Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
Scotland Construction News Archive for June 2013
28/06/2013
West Dunbartonshire Council has earmarked £18m of funding to build a new leisure centre in Clydebank by 2016. The new facility is expected to replace the current Play Drome, which is in the process of being sold to Tesco. Initially, the Council had planned to use funds from the Play Drome site t
28/06/2013
An innovative community arts project, constructed using BSW Timber's easi-timber™ is one of 12 new buildings to be named the best in Scotland. The Ghost of Water Row, which is designed to recall Govan's weaving trade, won the accolade as part of The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RI
28/06/2013
The growth rate of households in Scotland is now at its slowest rate in 10 years, according to the National Records of Scotland. In new figures released by the agency, the number of households in Scotland increased every year for the last decade. In mid-2012, there were 2.39m households in the cou
28/06/2013
The first artist's impressions of a proposed development on the Arnotts site, in Paisley, have been unveiled. Renfrewshire Council Leader Mark Macmillan revealed the images on hoardings at the front of the former department store. The plan, which also involved public and private sector partners, w
28/06/2013
Stirling Council has agreed to a motion opposing the blacklisting of workers within the construction industry. The plea was brought before the Council by the GMB and UNITE unions as part of a national campaign. Following a meeting of the Council on Thursday, Councillors agreed to adopt a policy o
28/06/2013
Plans for two new schools, as well as a community school complex, has progressed following the submission of the project's application. If approved, the facilities would be located next to the existing Wick High School. Included in the plans are:
28/06/2013
Morgan Sindall has been awarded a major contract from the Highland Council to carry out improvements at a school in Inverness. The contract will see the company replace ageing classroom units and undertake improvements to the main school building at Raigmore Primary School. Work is expected to beg
28/06/2013
Argyll and Bute Council are continuing to develop a plan for future housing provision in the area. Among the plans, are measures to bring empty homes back into use. Following a meeting on Thursday (27 June), Councillors approved the local authority's updated Strategic Housing Investment Plan for
28/06/2013
East Ayrshire and South Ayrshire Councils have agreed to deliver a shared roads service within Ayrshire. The Ayrshire Roads Alliance will be governed by a joint committee of elected members from the two Councils, with the service being led by East Ayrshire Council, to deliver roads services throug
28/06/2013
The Scottish Government has said more money is to be made available to help the country meet its ambitious targets. Minister for the Environment and Climate Change, Paul Wheelhouse, revealed the additional funding, saying it would be allocated from the forthcoming Scottish Government budget for 20
27/06/2013
Elected Members of the Scottish Borders Council have approved plans to prepare a final business case for a new affordable homes development. Following a meeting of the Council in Kelso, the construction of up to 200 new homes has moved one step closer. Council staff will now develop the business
27/06/2013
A new poll has revealed three in four people (75%) are in support of protecting Scotland's wild land from wind turbine developments. The study, which was carried out by YouGov and released by the John Muir Trust, found significant support for the proposal that "the 20 per cent of Scotland's landsc
27/06/2013
The BBC has said a £3m proposal to construct an abattoir on the outskirts of Dalbeattie has been approved. The state-of-the-art facility is to be constructed at a former concrete works site, adjacent to Craignair Quarry. Dumfries and Galloway Food Co-operative (DGFC) have said they hope to open
27/06/2013
Rocklift, part of the Murphy group of companies, has enjoyed a period of recent expansion. The company, which was established in 1984 as a specialist drill and blasting contractor in the quarrying and civil engineering industries, has since developed into other aspects of ground engineering such a
27/06/2013
A £9m redevelopment of the Kirkcaldy Sea Wall is to begin this week. The sea wall is being refurbished and heightened to help protect the Promenade, while new seating and lighting are being installed to make it a more attractive place for local people and visitors to enjoy. Two compounds have been
27/06/2013
Midlothian Council has said a number of communities are to benefit from a new school with enhanced community facilities. The announcement comes after elected members agreed to a £33m plus project which will see Mayfield, Gorebridge, Newtongrange, Moorfoot and other areas served by Newbattle Commun
26/06/2013
The new £1.5bn bridge to be built across the Firth of Forth will be called the Queensferry Crossing. Following a period of public voting, First Minister Alex Salmond confirmed the name this morning (26 June). A shortlist of five names – Caledonia Bridge, Queensferry Crossing, St Margaret's Cross
26/06/2013
Scotland's construction industry stands to benefit from unparalleled opportunities in the low carbon materials and technology market. Overall sales in the sector are predicted to increase from £1.1bn to around £1.9bn by 2020. As a world leader in low carbon technologies, such as renewable energy,
26/06/2013
A series of proposals to strengthen Stirling city centre's place at the heart of the community has been welcomed by the Council's Finance and Economy Committee. At a meeting last week, Councillors agreed on a strategy and action plan developed in consultation with businesses and communities, which
26/06/2013
The venue to be used for the hockey competition at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games is set to open next month. The project, valued at £5.5m, is situated adjacent to Glasgow Green Football Centre on Kings Drive. The facility is the last to be completed by the Council that will be used througho
26/06/2013
East Ayrshire Council has approved plans to revitalise Cumnock Shopping Centre. The proposals will see the construction of six new retail units on Townhead Street and will replace the Glaisnock Shopping Centre. The move will also allow six of the current eight retailers in the centre to continue t
26/06/2013
A new contract has been signed that will see Scottish renewable energy consultancy, SgurrEnergy, provide support for the development of the firs offshore wind farm in the Guangdong province, China. The contract, which will be delivered over two years, will see SgurrEnergy, part of Wood Group, advi
25/06/2013
Residents in the Highland are to benefit from more affordable homes after the Highland Council secured a further procurement round in the NHT scheme. The National Housing Trust (NHT) initiative, which has already delivered more than 1,000 new affordable homes across Scotland, allows developers and
