Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
Scotland Construction News Archive for August 2013
30/08/2013
The consortium behind the Caltongate development project has said the revived plans could create up to 2,500 jobs and 145 new homes. According to the BBC, the consortium, headed by Artisan Real Estate Investors, has now submitted a detailed planning application for the site. In 2009, the collaps
30/08/2013
Edinburgh Council has confirmed that a developer has been appointed for the new Pennywell housing regeneration project. The creation of more than 700 affordable and private homes in the north of the capital is a step closer to completion when a preferred bidder was unveiled for the multi-million p
30/08/2013
The Scottish Government has turned down planning permission for a wind farm in the Scottish Borders. However, it has also approved condition changes for a development in Dumfries and Galloway. Energiekontor were looking to construct a 10-turbine wind farm near Ayton in Berwickshire, but it was n
30/08/2013
Plans to replace the abandoned City Garden Project in Aberdeen has received support from Scotland's political parties, according to STV. Halliday Fraser Munro architects have lodged plans to construct a civic square above the city's railway station, with the main entrance moving to Union Street. A
30/08/2013
Scottish Water is set to start work on the final phase of its major investment to improve water mains across Irvine. The project, valued at £4.5m and which commenced in 2011, will provide clearer, fresher drinking water to 22,000 customers in the area when it is completed later this year. The sc
30/08/2013
Work is underway to construct a new retirement village in Dundee, Scottish Housing News has said. Redwood Retreats, situated on the Linlathen Estate to the east of the city, will provide 60 luxury retirement homes in landscaped grounds. The development, worth £15m, is being undertaken by Muirfiel
30/08/2013
West Lothian Council has been given the go ahead to build a new housing with care facility in the centre of Bathgate. The £6.4m development will offer 30 one-bedroom flats for older people at Rosemount Court, and will also include shared support facilities including a dining area, laundry area, fo
30/08/2013
East Renfrewshire Council has said sections of wall at Mearns Kirk Church's cemetery re in urgent need of repair. As a result, the Newton Mearns South Area Forum has pledged £4,000 to allow repairs to start as soon as possible. Over the years, the headstones and walls surrounding the site have b
29/08/2013
Swedish energy company, Vattenfall, has submitted plans for a £190m wind farm in the south west of Scotland. The company said the 50-turbine, 170MW South Kyle Wind Farm development could power more than 90,000 homes. If approved, the project would be located near Patna, Carsphairn, Dalmellington
29/08/2013
Aberdeenshire Councillors have approved funds of £250,000 to help home owners in the area. Home owners within Aberdeenshire are now able to apply for a loan from a minimum value of £5,000 for home improvements. The fund will be administered by the local authority's Social Work and Housing Servic
29/08/2013
Argyll and Bute Council has confirmed another empty property in Campbeltown has been restored under the Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) team. With the support of the Council and the Heritage Lottery Fund, with the balance being paid for by the owner, the empty historic building has been refurb
29/08/2013
It has been reported that the Highland Council has said funds should be set aside to help restore an historic building. According to the BBC, Councillors agreed that up to £70,000 should be granted towards the restoration of the historic Black Isle church. Kirkmichael, at Balblair, was construct
29/08/2013
Fife Council has said its planned construction projects, to improve the school estate, reached a 96% completion rate during the summer holidays. Almost 100 individual projects, jointly managed by the Council's Education, Property and Building services, were completed. They ranged in value from £
29/08/2013
First Minister Alex Salmond has announced the main road running through the southern Kintyre peninsula is to become a trunk road within the next year. Once the process is completed, Scottish Ministers would assume responsibility for operations and maintenance of the 51km stretch of the A83 between
29/08/2013
Aberdeen Council is holding a formal consultation regarding proposals to build two new amalgamated schools in the area. The first proposal by the local authority is to close Bramble Brae and Quarryhill Schools and create a new school within the existing Quarryhill building and campus. The new faci
29/08/2013
A £2m project to reconstruct the Crosshill Street railway bridge in Motherwell has been completed, according to North Lanarkshire Council. As a result, the traffic restrictions that were in place in the area, can also be removed. The initiative was funded by Network Rail and the local authority.
28/08/2013
The Highland Council City Leader, Ian Brown, is to push for the quick implementation of Priority Action Status for the city centre. The move would help address the problem of city centre properties that are lying empty, but could be used for some much-needed housing in the area. Priority Action
28/08/2013
Construction firm, Springfield, has predicted a 50% increase in its turnover for the year due to a growth in sales. According to the BBC, the firm posted an annual profit of £3.5m, with a turnover of £47m. Both amounts are down on the previous figure which was boosted following the firm's acquisit
28/08/2013
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has revoked the operating licence of an energy-from-waste plant on the outskirts of Dumfries. SEPA issued the notice to the operators of the Dargavel plant. It was issued to the firm last Friday and comes into effect on 23 September. The agency
28/08/2013
The Scottish Government has said it is "well on-track" to deliver on its national affordable homes pledge. First Minister Alex Salmond stated the Government is on track with its commitment to deliver 30,000 affordable homes, including at least 20,000 for social rent. The Minister made the commen
28/08/2013
Fife Council has said a major road improvement project at Chapel Level in Kirkcaldy is almost complete. The year-long contract, worth £3.6m, has involved:
28/08/2013
Midlothian Council has said it is to work with the charity Houses for Heroes. The partnership aims to build low-cost homes for injured servicemen and women. At a cabinet meeting earlier this week, Midlothian Councillors agreed to support the move, which could see a number of homes constructed on
28/08/2013
A consultation exercise is to take place regarding the two potential sites shortlisted for the relocation of the new Carrongrange School. A report on the new facility, which is due to be completed in 2016, was discussed at the Education Executive earlier this week, with approval granted for a form
28/08/2013
Details of site visits by Councillors looking at planning applications within the Garioch area are to be made available to everyone for the first time. From Tuesday (27 August), residents in Garioch will be able to see details of planned site visits by the Aberdeenshire Area Committee online. Up
27/08/2013
An Edinburgh teenager has overcome difficult economic circumstances to secure a work placement with GRAHAM Construction as part of charity Action for Children Scotland's Youthbuild initiative. The placement with the construction firm has seen a reversal of fortunes for 19-year-old Prestonfield resi
