Lochboisdale Amenity Trust, supported by Oxfam. It is one of four communi
11/02/2013
Developers working on the redevelopment of a sheltered housing complex for Forres have been told to go back to the drawing board and reassess the plans, according to the Forres Gazette. Hanover (Scotland) Housing Association (HSHA) will now rethink the application they submitted to Moray Council la
11/02/2013
A £5m redevelopment plan will see a community centre in Aberdeen provided with a revamped children’s theatre, upgrading an important facility which had previously fallen into disrepair. Arts Centre and Theatre (ACT) Aberdeen is to approach organisations including Creative Scotland to help fund the
11/02/2013
A proposed new community centre in Inverkip has been described by Inverclyde Council as a "gateway to the village and a focal point for local people." Designs for the new £1.5m facility have been revealed and show a modern, contemporary community centre designed to feature combined multiple functio
11/02/2013
An extension of a primary school in East Ayrshire is being undertaken in order to meet growing demand for places. Dunlop Primary will now be reconfigured and extended due to a projected increase in the school’s roll and nursery class intake. The working capacity of the school was 133 for session 2
11/02/2013
Conon Bridge railway station in the Highlands has been opened following a £600,000 refurbishment. Built by Network Rail, the station includes a new 15 metre platform, a waiting shelter, passenger information systems and cycle racks and lockers. A new car park has also been built, along with enhanc
11/02/2013
Emergency structural repair work is to be carried out on fishing harbours around Scotland damaged in the recent stormy weather. An additional £1m has been announced by the Scottish government to go towards the repairs. The recent storms were caused by an unusual combination of south easterly gales
11/02/2013
Edinburgh City Council has agreed to invest in three new schools for the city over the next five years. £7m has been committed to building a new St. John’s RC Primary School and £6.38m towards a new St. Crispin’s Special School. £618,000 is being put towards work on a new secondary school in the C
08/02/2013
£800,000 is being invested in a new Gaelic school for Glasgow, it has been announced. The Scottish government is funding the building of the new Gaelic Medium Education primary school, which will be part of the Glendale Campus in Pollokshields. Minister for Learning, Science and Scotland’s Languag
08/02/2013
Stirling & Clackmannanshire Joint Trading Standards Service have released a warning to the construction industry over a group of online fraudsters claiming to be a genuine company, but who have defrauded various European customers out of money. The fraudsters have set up a number of dummy websites
08/02/2013
The public will get to have their say on the new Madras College development on a site at Pipeland, Fife, as the council launches a consultation on the proposals. Two public meetings are to take place during the consultation; the first on the evening of the 12 February at Madras Kilrymont from 18:00
08/02/2013
24 housing units are to be built across two sites at Jeanfield Road, Perth, and Inchture. The development is the latest phase of Perth & Kinross Council’s house building programme. £2.8m is being invested in 16 two-bedroom flats at Jeanfield Road, and eight three-bed flats constructed in Inchture.
08/02/2013
The new Aquatics Centre at Aberdeen Sports Village has reached the next phase of construction, with the arrival of its Olympic standard diving boards. The 40 tonne 3, 5, 7.5 and 10 metre boards arrived at the new facility, which includes a 10 lane 50 metre pool and a 25 metre pool with full elite d
08/02/2013
Fifteen vacant properties in Perth & Kinross are to be renovated and let to new council tenants. The work on Old Mill Road in Rattray is being undertaken to develop and revitalise social housing in the area. The 15 renovated units will provide modern accommodation for families in three and four-be
08/02/2013
Energy firm SSE has announced it will sell windfarm interests in Scotland and Northern Ireland for £140m, towards a new fund to float on the London Stock Exchange. SSE is to invest up to £43m of its sale proceeds in the fund. The sale is dependent on listing and fundraising by wind-farm investment
08/02/2013
Edinburgh Council is to look at ways of developing a scheme to offer eligible residents free travel on the new trams. The decision follows recent discussions with Transport Scotland about ways of extending the National Entitlement Card scheme to the tram service. Transport Convener Councillor Lesl
07/02/2013
£3.4bn is to be spent by the Scottish government during 2013-1 on housing, roads, town-centre regeneration and supporting jobs in the construction sector. Finance Secretary John Swinney has announced a funding package which will seek to stimulate growth and recovery in Scotland’s economy. Targets
07/02/2013
Councillors on the City of Dunfermline Area Committee have been discussing a report which recommends an estimated £1.15m investment in road improvement projects for the city during 2013/14. A further £1.24m is also to be invested to improve the city’s footpaths, street lighting and road safety over