25/06/2013
Perth & Kinross Council is to consider one of the area's largest infrastructure projects this week. On Wednesday, Councillors will receive an update regarding the Perth Transport Futures (PTF) project, which is vital to the future economic development of Perth. Phase One involves the upgrade of
25/06/2013
A £90k fund to enhance the appearance of Kilmarnock Town Centre and contribute to its physical and economic regeneration, has been approved by the Cabinet. The issue regarding town centre vacancies is not new for East Ayrshire. Kilmarnock, like many other towns, has suffered from the impact of o
25/06/2013
Restoration work worth £85,000 has been completed at King George V Park in Cambusbarron. The grant provided new play equipment for the park including a 'bird nest' climbing structure, as well as a 'flying fox' and group swing. New swings have been added together with a roundabout, trampolines and
25/06/2013
Fife Council has said repair work to Hew Scott Hall, St Nicholas Tower and Wester Anstruther Town Hall are continuing to progress well. Work to the roadside frontage of the Town Hall is almost complete, with part of the scaffolding having been removed and allowing both lanes of High Street West and
25/06/2013
Contractors working on the new £28.9m Eastwood High School have handed over the keys to East Renfrewshire Council. The school has been built under the Government-funded 'Schools for the Future' Programme, run by the Scottish Futures Trust. The programme is a £64.3m joint project between East Renf
24/06/2013
Newly released images reveal how Johnstone's Town Hall will look following its £14.5m redevelopment. Renfrewshire Council are due to start work on the project later this year and it is hoped the work will transform the town centre once the current building has been demolished. When the work is c
24/06/2013
Irvine Housing Association, part of The Riverside Group, has chosen Lovell to construct a £2.1m development at Pennyburn, North Ayrshire. The design-and-build project will consist of homes for social rent and the design will see 17 two-bedroom houses, four three-bedroom homes and a two-bedroom bun
24/06/2013
A new national policy on architecture has been launched by the Scottish Government today. The policy will stress the importance of enriching the people of Scotland's lives through quality buildings and places. 'Creating Places' will focus on the value that 'Place' has for Scotland – as individua
24/06/2013
The city council-led team assembled to score the National Performance Centre for Sport for Dundee could be supported with an extra £5m of capital funding. Councillors will be asked to approve the spending, which would be put into action if Dundee wins the bid. The city's bid is being submitted on
24/06/2013
Plans to erect temporary accommodation in Rosyth have been rejected by councillors. According to Scottish Housing News, Capital and Provincial had applied for permission to build 63 cabin-like homes at the former Forth Families' Club site at Castle Road. The properties would have accommodated wor
24/06/2013
Plans have been submitted by Organic Architects, on behalf of Sanctuary Scotland, for the development of new retirement flats and a worship space on the Bearsden Road, Glasgow. According to Urban Realm, the proposed site is on the existing Anniesland Methodist Church site, but the plans would allo
21/06/2013
Five of the largest transport projects undertaken in Scotland will cost taxpayers £7.5bn over the next 30 years, according to Audit Scotland. The public spending watchdog revealed the costs for work carried out on the Borders railway, the Aberdeen bypass, the new Forth bridge, the Edinburgh-Glasgo
21/06/2013
A detailed study into how an offshore electricity grid between Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland could be introduced has been commissioned after being awarded European funding. The second part of the flagship Irish-Scottish Links on Energy Study (ISLES) has been granted £1m to examine how an o
21/06/2013
Housing Minister Margaret Burgess has outlined the Scottish Government's plan to tackle fuel poverty and reduce Scotland's carbon footprint. Scotland's Sustainable Housing Strategy, which is published today, highlights the work the Scottish Government is doing to help people reduce household energ
21/06/2013
A total of 19 Scottish food and drink companies have been awarded grants worth almost £8.5m in the latest round of funding by the Scottish Government. A further six companies have been awarded £546k through the food Marketing Development scheme. The latest awards from the Food Processing, Marketin
21/06/2013
The Scottish Government has confirmed work has now started on the new Ellon Academy. The £36m project, which forms part of the Scottish Government's £1.25bn Scotland's Schools for the Future building programme, will facilitate more than 1,000 pupils when it opens in 2015. The new building is rece
21/06/2013
The proposed £29m project to replace Newbattle Community High School is set to reach a major milestone with elected members due to meet next week to consider a report on its options. The report sets out a number of officer recommendations and summarises the results of an extensive public consultat
21/06/2013
Scotland's largest health board has been fined £6,000 for failing to clear asbestos from the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Glasgow. According to Herald Scotland, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (GGC) admitted to breaching asbestos regulations by having the poisonous fibres in a basement plant
21/06/2013
A consultation focusing on the future of the Pentland Firth and Orkney waters has been launched. In 2010, Orkney Island Council has joined with colleagues at Highland Council, Marine Scotland and Heriot Watt University to begin developing a pilot Marine Spatial Plan for the area. As part of the
21/06/2013
A derelict area of land in South Kessock, Inverness, has been redeveloped to feature 15 new homes. The Highland Council added that it hoped the success of the scheme will lead to further regeneration of the area. The Highland Council and Albyn Housing Society have been working together to regener
21/06/2013
The Highland Council has unveiled new long-term plans for the Highland economy. As part of the ambitious plans, almost £1bn will be spent over the next 10 years on a number of major construction projects. These include new schools, play areas, sports facilities, roads and flood prevention. A rep
20/06/2013
Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA) has said its current capital investment work in Campbeltown amounts to £9.3m. This includes investment in ACHA's soon-to-be completed new build at Park Square, the modernisation of cottages at Dalaruan and a range of rood and roughcast replacements, heati
20/06/2013