27/08/2013
Network Rail has today (27 August) revealed further plans for Scotland's Forth Bridge. The plans could allow the public access to the railway bridge for the first time. A feasibility study carried out has identified two initiatives which could provide access to the bridge. One is a visitor cen
27/08/2013
Proposals for new leisure and community facilities in Banff and Macduff have been unveiled to the public. The plans were shared at a meeting yesterday (26 August). To shape the plans and ensure that the final proposals are right for the two communities, architects have used feedback from local re
27/08/2013
Housing Minister Margaret Burgess has said house-building across all sectors remains highest in Scotland, than the rest of the UK. The announcement comes despite a fall in the completion of new homes. New figures released by the Scottish Government highlight that in 2012/13, the number of new bu
27/08/2013
Councillor Cammy Day, Housing Leader for the City of Edinburgh Council, has said the new Pennywell housing project is important for the city. The plans for the development include the construction of 715 affordable and private homes in Pennywell, which is located in the Muirhouse area. The homes
27/08/2013
Scottish Water has said it has completed a major upgrade of sections of the network of water mains in Glasgow city centre. The work, which involved replacing give miles of ageing distribution mains beneath some of the city's streets, will help deliver improved services to thousands of people acros
27/08/2013
A temporary footbridge, stretching 39.6m, has been craned into place across Kilmarnock Water, downstream from the Dean Ford. Recently, preparations have been underway with foundation and ancillary works taking place on site, while the footbridge has been assembled on site using a small crane. Wi
27/08/2013
Atlas Copco S Geobor coring equipment was selected by drilling contractor Drilcorp on a prestigious contract for the British Geological Survey (BGS) earlier this year. The contract comprised of efficient core drilling to a depth of more than 500m near the England-Scotland Borders town of Berwick-o
23/08/2013
East Ayrshire Council has said more than 1,000 people affected by the controversial 'bedroom tax', are chasing just 105 vacant one-bedroom council homes in the area. The local authority confirmed this week that 1,161 applicants are on the waiting list for a single-room home to try and avoid a redu
23/08/2013
Road users are being advised that essential maintenance works are to be carried out to Feshie Bridge from Monday 2 September. As a result, the Highland Council has said a temporary road closure will be required on a short length of the B970 Kingussie to Speybridge Road, over Feshie Bridge. The l
23/08/2013
Emergency repair works are to continue on the slipway at Ardgour from Monday 26 August. The works will last for a period of four weeks, the Highland Council has said. The repairs are necessary to ensure the operation of the Corran Ferry service can continue uninterrupted. The work will be carr
23/08/2013
The Highland Council is asking for local people to submit suggestions for inclusion in the future planning of Caithness and Sutherland. Work has already commenced on the forthcoming Caithness and Sutherland Local Development Plan (CaSPlan), but to assist with its production, the Council are inviti
23/08/2013
The new Michael Woods Sports & Leisure Centre in Glenrothes has been officially opened/ The council-funded facility is now the second of three to be opened as part of the Future of Leisure programme, which, once complete, will have seen the local authority invest £55m in new centres. The centres
23/08/2013
Work to restore the historic Murray Library in Anstruther, Fife, is continuing to progress, according to the council. The local authority is one of a number of organisations funding the restoration work at the listed building, and has contributed £200,000 towards the conversion of the former snook
23/08/2013
Edinburgh Council has said improving the quality of the reinstatement of the capital's roads and pavements by utility companies, once they have finished equipment repairs, will be the priority of a new working group. A proposal to revive the Edinburgh Road Works Ahead Agreement (ERWAA) is due to b
23/08/2013
A public consultation regarding what should be included in the new multi-million pound community sports facility planned for the area is to end next week. At a meeting in January, Aberdeenshire Councillor's agreed to include the project in the authority's Capital Plan. Since then, local people hav
23/08/2013
Fraserburgh bus station is to officially reopen next week following a £340,000 investment to improve facilities. Aberdeen Council carried out a major restoration project on the building to make it better and more attractive for users. It has now been refurbished inside and outside and has a new ro
23/08/2013
Aberdeen Council has said a southbound section of the bus lane on King Street – between the Errol Street and Seaforth Road junctions – is to be resurfaced. Work is scheduled to begin on the project on Friday evening (23 August). A number of traffic restrictions will be in place as a result, and
22/08/2013
Argyll and Bute Council has said an application to construct a wind farm in Cove has been withdrawn. The proposals were for the development of five wind turbines (up to 92.5m high) with associated control building, hardstandings, underground cabling and construction compound. This is in addition t
22/08/2013
Plans to construct a new headquarters in Aberdeen by an oil production company have been approved, according to the BBC. EnQuest's proposals were approved by Councillors and will see a base established in the former Aberdeen Seafood Park at Palmerston Road. The eight-storey building would house
22/08/2013
Moray Councillors have approved plans to develop nine new industrial units in Forres. The units, which will range in size from 70sq m to 220sq m, will be constructed at Waterford Circle and arranged in four blocks. The development is being undertaken in response to the increasing demand from loc
22/08/2013
A Local Transport Strategy for Edinburgh has outlined a series of policies and actions for the next five years which will help contribute to the sustainability of the capital. A draft report of the strategy is due to be presented to the Transport and Environment Committee on 27 August. The repor
22/08/2013
The Highland Council has said the management of the A9 trunk road will be discussed at the next East Sutherland and Edderton Ward Forum. Mr Iain McDonald from BEAR Scotland will be in attendance for the meeting on Monday 26 August. In April, BEAR Scotland took control of the five-year contract f
22/08/2013
A £5,000 grant from Inverclyde Council has allowed a Port Glasgow Boxing Club to carry out some much-needed renovations. Port Glasgow Victoria Boxing Club is just one of the successful applicants to receive £5,000 from the Council's Grant to Voluntary Organisations fund. The club, which moved in
22/08/2013
A five-year plan has been agreed by the Cabinet to clearly establish affordable housing priorities throughout East Ayrshire. The Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP) 2013/14 – 2017/18, is part of the Local Housing Strategy and is a vital document which sets out local priorities, as well as the
22/08/2013