07/02/2013
Energy Minister Fergus Ewing has confirmed future support levels for biomass and solar power. In October the Scottish government launched a consultation on the levels of the renewables obligation for biomass and solar energy. Now it has been confirmed that wood fuelled biomass stations with an ins
07/02/2013
Aberdeenshire Council is currently holding advice sessions for homeowners on repairing and maintaining properties. The Scheme of Assistance is being offered through the Aberdeenshire Care and Repair Project. The project provides information, advice, practical support and, in some circumstances, fi
07/02/2013
Ramsay Court, the remaining tower block of flats in Kincardine, Fife, is to be demolished to make way for 16 mid-market rent homes to be built by Kingdom Housing Association. Discussions are currently ongoing about the future use of the rest of the site. The demolition of Ramsay Court will take pl
07/02/2013
A Dundee housing scheme could provide new external insulation for over a dozen homes in the area. 14 family properties in Kirkton are to be insulated over their existing outside render to improve heat retention and reduce fuel bills. The insulation programme is part of an investment in council hou
07/02/2013
Two trial projects are to look at how land in Scotland is currently used and the improvements that can be made. Environment Minister Paul Wheelhouse made the announcement in his speech to the National Ecological Network Conference. The pilot schemes will be undertaken in Aberdeenshire and the Scot
07/02/2013
A Scottish sealant company has announced it has won a contract to provide waterproofing services to the basement of a new Hilton Hotel in Birmingham. Main contractors Anglo Holt have employed Falkirk-based Site Sealants to design a specification to suit both the new-build and existing aspects of th
06/02/2013
Transport Scotland has announced the beginning of an "electric revolution" across the country. New proposals will see free installation of home charging points for electric vehicles (EV) throughout Scotland, along with public charging outlets within at least every 50 miles on trunk roads. The £2.6
06/02/2013
2013 already shows signs of decline in the construction industry, with the opening months indicating a moderate reduction in activity, according to the latest Markit/CIPS purchasing managers' index (PMI). The PMI rate for the sector was 48.7 in January, showing no change from December. Lower const
06/02/2013
£36.73m of investment is being pumped into roads in the south-west of Scotland, with three major schemes getting underway in the next few months. Transport Scotland has announced it will award the contracts for the A77 Symington to Bogend Toll Improvements, A75 Dunragit Bypass and the A75 Hardgrove
06/02/2013
Regeneration projects in Irvine Bay will benefit from Scottish government funding of over £5m. Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced a total of £5.2m to be granted to the Irvine Bay Regeneration Company. The announcement follows an update by Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment
06/02/2013
A public consultation is underway in Angus this week on the proposed boundary changes to Kirriemuir Conservation Area. This marks the first changes to the town’s conservation area boundaries for more than 40 years. It is hoped that the changes will reflect alterations and developments in the area
06/02/2013
Perth & Kinross has proposed an agreement with local housing associations to deliver the final stage of the Muirton regeneration project. The agreement between the Council, Fairfield Housing Co-operative and Caledonia Housing Association (CHA) would see a further 226 units developed during phases 5
06/02/2013
A new £400m business hub which is expected to create up to 8,000 jobs over the next decade is to be built next to Aberdeen International Airport. Miller Developments has acquired almost 93 acres of development land at Dyce Drive, Aberdeen. Planning was granted in November 2012 for the scheme, whic
06/02/2013
Dumfries and Galloway-based Eco Insulate Ltd. is supporting the Warm Homes Campaign 2013, which launched on National Fuel Poverty Awareness Day on 1 February. The campaign runs across the UK throughout February with the aim of raising awareness of the problem of fuel poverty and the solutions avail
05/02/2013
40,000 jobs are to be created across Scotland this year through investment in infrastructure, according to deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. Ms Sturgeon announced the investment in schools, hospitals, roads and other infrastructure as the Scottish government published an update to its multi-bi
05/02/2013
Developers in the Highlands have been benefiting from a service provided by Highland Council planners which aims to make the planning process more efficient. The Pre-Application Advice Service for Major Developments is a cross Council and public agency project led by the Planning and Development Se
05/02/2013
Housebuilder Mactaggart & Mickel Homes Ltd has survived "worsening trading conditions" to post a pre-tax profit of £1.47m for 2012. The Glasgow-based company said this profit came despite turnover for the year to April 30 dropping by 23% on the previous year to £37.5m, and house sales falling 24%.