Renfrewshire is set to receive a retail and residential boost after councillors supported proposals for a major development at Braehead. The Council's Planning and Property Policy Board approved the plans on Wednesday and will see 70 new jobs created, after an earlier submission had previously been
20/06/2013
Four Scottish houses have been selected by Historic Scotland to feature in the ITV series Britain's Secret Homes. Traquair House in the Borders, Mousa Broch in Shetland, Rock House in Edinburgh and Knap of Howar in Orkney will all appear in the series, which looks at 50 of the UK’s most interestin
20/06/2013
New farmers in Scotland have today been handed a double boost with the news of additional funding and the creation of a starter unit. Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead made the announcement during the QMS speech at the Royal Highland Show at Ingliston. A further £5.9m has been earmarked for
20/06/2013
Renfrewshire Council's planning overview, which will shape how the area's land can be used for the next five years, has reached another important milestone. The Local Development Plan is the council's view of how land should be used for different purposes, such as housing, industrial or retail use
20/06/2013
A total of 10 organisations have written to Ed Davey MP, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, calling for action to tackle fuel poverty. Scottish Housing News has said the organisations include Scottish Renewables, the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, Energy Action Scotlan
20/06/2013
Falkirk Council has said construction work is to begin on The Kelpies programme. The 10-week construction programme will see major pieces of the sculptures erected at The Helix. The Helix is an ambitious project which will see land between Grangemouth and Falkirk transformed into an outdoor recr
20/06/2013
Plans for a wind turbine, which would overlook the Highland home of Prince Charles has been approved by councillors. According to The Scotsman, permission was granted for Barrogill Angus' bid to construct a turbine on his farm. The farm is located adjacent to the Castle of Mey in Caithness, the l
20/06/2013
Work has been completed on an £567,000 upgrade of the towpaths of the Forth and Clyde Canal. Work was recently completed on the project by Scottish Canals and its partners at Sustrans, SPT, Waste Recycling Environmental Limited (WREN) and East Dunbartonshire Council. It included the upgrade of the
20/06/2013
Kingdom Housing has completed its latest development at Leys Park Road, Dunfermaline. The site, which is located next to East End Park, cost £1.25m with grant assistance being provided by the Scottish Government. A total of 12 flats were developed for sale on a shared ownership basis to provide
19/06/2013
Falkirk Council has approved funding worth £7.7m to build 80 new properties in the region. Two sites have been identified for the project, which consists of 20 new houses and 60 new flats. The sites are Windsor Road in Falkirk and Tinto Drive in Grangemouth, with preliminary work already underway
19/06/2013
A new report by the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has said the economic downturn has had a significant impact on construction SMEs. According to their report, Improving Public Procurement for Construction SMEs, more than 40% of small and medium businesses are failing to win nine out of 10 pub
19/06/2013
A new matchmaking service is being launched across the Forth Valley this week to introduce buyers and sellers of empty properties. It is hoped the initiative will bring the area's empty homes back into use. The idea, under the guidance of the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership – which is run by She
19/06/2013
South Lanarkshire Council has pledged a £19m investment towards its Primary Schools Modernisation Programme. The latest financial commitment for the programme will allow three more campuses to be created after approval was granted at June's meeting of the Council's Planning Committee. The announce
19/06/2013
The Highland Council have raised no objection to proposals for a 277-turbine wind farm off the Caithness coast. The Scottish Government had asked for the views of the local authority views on the Beatrice Offshore Windfarm project before it made its final decision. On Tuesday, officials for the c
19/06/2013
The Scottish Borders Council (SBC) is to discuss plans which could see up to 200 new affordable homes built. Elected Members of the SBC are being asked to approve the proposals which would see Council staff prepare a final business case and develop a council-led house building programme with the S
19/06/2013
Dunfermaline High School has won two awards at The Royal Incorporation of Architects (RIAS) in Scotland Awards 2013. The awards, which were held earlier this week, recognise architectural achievement in Scotland. Fife Council's Property Services collected the award for their design of Dunfermlin
19/06/2013
Plans to construct a new abattoir on the outskirts of Dalbeattie are being recommended for approval by planning officials, the BBC has said. The proposals have raised concerns over the possible noise, smell and pollution issues the new facility could produce, but planning officials are recommending
19/06/2013
A newly refurbished running track at Elgin's Morriston Playing Fields has been officially opened by Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill. A majority of the preparatory work for the new track was undertaken earlier this year by offenders on community payback orders issued by the courts, while £34k of
19/06/2013
Plans for a new tennis and golf centre in Stirling have been unveiled by Andy Murray's mother, Judy and golfer Colin Montgomery. According to the BBC, it will be Scotland's first purpose-built centre for the two sports. Located at Park of Keir, between Dunblane and Bridge of Allan, the facility wi
18/06/2013
A new survey has found a majority of new home buyers in Scotland would recommend their builder. Of those surveyed, 93% were satisfied with the overall quality of their home, with the same number also willing to recommend their builder to a friend, according to the research. The study was carried
18/06/2013
Highland councillors are to discuss a proposal related to the Beatrice offshore wind farm. The plans include constructing 277 wind turbines off the Caithness coast in the Moray Firth, the BBC has reported. The Scottish Government has sought the Council's views on the project, with officials at t
18/06/2013
The first images of Eastwood High Sports Centre have been released ahead of its official opening on Monday 24 June. The new centre has been constructed in a combined project with Eastwood High School, costing £28.9m. Its state-of-the-art facilities will be used by pupils during the school hours an
18/06/2013
Scottish Renewables has raised concerns over future cuts in financial support, known as the Feed-in Tariff. The cuts, which are planned for later this year, could significantly impact on the development of small scale hydropower, meaning projects worth £23m per year in Scotland could be affected.