A performance report has said that East Ayrshire Council is "progressing well" with its strategic priority to promote town centre living. The report was presented to the Cabinet earlier this week. It said: • significant progress is being made to deliver 205 affordable, new build houses on 13 h
21/08/2013
Edinburgh Airport has unveiled plans for a £150m investment programme. The proposals include a £25m expansion of the airport's terminal building. The expansion will create the foundations of the airport's ambitious growth plans and provide passengers with more space as well as a new state-of-the
21/08/2013
Aberdeen Council has said proposals for 65 new homes on the outskirts of Bucksburn have been recommended for approval. The planned development, located near Hopetoun Grange, would consist of five detached three-bedroom homes, 18 detached four-bedroom homes, 18 detached five-bedroom homes, eight de
21/08/2013
House-builder Persimmon Homes has recorded a large jump in its profits, following "improving customer demand" for its properties. In the company's half yearly report, underlying profits for the first six months of 2013 increased by 40% to £135m, up from £97m in the same period in 2012. Persimmon
21/08/2013
Transport Scotland has unveiled the preferred bidder for a £415m project to upgrade the motorway network in central Scotland. The Scottish Roads Partnership (SRP), a consortium with Ferrovial Agroman and Lagan, was named as the preferred bidder for the ambitious scheme. Work will start on the pr
21/08/2013
Town centres in Fife are seeing the benefits of a £500,000 cash injection from the local authority. In February, Fife Council agreed to use the funds to support one-off projects to help regenerate and build confidence within the local community. At a meeting of the Executive Committee yesterday
21/08/2013
Construction work is to begin on 25 new homes in Sauchie this week. The site of the former Forth Valley College annex in Hallpark is to become the location of Clackmannanshire Council's new supported housing facility, which will aim to alleviate homelessness in the area. The total cost of the pr
21/08/2013
Loreburn Housing Association has recently completed a major refurbishment project on four properties at Wellgreen, Dumfries. The development was funded by Loreburn Housing Association and carried out in partnership with the NHS Dumfries and Galloway Council. The project is intended to provide su
21/08/2013
First Minister Alex Salmond has confirmed that a £2m Active Places Fund has been set aside for a number of community projects as part of the Commonwealth Games legacy. Minister Salmond made the announcement, adding that the people people of Hawick would benefit from the latest round of the sports
21/08/2013
Scottish Water has said it is to improve services to its customers in the Hillend area, near Lugton, East Ayrshire. Three miles of water mains will be upgraded in the £500,000 investment which will improve the security of supply to properties in the area which have previously been affected by burs
21/08/2013
Community projects in the Borders have been visited by Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill. The projects aim to help offenders turn their backs on crime. As part of the trip, Mr MacAskill visited Selkirk Football Club and Hawick Cemetery to see improvements carried out through hard work by offende
20/08/2013
The Chairman of Moray Council's Planning and Regulatory Services Committee has welcomed a decision by Vento Ludens to withdraw its wind farm application. The proposals outlined a 19-turbine wind farm at Brown Muir, near Rothes. It is understood the company plans to come back with amended plans f
20/08/2013
Argyll and Bute Council has said it is to charge double the amount of council tax on long-term empty homes in the area as part of efforts to bring the properties back into use. From April 2014, as part of an initiative to increase access to affordable housing, the local authority will charge doubl
20/08/2013
Aberdeenshire Council is to hold a public meeting in Banff and Macduff on Monday 26 August 2013. The event, which will be held at Banff Academy, is the last of three planned consultations to engage with the residents and community and leisure groups in the area about proposed replacement facilitie
20/08/2013
The Highland Council has approved planning permission for an extension to the south quayside of Nigg. The approval will see Global Energy Nigg Ltd. create new berthing facilities for shipping as well as the establishment of additional hard standing and temporary lay down areas. The scheme highli
20/08/2013
The Highland Council has been reviewing its plans for the Torvean Golf Course/Sports Hub following a series of public consultation events held in April and May of this year. The events were held so the locals could view plans and share their thoughts on the proposals for the Inverness West Link sc
20/08/2013
Glasgow City Council is proposing to establish a "green" energy company. The announcement is in a move to tackle fuel poverty, cut carbon emissions and create new jobs in the city. Officers are currently looking at different models for the creation of a proposed Glasgow Energy Services Company (
20/08/2013
More than £40m is to be spent on tackling fuel poverty in almost 5,000 homes in Glasgow. Private homeowners and social housing tenants will benefit from the investment, which is designed to reduce energy costs, cut carbon emissions and help struggling families. Residents will benefit from the fu
20/08/2013
Scottish Water has said the next phase of a £5.3m scheme to improve drinking water in Aberdeen is to commence shortly. The initiative will provide around 20,000 homes in Aberdeen with improved drinking water quality. As part of the extensive project, around 100 miles of water pipes across the so
20/08/2013
Angus Council has welcomed the news that US firm, GE Oil and Gas, is to expand their Forties Road Business Park plant. The company concluded a new lease with the local authority, saying it was to expand its operations by a further three acres. It is estimated the investment will create more than
20/08/2013
The new £15.5m state-of-the-art Dumbarton Academy has opened its doors as the new school session gets underway. The school welcomes approximately 700 pupils into 57 bright, modern classrooms on a campus that measures 10,518m2. Head Teacher, Jacqui Lynam, greeted the pupils in the new assembly ha
19/08/2013
A new survey has revealed that Scottish recruitment firms have found a sharp rise in the number of people securing permanent jobs. The survey – the Bank of Scotland Report on Jobs – also discovered a strong increase in vacancies for both permanent and temporary jobs last month. The bank said the
19/08/2013
A £140,000 project that will improve pavements, junctions and parking in Kirkintilloch Town Centre is to commence later this month. East Dunbartonshire Council added that the work is being carried out as part of the Kirkintilloch Town Centre Masterplan, and will see the Townhead area of the town u
19/08/2013
Aberdeenshire Council has announced that a major maintenance programme to improve the condition of roads in the area this summer is nearing completion. It added that the annual road maintenance programme is well underway and some travel restrictions, diversions and road closures associated with the
19/08/2013