05/02/2013
West Lothian Council has approved £200m for a capital investment plan to improve roads, property and open spaces. The General Services Capital Programme and Corporate Asset Management Strategy has now been approved for the five year period 2013/14 to 2017/18. The £200m Capital Programme includes:
05/02/2013
Aberdeenshire Council has announced it will be consulting community groups, other stakeholders and councillors on the latest Local Development Plan Scheme. The four year project will set out the new Local Development Plan to create a framework for development of land in Aberdeenshire from 2016-2021
05/02/2013
Improvements to council housing stock in Perth & Kinross worth millions of pounds are to be carried out over the next five years. Details of the investment are to be outlined at a meeting of the Housing and Health Committee on Wednesday 6 February. Work carried out on council houses between 2013-1
05/02/2013
Plans to build a new museum and art gallery in Dunfermline have been given a boost to the tune of £2.8m from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). The move follows a £6.8m allocation from Fife Council and support from the Carnegie Dunfermline Trust. Richard Murphy Architects have been awarded the contr
05/02/2013
The Scottish government will undertake a feasibility study into potential options for the use of Shambellie House, following the news that it is to close. Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop is providing up to £20,000 for National Museums Scotland (NMS) and Dumfries and Galloway Council to take forward
04/02/2013
Restoration work is being carried out at Pittencrieff Park in Fife to unearth what the area was like during World War 2. Fife Council’s Parks & Countryside department has teamed up with Fife Cultural Trust as part of 'Digging for Victory'; an event to be held in the park’s Glen Pavilion on Saturday
04/02/2013
A group established by the UK and Scottish governments is to appoint consultants to look at the renewable energy potential of the Western Isles. The move will see a review and analysis of the economics and cost effectiveness to consumers across the UK of the deployment of renewables on the Scottish
04/02/2013
Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced a £1.8m injection for four house building projects. The money will be generated from a loan fund designed to kick-start stalled construction sites. The news marks the second tranche from the £10m House Building Infrastructure Loans Fund, announce
04/02/2013
The newly-upgraded M9 Junction 1A has been opened two months ahead of schedule and for £20m less than the original budget. Minister for Transport Keith Brown officially opened the new junction; the second of three contracts required to deliver the 22km-long Forth Replacement Crossing (FRC) scheme.
04/02/2013
Work on the Heritage and Learning Centre in the east end of Glasgow is nearing completion. Thenue Housing has announced the £1m centre will be ready in the spring. £823,000 was obtained from the Big Lottery Fund last year. Glasgow City Council added another £100,000 to that total. The new Centre
04/02/2013
Aberdeen City Council has appointed a contractor to undertake the refurbishment of Tullos Swimming Pool later this month. Robertson Construction Eastern Limited will undertake the work, due to commence on Monday 25 February. The Council has set a target completion date of autumn 2013. The work wi
04/02/2013
£54m is to be invested in road improvements in the Cowdenbeath area. The news follows approval by members of the Cowdenbeath Area Committee for £1.1m to go on 13 local road improvement projects during 2013/14. A further £968,000 has been approved to improve footpaths, street lighting and road safe
04/02/2013
Landlords of rented properties in Dundee are being invited to improve their knowledge of rental and tenancy law, as the council announces a special seminar for next week. Dundee City Council says over 100 people are already registered for the free session on tenancy agreements, to be hosted by the
01/02/2013
Transport Scotland have claimed the improvements to Kessock Bridge will halve journey times into Inverness. Improvements to junctions surrounding the bridge are intended to provide faster access in and out of the city. A Transport Scotland spokesman said: "The Kessock Bridge is a vital artery for
01/02/2013
Highland Councillors have agreed in principle to a new scheme to provide temporary accommodation for people who find themselves unintentionally homeless. Temporary accommodation is currently provided in a number of ways, including through purchasing tendered rooms in Houses of Multiple Occupation.
01/02/2013
Councillors have voted to explore the feasibility of reopening a community facility in Leith. Campaign group Splashback have been working to ensure Leith Waterworld remains a sports and social hub within the Leith community, and will now have council support during an 11-month development phase to
01/02/2013
Work was carried out this week to remove scaffolding from Campbeltown’s historic town hall. The removal began on Monday 28 January and follows the completion of repairs to the building. Over the winter period, various works were carried out at the town hall to address high priority building fabric
01/02/2013
Work is due to begin on a £72,000 improvement scheme at Arbroath Bus Station. The project will increase the width of the bus stances to make it easier and safer for larger vehicles to access the stands and minimise the risk of damage to buses. Work is due to start on 4 February 2013 and is expecte
01/02/2013
East Ayrshire Council has been awarded £750,000 of funding by the Scottish Government to regenerate the historic town of Galston. The town is yet another historic area of Scotland to benefit from the Conservation Area Regeneraion Scheme (CARS). Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Fiona Hyslop said: "Ou
01/02/2013
The first phase of a new project to improve the standard of roads, pavements and the environment in Leith is to commence the week beginning 4 February. The Leith Programme will see refurbishment work undertaken on Constitution Street, Leith Walk and Picardy Place. The contractor is preparing to ca
01/02/2013
A structural inspection has highlighted the need to dismantle and strengthen Keil’s Den Bridge in Fife. The inspection followed the collapse of the south east wing wall in 201. The new work required the removal of the bridge deck fill prior to the dismantling of the affected walls, before any subs