18/06/2013
There are reports that Glasgow's Hydro centre will open on time, despite being hit with a series of delays and problems. According to STV, bosses for the new £125m complex have said they are hopeful it will open on time, but there are still a few issues which could cause a delay. Earlier this mon
18/06/2013
West Dunbartonshire Council has unveiled plans for a new cemetery at Garshake Road. The site, which is 2.16Ha, has been identified in the Local Plan and can accommodate up to 600 lairs. Proposals for the cemetery include a shelter and a memorial garden and wall where relatives would be able to p
18/06/2013
Work has started on a £1.1m upgrade of the waste water network in Crossford, near Dunfermline, Scottish Water has said. The upgrade will involve the construction of a 2km sewer from a new pumping station at Scottish Water's former Milesmark Waste Water Treatment Works. The new system will link u
18/06/2013
East Renfrewshire Council has said the first stage of consultation regarding the proposed £22m Barrhead High School has come to a close. Staff, pupils and parents were given the opportunity to share their opinions on the plans at special sessions. The high school and its associated primary schools
18/06/2013
A two-day public exhibition is to be held by Moray Council regarding proposals for the new Elgin High School. The event will allow visitors to see the outline proposal for the replacement school before the detailed design is developed. It will also include site plans, illustrations and a photo mon
18/06/2013
The final preparations are underway on Dundee's new Olympia swimming pool. The £31.5m project also includes an adaptable 50 metre competition pool, a wave pool, rapid river, dive pool, flumes and a fitness suite, as well as a multi-storey car park. A total of £3m has been invested in the facility
17/06/2013
South Ayrshire Council and the Energy Agency have secured more than £800,000 in funding from the Scottish Government to allow householders benefit from a range of home energy improvements. Improvements works include solid wall, cavity and loft insulation, which will allow people to live in dry, war
17/06/2013
The Scottish Government has approved the outline business care for a new £200m general hospital in Dumfries. The 350-bed hospital will also include 104 staff residencies, a helipad and almost 1,000 parking spaces. NHS Dumfries and Galloway said it hopes work will begin on the project in 2015 at
17/06/2013
Dundee City Council is expected to meet today to discuss plans for three new schools in the area. The Council's Education Committee is meeting after a wide consultation with parents. Plans for the new primary and nursery schools in Coldside, Menzieshill and Strathmartine have been out for discussi
17/06/2013
The Highland Fisheries Local Action Group (FLAG) has awarded funding of £30,098 to Wick Harbour Authority. The money will be used for the purchase of additional infrastructure and will increase the capacity at Wick Marina from 72 to 84 berths. Interpretation panels will also be installed in the ar
17/06/2013
West Dunbartonshire Council's maintenance and repairs service has been awarded a new two-year contract with Clydebank Housing Association (CHA), Housing News has said. The Direct Labour Organisation (DLO) has been one of CHA's approved contractors for the last four years. During this time, the firm
17/06/2013
US businessman Donald Trump is understood to have been heavily criticised by Aberdeenshire Council after he repeatedly breached planning rules. According to The Scotsman, the breaches relate to the 67-year-old's controversial golf resort at Menie. Mr Trump recently submitted an application to buil
17/06/2013
Improvement works worth more than £2m are nearing completion in Dundee city centre. The programme to create new landscaping, lighting, drainage and other improvements to the City Square was established to ensure there are areas of newly laid paving for graduation ceremonies taking place this week.
17/06/2013
The Highland Council has confirmed the second and final phase of ground condition investigations are under way in relation to the Inverness West Link road. Holequest Ltd, who carried out a majority of the ground investigation works for the first phase of the project, will also be responsible for t
17/06/2013
Aberdeenshire Council's Policy & Resources Committee has approved plans for the future of education provision in Portlethen. Action will now be taken to source the funding needed for a planned £12.9m primary school for Hillside. If successful, the building could be completed by June 2016. An ass
17/06/2013
A new £75m Murray Royal hospital in Perth has been officially opened by First Minister Alex Salmond. The hospital will provide state-of-the-art mental health treatment facilities and is the first to be delivered under the non-profit distributing (NPD) scheme. The scheme is one of the largest inv
14/06/2013
The Scottish Government has granted planning consent for a proposed wind farm at Tom Nan Clach, north-east Tomatin. However, planning consent for the Glenkirk wind farm, also in north-east Tomatin, was rejected. The proposed Tom Nan Clach wind farm will be developed by Infinergy and is expected t
14/06/2013
The first images of the new Lasswade High School Centre have been released by Midlothian Council. Construction work is almost complete on the project, with the new community facilities expected to open on 1 July. The school is expected to officially open after the summer, in time for the new schoo
14/06/2013
Plans have been approved for the first phase of the Aberdeen International Business Park, off Dyce Drive. Planning permission in principle for a business park and associated infrastructure works was granted in November. The concept for phase one will see a high quality office campus constructed i
14/06/2013
Scottish Water has confirmed it is to start a major project on Mull later this year. The project will improve services on Mull and will be one of the largest and most important it has carried out in the Inner Hebrides. The investment, worth £5.7m, will provide clearer, fresher drinking water to
14/06/2013
The final stage of funding has been approved for a £2.3m water sports centre in Glasgow. According to the BBC, Glasgow City Council has set aside £276,000 for the Pinkston Paddlesports Centre at the Pinkston Basin of the Forth and Clyde Canal, Port Dundas. The centre is expected to open in Septe
14/06/2013
A report has been submitted to Ofgem regarding the £780m Western Isles subsea cable. The document is thought to discuss why a subsea cable is needed to carry electricity generated on the Western Isles to the mainland. Scottish Hydro-Electric Transmission Ltd, which is a division of energy giant
14/06/2013
Plans for the UK's largest community-owned wind farm has been given a £1m grant from the Big Lottery Fund. The Beinn Ghrideag wind farm, owned and managed by the Point and Sandwick Development Trust (PSDT) on the Isle of Lewis, has been proposed for a site of common grazing land about four miles w
14/06/2013
Edinburgh Council has topped a new tenant satisfaction survey. Over 1,000 council tenants took part in the survey, which revealed that satisfaction ratings are among the highest of any similar landlord in the UK. Of those participants, 89% were satisfied with the quality of their home, giving the
13/06/2013
The Scottish Government is to introduce new subsidies for offshore wind power projects, Scottish Renewables has said. One of the incentives aims to support the generation of electricity from offshore tests and demonstration sites, while the other will provide financial support for pilot projects.