Highland Councillors have welcomed the decision to grant planning permission for a new school and community complex for Wick. The proposed development includes a new high school, primary school, pre-school, community swimming pool/fitness suite and a community library. Councillor Alasdair Christ
19/08/2013
Scottish Water has completed an important water mains upgrade in the west of Islay. As a result, the firm said hundreds of residents and visitors to the area are now benefiting from the improved water supply. The upgrade, which cost £120,000, involved improvements of around seven miles of water
19/08/2013
Plans to construct Grade A offices on the former Aberdeen Seafood Park site have been recommended for approval by city council planners. Members of the Development Management Sub-Committee will now consider the application. The proposals outline an eight-storey, 13,600 sq ft office block for oil
16/08/2013
Balfour Beatty Engineering Services (BBES) has started work on a £2.8m mechanical and electrical services contract for the new Police Scotland Custodial Suite. Hub North Scotland Ltd, the driving force behind the planning, procurement and delivery of community-based infrastructure projects across t
16/08/2013
Aberdeen City Council has completed a £16m environmental project to clean-up and restore the former Ness landfill site. The project took four years to complete. The restoration work was carried out by resource and recycling company SITA UK, which was appointed by the local authority to prevent t
16/08/2013
The Highland Council has said the first phase of construction of the River Ness flood defences is to start next week. Work will commence on the section between Ness Bridge and Friars Bridge on Monday 19 August. The works will be carried out by Morgan Sindall after they were recently awarded the
16/08/2013
The Scottish Government has said it is to make funding available to help residents make their communities better places to live. The announcement, made by Planning Minister Derek Mackay, will see £100,000 set aside for planning authorities to run community participation projects which will help de
16/08/2013
South Lanarkshire Council has said essential resurfacing works are to be carried out on Kirktonholme Road in East Kilbride. Around £200,000 is to be invested in the aim of improving the road. The scheme will commence on Monday 19 August until Sunday 25 August with the works taking place between
16/08/2013
East Renfrewshire Council has said good progress is being made regarding plans for Barrhead's new high school, as well as the town's Cowan Park. The local authority added that a contractor to build the new replacement school had been appointed. BAM will be responsible for the construction of the
16/08/2013
The Highland Council's Chairman of the Transport, Environmental and Community Services (TEC) Committee, Councillor Graham Phillips, has welcomed the progress being made on the management and maintenance of the area's roads. The progress has been made in response to reports by Audit Scotland on Sco
16/08/2013
Townhill residents are enjoying the benefits of upgrade work carried out in the village through the community payback unpaid work scheme. The scheme, which is run through the Fife Council's Social Work service, provides offenders with the opportunity to make amends for crimes committed by carrying
15/08/2013
A total of 23 new classrooms have opened their doors to pupils in Edinburgh as the Council tackles the increasing number of children enrolling in schools. The local authority invested £8m on creating new high quality classrooms at Towerbank, Corstorphine, Granton, Trinity and Wardie Primary School
15/08/2013
Kier has been names as one of five principal supply chain partners on Frameworks Scotland 2. The programme is a publicly-funded procurement initiative that will deliver £600m worth of construction, renovation and maintenance projects to a number of NHS facilities in Scotland over the next six year
15/08/2013
A number of improvement works to the centre of Beauly have recently been completed by the Highland Council. The improvements were shaped by suggestions from the local community who were invited to share their opinions and subsequently consulted on the proposals. Now that the work has been comple
15/08/2013
The new £3.8m state-of-the-art community centre in Barrhead is to be called Barrhead Foundry. It was chosen for the facility after East Renfrewshire Council held a competition to allow local residents to suggest a name for the building. Barrhead resident David Bell is the person behind the sugge
15/08/2013
A draft planning brief for a former jute mill in the West End of Dundee has received support from both the public and Historic Scotland. Dundee City Council said the proposals for the Queen Victoria and Regent Works site was "universally welcomed" by individuals, businesses and interested parties
15/08/2013
The Scottish Government has said almost £70m in funding for four new high schools has allowed 4,680 more pupils the highest quality school accommodation from 2013/14. Schools in East Renfrewshire, Fife, Midlothian and West Dunbartonshire are the first high schools funded through the Scotland's Sch
15/08/2013
Dundee City Council could invest a further £10,000 in play improvements for children at Magdalen Green. Next week, the Environment Committee will be asked to approve the additional spending if an initiative for enhancements – led by the Friends of the Magdalen Green group – attracts external fundi
15/08/2013
Aberdeenshire Council has submitted plans to transform a derelict site in the centre of Banff. If approved, the development would see some much-needed council housing constructed on the site. The plans for the land at 3 Carmelite Street detail a three-storey property consisting of three one-bedro
14/08/2013
Councillors in Dundee are to hear next week of 32 flats for social rent are to be provided by Hillcrest Housing Association. The properties in question are located on a site near the Council's west district housing officer at Coupar Angus Road in Lochee. The development would be facilitated by a
14/08/2013
Members of the Highland Council's City of Inverness Area Committee have voiced their support for the local authority's review of its plans for two major projects for the region. The Committee supported plans for both the Inverness West Link scheme and the Sports Hub/Torvean Golf Course. The High
14/08/2013
Fife Council has said Dunfermline's historical past is due to be unearthed as part of a project to construct a new Museum and Art Gallery in the area. 'Dig Dunfermline' is set to begin at the end of August, with more than 50 volunteers taking part in the initiative. The dig will form part of pre
14/08/2013
East Renfrewshire's newest high school has opened it doors for the first time today (14 August). Eastwood High School was constructed under the Government-funded 'Schools for the Future' programme. It was run by the Scottish Futures Trust at a cost of £28.9m. The development is a £65m joint proj
14/08/2013
More than 80% of council homes in Dundee already meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SHQS), the local authority has confirmed. The SHQS requires homes to be energy efficient, secure and in good order. In two years time, every council home in the city will need to be compliant, and Counci
14/08/2013
Work on the £31m project to replace Harris Academy in Dundee is set to commence shortly. Next week, the Council's Education Committee will be asked to agree to proceed with the financial close of the contract. Once approved, demolition work on the site at Perth Road is expected to soon follow.