13/06/2013
Householders in every council area in Scotland are to benefit from almost £50m of funding which will make their homes warmer and easier and cheaper to heat. They will also be more environmentally friendly, Housing Minister Margaret Burgess has said. The Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scot
13/06/2013
Moray Councillors have approved an outline planning application for a retail development on Common Good land at Forres. The application, which was submitted by Aberden-based Redco Milne, relates to a supermarket, petrol station and three retail units on a designated site at Bogton Road. The deci
13/06/2013
Fife Council are to submit plans for a small wind power development at Lochhead Recycling Centre in Dunfermline. The report will go before councillors on the Executive Committee recommending two 50kW wind turbines are built on the recycling and waste site. The proposed turbines are expected to p
13/06/2013
Home building industry body, Homes for Scotland, has elected Jim Preston as Chairman for the next 12 months. Mr Preston, 48, is Group Managing Director of Veitchi Group and has been involved in the construction and house building sector for 28 years. He first joined the organisation's Board five y
13/06/2013
Social housing provider Manor Estates Housing Association has secured a £7.5m finance deal with Santander Corporate & Commercial. According to Scottish Housing News, the 10-year loan facility will provide funding for the development of two new mid-market sites for the Edinburgh-based firm. The ne
13/06/2013
Fife Council have approved plans to create a new community for older people in central St Andrews. Bield Housing & Care, has been providing quality housing and services for older people in Scotland for more than 40 years and has identified the Walled Garden development in the St Leonards area as a
13/06/2013
Work is continuing to progress well on Argyll and Bute Council's second year of a three-year roads capital reconstruction programme. The programme was originally valued at £21m, and this year has received an additional £1.2m to bring the overall budget to £22.2m. The local authority added that i
13/06/2013
Graham Construction has been appointed to work on the second phase of work on the Lews Castle Museum. According to the BBC, the Scottish division of the firm will work to convert the interior of the property, as well as build a new extension. The first phase of the project hit problems when contr
13/06/2013
The A. Proctor Group, who manufactures Procheck Premier 500, has said the product has now been used by three large schools at the Portlaoise Education Campus site in Ireland. The suppliers, U-Value Insulation of Dublin made the decision following discussions with the Blairgowrie-based firm. Ed C
12/06/2013
The number of homes sold in the UK over the past three months has reached its highest level since January 2010, according to the latest RICS residential market survey. The survey revealed chartered surveyors in the UK sold an average of 17.9 properties in the three months to May. The figure is sti
12/06/2013
The single largest intake of Historic Scotland traditional skills apprentices have taken up their posts today with 18 new recruits starting their four-year training programme. The new intake includes 15 stonemasons, two electricians and one joiner, all of whom will take part in an induction program
12/06/2013
An announcement regarding funding on a new £200m general hospital in Dumfries is "imminent", according to the BBC. It is understood the Scottish Government has been considering an outline business case for the proposed development. If financial backing for the project is secured, NHS Dumfries an
12/06/2013
Work on a new £44m Community Campus in Port Glasgow has reached a major milestone, Inverclyde Council has said. The building envelope of the the Slaemuir complex has now been completed by contractors GRAHAM Construction, making the structure wind and water tight. The new building is set to be the
12/06/2013
Edinburgh Council are reminding residents to submit their views regarding a consultation on land development in and around the capital before it closes. The consultation is due to close this Friday at 5pm. The Council's proposed Local Development Plan outlines its policies and proposals to help g
12/06/2013
Spittal-based Caithness Stone Industries has been placed into administration, RSM Tenon has said. The decision was made following severe cash flow problems due increasing competition, heavy investment expenditure and rising operating costs. The Spittal-based firm, which was founded in 1999, is a l
12/06/2013
East Lothian Council has announced its support for the restoration of a church ruin in North Berwick. The local authority will work alongside North Berwick Environment Trust and the North Berwick Community Council to move forward with a proposal relating to St Andrew's Kirk. The proposals would se
12/06/2013
Plans have been submitted for a new housing development and care home at the former Tesco site in Main Street, Wishaw. Wishaw and District Housing Association purchased the site three years ago. Following a series of remedial works, an extensive process to develop design proposals in conjunction
12/06/2013
Stirling Council has unveiled a £50,000 fund to help improve the local area, with community projects being selected to benefit. The Council's Environment and Housing Committee approved a total of 11 community projects to share in the allocated funding. The amounts range from £1,100 towards repla
12/06/2013
Scottish building contractor Cruden Building & Renewals has started work on the BRE Refurbished House. It is one of 10 demonstration homes being built on the BRE Innovation Park @ Ravenscraig that will be used to shape future housing in the country. Using both historical design information and t
11/06/2013
A new social housing development in Ayr has received support from the Scottish Government. The £1.2m project, which is being delivered in partnership by South Ayrshire Council and Robertson Homes, will see 15 new apartments constructed at Seaforth Road. The scheme will also support 30 jobs durin
11/06/2013
Springfield Properties has signed a deal with Muirhouse Housing Association to deliver 202 new affordable homes to the Muirhouse region. According to Scottish Housing News, the project will see both new jobs and skills brought to the local area and will address a cross-section of housing need with
11/06/2013
Highland officials are reported to have advised the local authority to approve a wind farm off northern Scotland. According to Renewable Energy News, the wind farm in question involves SSE and Repsol's plans for a 1000MW Beatrice wind farm in the Moray Firth. Planning papers are now being sent t
11/06/2013
Work has officially started on a new state-of-the-art sports facility at Peebles High School. The school, which is in the Scottish Borders, should see the centre up and running by April 2012 and will serve the school and the wider community. As part of the project, a new indoor four-court games h
11/06/2013
The Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has appointed four construction firms to its new contractor framework. The firms will deliver the majority of HIE's building projects across the region. The agreement, which will last up to four years, will see Galliford Try Construction Ltd (trading as
11/06/2013
A £3.15m fund has been unveiled to help install a Scotland-wide network of full-sized 3G pitches for youth football and rugby development. The CashBack for Pitches Fund will use money seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act to help install synthetic grass pitches, with a focus on projects working wi
11/06/2013
Cousland Smiddy is to receive a £35,000 grant from Historic Scotland. According to The Midlothian Advertiser, the smiddy is one of just a few examples of a working smiddy in Scotland. It also has its associated cottage and tool shed. Last week, it was revealed by Cabinet Secretary for culture and
11/06/2013
A design proposal has been submitted by City Architecture Office for a new community centre in Irvine. According to Urban Realm, the facility in Fullarton will replace the existing, but outdated, building. The £650k project has been commissioned by Fullarton Community Association and will see a ne
11/06/2013
Another empty shop in Leven, Fife, has undergone redevelopment with the help of the Levenmouth Vacant Property Grant. Fiona's Diner is the latest business to take advantage of the grant scheme from Fife Council. The new-start café business taken over the ground and first floor units at 74 High Str
11/06/2013
Firefighters have been tackling a blaze at Glasgow Southern General Hospital. It is the second fire to hit a major construction site in the city in as many days. Emergency services were called to the site where contractor Brookfield Multiplex is currently working on a new hospital building short
10/06/2013
Turner & Townsend has been appointed to project manage the construction of a £20m office building in the Dalmarnock area of Glasgow. The project will see a site of vacant land on the banks of the River Clyde redeveloped into 120,000sq ft of Grade A office accommodation spread across a new five-sto
10/06/2013
Construction on Fife's newest leisure centre is nearing completion as it prepares to open later this summer. The £21.1m Michael Woods Sports & Leisure Centre in Glenrothes is due to open in late July. A defect which was detected last month has also been rectified and the final touches are now be
10/06/2013
Work to install overhead and underground cables for Edinburgh's trams is to begin today. Contractors will work to hang power wires overhead and pull miles of cables and communication lines through underground ducts around the city centre. A testing phase will then be carried out once it is complet
10/06/2013
Three people have suffered minor injuries after a tower crane dropped its load of building materials onto a street in Edinburgh. According to the Scotsman, eye-witnesses to the incident on Friday said the crane's load-bearing straps snapped. Timber and glass were then dispersed over Great Junction
10/06/2013
A number of meetings are to be held to update the public on the Borders railway line, the BBC has said. Construction work has been ongoing along the route of the Borders to Edinburgh railway line. Work on the project, which is valued at £220m, began on the route earlier this year and as part of th
10/06/2013
The Highland Council has said it is going against the trend of declining house building in Scotland, following a delivery of new homes throughout the region. Council Leader Councillor Drew Hendry made the comments after reports suggested the construction of new homes in Scotland had fallen to a 65
10/06/2013
A new design for Leith Walk, as part of the Leith Programme, has won the support of local residents and organisations. Earlier this year, following a comprehensive public consultation, Edinburgh Council announced it would be seeking additional funding from the Scottish Government in order to carry
10/06/2013
Orkney's new swimming pool is to open later this month following a period of construction work. The facility at Pickaquoy Centre was handed over to the Council on Friday before it is handed over to the Picky Centre this week. Once it is handed over, work will then begin to install equipment in t
10/06/2013
Clackmannanshire's Enterprise and Environment Committee has agreed in principal to invest £20k a year for the next four years in the Inner Forth Landscape Initiative. The project will help conserve, enhance and celebrate the landscape of the Inner Forth Estuary. In financial terms, it is thought t
10/06/2013
East Dunbartonshire Council has been short-listed for the Scottish Government's annual Scottish Awards for Quality in Planning. The Council's Planning & Housing Teams worked together to deliver an extensive public consultation about affordable housing last August and their efforts have been recogn
07/06/2013
Plans have been rejected for a proposed 17-turbine wind farm in Caithness. Energy Minister Fergus Ewing refused consent today for the facility at Dunbeath Estate as he said the impact on the character of the nearby wild land was too great. He also said he had considered that the significant cumula
07/06/2013
Owners of empty homes in Edinburgh are being encouraged to bring them back into use. As part of the Edinburgh Empty Homes Initiative, they are being supported to transform the properties into affordable, mid-market rent homes. The Edinburgh Empty Homes Task Force was set up in 2012 to look at wa
07/06/2013
A public consultation on the proposed redevelopment of Sauchie Main Street is to close on Monday 10 June. The feedback received from the consultations will ultimately influence the proposals published by Clackmannanshire Council. The plans are the first under the umbrella of the Village and Small
07/06/2013
Plans have been unveiled by Dumfries and Galloway College to develop a new sports facility within the campus. The £250k investment would see current office space transformed into a fitness suite, including exercise equipment, changing rooms and a reception area. It will add a further 232.1sq m o
07/06/2013
Edinburgh's Tron Kirk is set to become a visitor centre, Edinburgh World Heritage has said. The landmark, which is situated on Edinburgh's Royal Mile, will re-tell the story of Scotland's World Heritage Sites. Conservation organisation, Edinburgh World Heritage, submitted the plans to the owner o
07/06/2013
Plans for a new culture and leisure centre for Irvine town centre has received approval from North Ayrshire Council. The £21m centre was supported by the Council's Planning Committee who approved plans for the state-of-the-art leisure centre which will incorporate the historic B-Listed Town House