14/08/2013
Plans for the development of a new community campus at Forfar Academy have taken another step this week after Angus Council unveiled the concept designs for the site. The local authority is now inviting locals to an event at the school on Thursday 22 August at 7pm to view and provide feedback on t
14/08/2013
The outcome of a statutory consultation by Perth and Kinross Council to propose relocating Crieff Primary School is to be reported today (14 August) to the Lifelong Learning Committee. The Council has proposed to relocate the school to new and improved facilities within the town. An extensive co
13/08/2013
Moray Council is inviting residents to share their opinions on proposed changes to its policy regarding the allocation of council housing. The current allocations policy was introduced in 2008, but since its introduction, there have been a number of developments, including the Scottish Government'
13/08/2013
The Scottish Government has welcomed the news that the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) has saved the Scottish public sector £500m since its establishment in 2008. Its savings for 2012/13 was a total of £132m – an equivalent of more than £525,000 each working day. The SFT, which has been tasked with
13/08/2013
Balfour Beatty has said it is to deliver a £1.2m sustainable civil and electrical programme at the Maldie Hydro scheme in West Sutherland in Scotland. The sustainable energy scheme will generate up to 4.5MW of electricity that will meet the needs of 2,500 households. The company has said the sch
13/08/2013
A Local Lettings Plan (LLP) is to be used by Perth and Kinross Council to help build and maintain a sustainable community in an area of Rattray set for regeneration. Earlier this year, the Council said it was to renovate 15 empty properties in Old Mill Road, Rattray, and subsequently let the build
13/08/2013
Fife Council has said Dunfermline will soon be boasting a new, brighter look thanks to improved floodlighting installed around the area. The new lights are designed to enhance historic buildings in the city. Earlier this year, Fife Council's City of Dunfermline Area Committee agreed to contribut
13/08/2013
A resurfacing project by Aberdeenshire Council, valued at £121,000, is underway in Tillyfourie. However, motorists have been warned to expect lengthy diversions over the next two weeks as the essential works are carried out. The road in question is a section of the A944 Aberdeen to Alford Road a
13/08/2013
Plans to build a new £2.5m visitor centre on the western shores of Loch Ness have been suspended, according to the BBC. Jacobite Cruises, which runs cruises on the loch, was granted full planning permission in 2011 for the proposed building at Brackla. In a statement, the company said it would s
13/08/2013
The A. Proctor Group, who manufactures Roofshield breather membrane, has said its product has been specified and supplied for use to the Black Watch Museum in Perth. The Black Watch Museum at Balhousie Castle recently underwent a £3m refurbishment project, opening on 25 June. Roofshield has uniq
12/08/2013
Scottish Water has completed a major upgrade project of the Katrine Aqueduct. The work included the upgrade of two 26-mile long aqueducts take water from Loch Katrine to water treatment works that serve 1.3m people in areas within Glasgow and the Central Belt. The £7m capital maintenance project
12/08/2013
South Lanarkshire Council has confirmed more than £200,000 is to be invested in "substantial improvements" to the A749 Kingsway in East Kilbride. The work will commence today (Monday 12 August) between the Whirlies Roundabout and Law Place Roundabout. The improvements programme is expected to last
12/08/2013
A £19m for the delivery of more than 630 new social houses across Perth and Kinross over the next five years is to be discussed by Councillors on Wednesday (14 August). The Housing and Health Committee will outline the local authority's Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP) for 2013-14 to 2017/
12/08/2013
West Dunbartonshire Council is to consider providing grants to some home owners affected by flat-roofed problems in the Silverton area. It added that it could, in certain cases, alternatively offer to buy back homes. Work is due to begin soon on four Council properties in Dumbuie Avenue and Smol
12/08/2013
A scheme which could provide free, or heavily subsidised, home insulation to residents in North Muirton is to be discussed by Councillors this week. The project would see all of Perth and Kinross Council's 389 timber-framed homes in North Muirton fitted with external insulation cladding free of ch
12/08/2013
A refurbishment project of Inverclyde's Clyde Square has been awarded second place at the national Street Design Awards. The awards, which are organised by Local Government News magazine, recognises the best practice and innovation in street design schemes throughout the UK. This year, an indepe
12/08/2013
North Lanarkshire Council has said a new car park is to be built at Scott Street, Motherwell. A section of the site, which is located on the former Cathedral Primary School, will be transformed into a 133-space facility. Contractor, Land Engineering, has been appointed to the project and will c
12/08/2013
Kinross House has been awarded the 2013 Restoration Award from the Historic Houses Association, the BBC has reported. The Association said the house and gardens had been saved from disrepair by Donald Fothergill. Mr Fothergill bought the Scottish property in 2011. The award was sponsored by So
09/08/2013
West Dunbartonshire Council has said it is to proceed with an ambitious LED street lighting programme. The scheme will help save both money and the environment. By introducing the ultra-efficient LED streetlights between 2015-2017, the local authority expects to save around £600,000 per year on
09/08/2013
The John Muir Trust is reportedly planning to challenge a decision made by the Highland Council regarding a proposed wind farm near Fort Augustus. According to the BBC, the Trust is challenging the authority's decision to raise no objection to the planned development. It is thought 67 turbines wou
09/08/2013
North Lanarkshire Council has said it wants to hear from locals regarding the future of Wishaw town centre. The local authority will be holding a series of drop-in sessions next week to allow residents, businesses and community groups to share their views. An electronic survey standpoint with a
09/08/2013
Edinburgh Council has unveiled details regarding its bid for the National Performance Centre for Sport (NPCS). The bid team made its presentation to the judging panel at Hampden Park yesterday (8 August). Heriot-Watt University, in partnership with the City of Edinburgh Council, outlined a wide-
09/08/2013
Transport Scotland has said work to improve the A82 at Crianlarich has taken another step forward following the awarding of a contract. The authority intends to award the £5m Crianlarich Bypass contract to RJ McLeod (Contractors) Ltd. The new 1.3km single two-lane road, located to the west of th
09/08/2013
A new heritage-led regeneration scheme is to be launched next week in Elgin. Elgin High Street was selected as an outstanding area of conservation in 1976, due to the high number of listed buildings, several of which are of national importance. The £3.3m redevelopment scheme has secured funds fr
09/08/2013
A total of 12 local authorities in Scotland have been awarded extra money for special housing payments, including Moray Council. The UK Government has earmarked £3.5m to the dozen authorities to offset the effects of the so-called bedroom tax, with Moray's share being £182,000. Scottish Office M
09/08/2013
Local communities in East Dunbartonshire are set to benefit from a unique agreement between the local authority and the Central Scotland Green Network (CSGN). The agreement will help to improve the social, physical, cultural and environmental well-being of the area. The CSGN is Europe's largest
09/08/2013
Leading commercial property firm, CBRE, has said the end of business rates relief on empty offices will lower rents in some locations. The forecast comes as the company published its review for the first half of 2013. The report showed that strong demand had been found notably in Aberdeen as fir
09/08/2013
Melville Joinery has completed one its largest resin repair jobs in Scotland. The firm repaired the store and welding room roof at Govan shipyard for BAE. The roof, which had been constructed in the late 1800s, had been leaking for a number of years and this allowed material to drip through to t
08/08/2013
A new report has said the jobs market has continued to grow, with the recovery being led by the construction and property sector. The Reed Job Index, which is compiled using data from around 150,000 and more than 10,000 employers advertised on reed.co.uk, revealed that in July 2013, there was a 17
08/08/2013
One of Glasgow's oldest railway stations has undergone a massive refurbishment. The building is now home to a cycle repair station and resource centre. The transformation project was made possible through a number of generous funding contributions, including a sustainable heating system provided
08/08/2013
CITB has issued a warning regarding the UK's construction sector. It said the industry is facing a skills 'time bomb' if it fails to recruit new workers needed to replace more than 400,000 people set to retire within the next five to 10 years. The labour market research, published by the Office
08/08/2013
Five consortia have submitted bids for the construction work of a new general hospital in Dumfries, the BBC has said. The project, valued at £200m, will see a 350-bed complex built to replace the existing Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary. The facility will also include 104 staff residencies,
08/08/2013
New figures have claimed almost 5,000 individuals and families are currently on the waiting list for a council house in West Dunbartonshire. The statistics were revealed following a Freedom of Information request published by the Lennox Herald. It was also disclosed that residents are waiting to
08/08/2013
Veterans' charity, Poppyscotland, has donated £250,000 to Scottish Veterans Residences to help with the construction of its £6.7m housing development, Scottish Housing News has said. The development will see 51 flats constructed at Bellrock Crescent, Cranhill, which are scheduled to open in 2014.
08/08/2013
A John Byrne mural, commissioned by the Festival City Theatres Trust for Edinburgh's King's Theatre dome has officially been unveiled. The Council said the commission, 'All the World's a Stage', is painted on the 85m2 dome of the Viennese Baroque auditorium and is now a focal point for the theatre
08/08/2013
Falkirk Council has said plans to improve and increase the level of social housing in the area is continuing to progress. The news comes after the local authority approved plans for almost 550 homes to be delivered in the region by 2018. The Council will build 104 new homes in a number of areas a
08/08/2013
Edinburgh Council has said the number of social housing tenants falling into debt arrears since the so-called 'bedroom tax' was introduced two months ago, has surged. Figures released by the local authority reveal that the number of tenants with spare bedrooms who are unable to pay increased from 9
08/08/2013
Glasgow's Queens Cross Housing Association has said it is to offer 12 new apprenticeship posts. The posts will be for local young people aged between 16 and 24. The apprenticeships on offer vary from construction, plumbing and joinery, to business administration. Patricia Urquhart, Community D
07/08/2013
The Scottish Government has said the country's rural communities are to benefit after an additional £3.5m was allocated to help with changes to housing benefit. The extra funds from the Department of Work and Pensions follows Housing Minister Margaret Burgess meeting with lead UK Government adviso
07/08/2013
Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission (SHE Transmission), part of the SSE Group, has said it is looking for 28 new recruits to join its award-winning transmission overhead line training scheme. The programme offers unemployed 17 to 24-year-olds in the Highlands the opportunity of a career within th
07/08/2013
A £2m project to refurbish Sconser Ferry Terminal on the Isle of Skye has been completed, the Highland Council has revealed. Contractor McLaughlin & Harvey Ltd started work on the upgrade in November 2012. The works were funded by The Highland Council and European Regional Development Funding (E
07/08/2013
South Ayrshire Council has launched its Ayr Townscape Heritage Initiative's (THI) Small Grants Scheme. The scheme, which has a fund of £250,000, was established to ensure the survival of the most important buildings situated within the heart of the historic Scottish town. This is achieved by maki
07/08/2013
Fife-based manufacturing firm, FTV Proclad, has won a major Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) award from Scottish Enterprise. The award is worth £750,000. Based in Glenrothes for more than 40 years, the company has expanded to become a global centre of excellence for the supply of corrosion pr
07/08/2013
North Lanarkshire Council is inviting firms to pre-qualify for a £100m framework to modernise its school buildings and community facilities. The local authority hopes to sign up three companies to help deliver Phase 2 of its upgrade programme. The programme would take place over a four-year period