07/06/2013
A major river restoration project has been launched in Edinburgh. The development is expected to lead the way for future housing and other developments within the Edinburgh BioQuarter. The Niddrie Burn Restoration Project, which cost £11m saw 1.8km of the Niddrie Burn realigned to form a river co
07/06/2013
A project to bring vacant and derelict land back into use has won an international award. According to the BBC, the Glasgow-wide Stalled Spaces scheme was given the 2013 City to City Barcelona FAD (Fostering Arts and Design) Award. The initiative aims to provide funding and ideas for local people
07/06/2013
Proposals to approve £55k of funding towards construction of a new community hall at St Combs, Aberdeenshire, are to be considered by councillors. St Combs Hall was destroyed in a fire in 2009. Ever since then, the community – under the St Combs Hall Association (SCHA) – have been working towards
07/06/2013
Aberdeenshire Council are to discuss proposals regarding a potential third primary school in Portlethen. The proposals will go before the Policy and Resources Committee next week. Portlethen's two existing primary schools, Portlethen Primary and Fishermoss Primary, both lie to the east of the A90
06/06/2013
Councillors in Aberdeenshire are to consider proposals for the restoration of a historic outdoor swimming pool. A report, which is due to go before the Policy and Resources Committee next week, recommended councillor approve proposals for essential repair works to be carried out on the art deco fa
06/06/2013
More than £820k has been awarded to community groups and organisations from various renewable energy funds in the South Lanarkshire area. The largest single amount of £620k was awarded to the Biggar Museum Trust for the construction of a new museum building. The money comes from the Clyde Wind Farm
06/06/2013
Work is to be carried out in this year on refurbishing a road bridge over the River Spey. The redecking of Boat o' Brig at Orton will be funded by additional money awarded to Moray Council by the Scottish Government for capital projects. The local authority has been given an extra £890k on the co
06/06/2013
Transport Minister Keith Brown has visited Aberdeen ahead of construction work being carried out on a long-awaited bypass. According to The Scotsman, Mr Brown toured the site of the former International School of Aberdeen. It is due to be demolished to allow the construction of the £745m Aberdeen W
06/06/2013
Proposals to secure a dedicated facility for processing household rubbish through the Zero Waste: Edinburgh and Midlothian project are continuing after three bidders were invited to submit detailed plans. FCC Medio Ambiente SA, Urbaser and Viridor Waste Management were invited to submit detailed pr
06/06/2013
The Highland Council is to establish a new company to help apprentices find work. The scheme will bring together a number of apprentices that could then by hired by local construction companies. The scheme, which is to be called the Highland Shared Apprentice Scheme Ltd., will be administered by
06/06/2013
Plans for a new £22m Barrhead High School are continuing to progress with the appointment of the company who will design the new premises. Earlier this week, East Renfrewshire Council announced that Building Design Partnership (BDP) has been awarded the contract to design the school. Discussions w
06/06/2013
A health facility which has won awards for its design, has had to carry out almost £100k of repairs. According to the BBC, the Dumfries Dental Centre, which opened five years ago, suffered water damage due to problems with its flat roof and guttering. Sitting adjacent to the town's infirmary, the
06/06/2013
Work on the new £36m Ellon Academy Community Campus is to begin later this month. The contract has been awarded to FMP Joint Venture Limited after the project tender was approved by the Policy and Resources Committee in April. The school and community campus will include a 1,200-capacity school,
06/06/2013
A new tennis facility has opened at Cowan Park, Barrhead. The initiative, which cost £82k, saw the old blaes tennis courts in the park replaced by new courts with a performance surface. The renovation of the courts was funded by the Scottish Government's 'cashback for communities' fund as well a
05/06/2013
Work is to start later this month on a £2.4m project to transform Williamsburgh Court. The scheme is part of a wider £138m programme being undertaken by Renfrewshire Council to ensure all of its homes meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard by 2015. The Paisley tower block is being given a new
05/06/2013
A construction worker has been shot while working on a site in Galashiels, the British Transport Police has said. It is thought he was shot and injured by an air weapon pellet. The incident happened around 9.30am on Tuesday, near Hillside Drive and Edinburgh Road in Galashiels. The man, 33, sus
05/06/2013
The next stage of the Dunoon CHORD project is underway in Argyll and Bute, as work starts on the detailed design and planning phase of an £8.6m Waterfront project. The work will see a major redevelopment and refurbishment of the Queen's Hall, road realignment works, the creation of a new public sp
05/06/2013
A bridge in Aberdeenshire is to be restored after it received a £100k grant, according to The Scotsman. The Huntly Castle Bridge, in Huntly, partially collapsed four years ago due to severe winter weather. It was once the main route out of the town and crosses the River Deveron at the main entra
05/06/2013
Aberdeen City Council has concluded an unconditional missive for the sale of a residential site in the West End of the city. The multi-million pound deal for Pinewood and Hazledene was agreed between the council and the developer Dandara Limited, on behalf of the Common Good Fund and Robert Gordon
05/06/2013
Transport Scotland has revealed the three front-runners in the contest to name the new £1.6bn Forth Replacement Crossing bridge. From the shortlist of five choices, the most supported names, in alphabetical order, are Caledonia Bridge, Queensferry Crossing and St Margaret's Crossing. Subsequentl
05/06/2013
The final touches are being carried out to a new £31.2m Olympia leisure centre in Dundee, Urban Realm has said. The new leisure pool and multi-storey car park has been designed by Dundee City Council's architectural services division, and is situated on East Marketgait. As part of the redevelopm
05/06/2013
North Lanarkshire Council is looking to hear from the public regarding the future of Kilsyth town centre. A number of drop-in sessions will be held in the town from Monday 10 June to Saturday 15 June for residents, visitors and businesses to give their views on how the town centre can be improved.