07/08/2013
Home Scotland is to unveil plans for Phase 3 of its regeneration project of Dundee's Mill O'Mains estate. The affordable housing provider is working alongside Dundee City Council to transform the area and provide modern, energy efficient homes for its residents. The latest phase will see Home Sco
07/08/2013
New proposals have been submitted to create a new, shared pedestrian and cycle path along a busy Inverness road, the BBC has reported. Referred to as an 'active travel route', the path would be constructed long Millburn Road and would help connect Inverness with a new campus situated at Beechwood o
07/08/2013
Perth and Kinross Council has said residents of 159 homes in the Hillyland area of Perth are to receive free home insulation. The initiative is part of energy efficiency works being carried out by the local authority, in partnership with energy company SSE. Funding for the scheme is being provide
07/08/2013
Scottish Water is advising motorists in the Greenock area of road traffic management during the town centre phase of its major project to upgrade water mains. The project, valued at £2.9m, will deliver clearer, fresher drinking water to more than 65,000 people and involved the upgrading of more th
06/08/2013
Orkney Islands Council (OIC) is to hold four drop-in sessions this month as part of its consultation on a new management plan for the region's urban conservation areas. The plan, which is currently in draft form, will then be revised in response to feedback from the consultation before being consid
06/08/2013
The Scottish Government has approved plans to release hundreds of millions of pounds of private investment to help boost business across Falkirk and Grangemouth. Falkirk Council's £67m Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) scheme is expected to lever in £413m in private investment, and create up to 6,00
06/08/2013
The Scottish Borders Council has blocked plans for a wind farm for Brunta Hill near Westruther. According to the BBC, the developer – PNE Wind UK Ltd – initially submitted plans to construct a 10-turbine farm on the Berwickshire site. It subsequently decided to scale back its development to eigh
06/08/2013
Engineering firm, Wood Group PSN, has extended its contract in the North Sea with Dana petroleum. The contract is for two years with the option of a one-year extension and estimated to be worth up to £40m per year. The contract with Dana Petroleum for an integrated support services (ISC) in the N
06/08/2013
Transport Scotland has put a contract for a section of the A9 in Caithness out to tender. The contract would see the notorious stretch of the road upgraded. The road falls from 150m (492ft) to 20m (65ft) as it enters a valley at the Berriedale Braes. In addition, there is also a hairpin bend whi
06/08/2013
A new £11.2m integrated policing facility for Police Scotland is continuing to take shape following the completion of the base of the 4,518sq m building, Urban Realm has said. The custody centre, which is situated at Kitty Brewster in Aberdeen, will host 60 cells as well as a virtual court, identit
06/08/2013
Riverside Inverclyde (ri) has commenced work on a £2.5m first phase project of two new design-and-build industrial units. The units are located at Kelburn Business Park in Port Glasgow and the scheme will see both jobs and training opportunities created within the area. Kelburn Park is the most e
06/08/2013
The Highland Council has said it has listened to comments made by local sporting groups and individual members of the public regarding plans for two major projects to the west of Inverness. More than 500 people attended consultation events in April and May over updating the plans for the two schem
06/08/2013
More than 8,400 people in Nairn are now benefiting from the completion of an important project by Scottish Water. The project not only upgraded the existing waste water network, but will protect the surrounding environment. The organisation has invested £1.5m into the project, which has involved
06/08/2013
Work is to begin on the £92m A82 Pulpit Rock Improvement scheme. The construction work will start on Friday 9 August at 10pm and will require a number of overnight closures. McLaughlin & Harvey are the contractors appointed to the project, and will undertake work including piling works along the
05/08/2013
A company with plans for a 125-turbine wind farm in Scotland has agreed a deal with a Japanese firm. The deal is worth €100m (£87m). Marubeni has agreed to pay the cash in return for a 25% stake in Mainstream Renewable Power. Last month, Mainstream, which is based in Ireland, submitted a £1.4b
05/08/2013
Industry body, the Scottish Building Federation (SBF) has said some contractors are not bidding for public sector contracts because of pressure to lodge "suicidal" bids. Over the last five years, the SBF has said the cost of tendering for this type of work has increased by up to 50%. In a survey
05/08/2013
Aberdeenshire Council has warned motorists to expect lengthy diversions as a result of resurfacing works being undertaken on a section of the A944 Aberdeen to Alford Road. Regional transport body, Nestrans, is providing £121,000 towards work to improve the road at Tillyfourie. The improvements wil
05/08/2013
A significant architecturally-important parking garage in Glasgow's West End is to be transformed, according to Urban Realm. The site, known as The Botanic Gardens Garage, is to be restored into a shop and gym, as well as creating a small space for community use. The plans, which replaced an ear
05/08/2013
Energy efficiency and electrical safety are to be discussed at the next meeting of East Renfrewshire Council's landlord forum. The meeting will be held on Tuesday 27 August 2013 at Eastwood House, Eastwood Park, Giffnock. It will start at 6.30pm and two guest speakers will lead the discussion and
05/08/2013
Perth and Kinross Council is to hold its first Home Exchange event. The exchange is being held as a drop-in event and could provide residents who rent a home from the Council or other local housing association to find their perfect 'swap'. If tenants register in advance for the event, this will
05/08/2013
A drop-in information session is to be held on Wednesday 14 August for residents in North Muirton, Perth and Kinross, whose homes are to be included in new energy efficiency works in the area. The project will see Council blocks in North Muirton fitted with external wall insulation. This involve
05/08/2013
A Project Manager has been appointed for a £3.4m project which aims to regenerate the heart of Kirkwall, Orkney. Miriam Frier, who led a similar project in Stromness, will head the development and implementation of the Kirkwall Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) which will also incorporate a Cons