05/06/2013
The GMB has said it is to lodge claims in the High Court for compensation on behalf of some workers whose names appeared on a construction blacklist. It is understood the union is seeking compensation for 70 workers. It states the clients had their job prospects and reputations ruined as a resul
05/06/2013
Plans for a new one-way traffic system in Edinburgh have been postponed due to business concerns. The council had proposed a 12-month pilot scheme for the system, which could help the city centre cope with its newly-installed trams. It was thought traffic would run in a single direction loop around
04/06/2013
Updated housing statistics released today by Scotland’s Chief Statistician reveal that there were 3,755 new build completions in Q4 of 2012. This however, is a 9% decline compared to the same quarter in 2011. It brings the total number of new builds for the year to end December 2012 to 14,877, dow
04/06/2013
A former church in Glasgow's Castlemilk area has received £500k of funding from Historic Scotland. The fund will help the building be converted as a legacy of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. The Historic Building Repair Grant for St Martin's Church was announced alongside nine other projects
04/06/2013
A report is to be considered by Edinburgh's Transport and Environment Committee which proposes how an investment of £12m should be spent improving the city's roads infrastructure. At a budget meeting in February, the Council approved the allocation of an additional £12m for roads and footway invest
04/06/2013
Communities using the A9 are being given the opportunity to have a first look at the proposed dualling designs through a series of public exhibitions. The exhibitions, which will take place in a number of venues over the next two weeks, will provide residents and businesses with the opportunity to
04/06/2013
Donald Trump is understood to be visiting Scotland this week to press ahead with plans for a new golf course in Aberdeenshire. According to the Scotsman, the business main hopes to construct a second championship course which he hopes to name after his Scottish mother. It is understood the new c
04/06/2013
Strainstall has won a multi-million pound contract to monitor a major new Scottish transport project. The company, which is based in Cowes, will provide support to the new £790m Forth Replacement Crossing, a cable-stayed bridge which will carry a motorway with two lines of traffic plus a hard shoul
04/06/2013
Midlothian Council has awarded Alauna Renewable Energy (ARE) full planning permission to design, build, finance and operate an anaerobic digestion (AD) facility at Milerhill, Midlothian, Resource Magazine has said. ARE is a joint venture set up between Kelda Water Services and Scottish Water Horiz
04/06/2013
Members of the Highland Council's City of Inverness Area Committee have welcomed and endorsed the role of the council in their partnership with the Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) at the new Inverness Campus. The campus is being labelled as a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the region a
04/06/2013
An innovative new partnership between Renfrewshire Council and one of its contractors, Land Engineering (Scotland) Ltd., has provided three unemployed men the opportunity to learn new new skills and get a job. Kyle Mills from Inchinnan, William Fulton from Ferguslie, and Robert MacMillan from Renfr
04/06/2013
Scottish Water has announced the completion of a new £1.8m award-winning waste water facility in the village of Cartland, South Lanarkshire. The project, which took a year to complete, will see the new treatment system as part of a wider ambitious plan. The plan involves installing a zero/low carb
03/06/2013
East Renfrewshire Council has said its new sports centre will open later this month. Eastwood High Sports Centre will have state-of-the-art facilities which the community will be able to use and replaces the old Eastwood High School Games Hall. The new facility will open on Monday 24 June. The p
03/06/2013
A new affordable housing development has officially opened in East Dunbartonshire. The development by Link Groups is located at Auchinairn Gate, Bishopbriggs, and was opened by Council Depute Leader and Housing Convenor, Councillor Ashay Ghai. Work started on the £5m project in September 2011 usin
03/06/2013
Work is scheduled to begin on a new single malt whisky distillery and visitor centre in Fife, according to the BBC. Kingsbarns Company of Distillers Ltd said it had gained final planning permission to renovate and convert an existing farm steading near Kingsbarns for the facility. Last year, the
03/06/2013
Planning consent has been granted for a combined heat and power biomass plant at the Port of Grangemouth. The plant is expected to generate up to 120MW of renewable electricity, which can power around 130,000 homes. It will also supply local businesses and industry with up to 200 megawatts thermal
03/06/2013
Infrastructure improvements for pedestrians and cyclists will be the centrepiece of a trial scheme in Edinburgh. The initiative is set to take place over 12 months and aims to create a more accessible, welcoming and attractive city centre area as part of wider efforts to revitalise the capital. T
03/06/2013
The Scottish Borders council is to discuss plans for an equestrian centre in the area. According to the BBC, the plans have been submitted by four-time Olympic medallist Ian Stark. It is understood Mr Stark wants to build the new centre at Greenhill Farm. Stark and his wife currently manage a cen
03/06/2013
A new report has claimed the Scottish economy gains £9m a year from construction projects in London. In its report, which was produced by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), business group London First said a total of 2010 Scottish jobs were also supported on an annual basis as a result of London constr
03/06/2013
Glasgow's Science tower could reopen to the public, Urban Realm has said. A team of engineers have been appointed to draw up designs and the subsequent costs for the safe operation of the 127m tall tower. Since its construction, the building has been hit with numerous technical problems brought a
03/06/2013
Major roadworks are to get underway on the A724 Glasgow Road in Blantyre this week. The resurfacing will begin on Monday 3 June and last until Friday 7 June, and will take place between Parkburn Court and Whistelberry Road roundabout. The 'Repave' process will be used and carried out by Colas Lt
03/06/2013
Work has started to restore the Auchinlea landfill site to green space. The site at Cleland, which is owned and managed by North Lanarkshire Council, had reached its capacity was closed in March. As a result, a full restoration and capping of the site will take place, and involves placing a layer