05/08/2013
East Dunbartonshire Council are giving locals living in the Hillhead area of Kirkintilloch the opportunity to see the developing designs for the new Community Centre. The new building for Kirkintilloch, will be a community centre with flexible spaces designed around community priorities. It also a
05/08/2013
A new garden has been opened at Ludgate House Resource Centre in Alloa, Clackmannanshire Council has said. The project to create the garden has brought together service users, carers, staff and members of the local and business community. The idea to create a new garden was brought about by servi
02/08/2013
Hundreds of Scottish households are set to benefit from a new £3m funding boost announced by the Scottish Government. The grant will see households being paid to become more energy efficient, Energy Minister Fergus Ewing has revealed. Interest free loans will be made available to home owners to
02/08/2013
Scottish Water is to invest £3.8m in the Stewartry area of Dumfries and Galloway, the BBC has reported. The funds will be used to improve and safeguard the water supply within the area. Last month, work started to construct 9.4km of water mains and it is anticipated that the section between Kill
02/08/2013
Housing and Welfare Minister Margaret Burgess has confirmed almost 70 new affordable homes are to be constructed in Dumfries. Contracts have been agreed with Robertson Homes to deliver 69 homes at Marchfield, Dumfries, through the award-winning National Housing Trust initiative (NHT). NHT was est
02/08/2013
Inverclyde Council is to consult local residents on plans to establish a dedicated transit site for the Gypsy Traveller community. The decision follows recent issues surrounding a number of unauthorised camps at different public sites throughout the region. The proposal being considered is for a
02/08/2013
A new agreement has been put forward by Shetland Islands Council (SIC) in an attempt to resolved the region's housing debt situation. There are also hopes it will clear the way to support its tenants by maintaining affordable rents and building new homes in the community. The proposal was presen
02/08/2013
East Dunbartonshire Council have appealed to the residents of Conan Avenue and the surrounding streets in Bearsden for their views regarding flood alleviation plans. The Council's proposals aim to tackle the various flooding issues the area has faced over the years. A public consultation event w
02/08/2013
Ofgem has announced it is considering to approve a change to the way it calculates what generators pay to use the electricity transmission network across Britain. It is proposed that the new charges would come into effect on 1 April 2014 and it is thought the cost of linking wind and marine renewa
02/08/2013
Dumfries and Galloway Council has said it has been included in the Renewable Energy Sources (RES) Champion League Table for the first time. The recognition is related to the region's commitment to using renewable forms of energy. The local authority was put forward as the Scottish National repre
02/08/2013
Fife Council's Transportation and Environmental Services is to begin work on resurfacing the A912 at Sandygates, Strathmiglo. The work will begin on Monday 5 August and is expected to take up to three weeks to complete. The road is being resurfaced from Cash Feus to the A91 junction, and a tempo
02/08/2013
Orkney Council has said its newly extended pier is now host to more tidal energy technologies than any other site in the world. Within recent weeks, five tidal energy developers have used the facilities, with four devices currently established on the quayside. The organisations using the site ar
01/08/2013
The National Conservation Centre in Stirling is set to receive a £3.5m grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. Today (1 August), Historic Scotland confirmed they had received initial support for an £3.5m bid from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to create a new National Conservation Centre (NCC) in S
01/08/2013
Communities in North Ayrshire are being invited to share their views on the proposed design for the A737 Dalry Bypass road scheme. The invite was issued as Transport Scotland published the draft Road Orders and Environmental Statement for the project. The plan would help separate local from stra
01/08/2013
Glasgow-based temporary power firm, Aggreko, has reported lower profits in the six months to the end of June 2013. The firm says the fall is due to "subdued" trading within its power projects division. In the first half of 2013, pre-tax profits fell by 2% to £146m. Revenue for the same period in
01/08/2013
The second phase of the demolition of Lasswade High School, Midlothian, is continuing this week. The new facility, worth £37.1m, is expected to open after the summer holidays. The project has been developed by the Council in partnership with contractors BAM, the Scottish Futures Trust and the Sco
01/08/2013
West Dunbartonshire Council has asked its tenants to rate its housing service. Around 600 households will be randomly selected for the comprehensive telephone survey this month. It will provide tenants with the opportunity to answer questions on how satisfied they are with key services such as c
01/08/2013
Highland Council Leader Drew Hendry has welcomed the news that additional funding is to be made available to help those affected by the removal of the spare room subsidy. However, the local authority has said Mr Hendry is to write to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to seek assurances tha
01/08/2013
The Ardler Village Trust's (AVT) shop and office now fit-for-purpose following a renovation project worth £30,000. Building firm GRAHAM, which is constructing Sanctuary Scotland's final Ardler homes, completed the works, Scottish Housing News has said. The community benefit investment was inspir
01/08/2013
Rouken Glen Park in East Renfrewshire has been awarded its third prestigious Green Flag Award. The popular visitor attraction, located in Giffnock, continues to prove it is a well-maintained and well-managed park with excellent facilities. Rouken Glen Park was one of 51 parks and green spaces in
01/08/2013
Plans to construct a major hotel and leisure complex in Glasgow have been put on hold, the BBC has reported. The DeVere Group had planned to begin work on building a £20m "village urban resort" at Pacific Quay in the city. Initially, it hoped to start the project in May, but the firm has said wor
01/08/2013
MK Leslie, the Scottish civil engineering firm, has entered administration. A total of 50 jobs have been lost as a result, the Shetland News has reported. The company, which is based in Shetland, was handed over to KPMG earlier this week after it ceased trading. Just nine staff remain as they as
