Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
Scotland Construction News Archive for January 2014
31/01/2014
Graham Construction has delivered Inverclyde Council's new £44m community campus. The complex is the new home of Port Glasgow High School, St Stephen's High School and Craigmarloch Additional Support Needs (ASN) School. Port Glasgow High and St Stephen's High will have their own separate entranc
31/01/2014
A multi-million pound masterplan to transform Paisley's town centre has been approved by Councillors. The Paisley Town Centre Asset Strategy contains proposals which could increase the area's tourist economy by £45m a year and create 800 jobs. Earlier this week, Councillors on the Economy and Jo
31/01/2014
Midlothian Council has said its plans to construct a new £33m Newbattle Centre continue to progress. The local authority hopes to replace with old Newbattle Community High School with a new fit-for-purpose building. It is also set to include a new 'community hub' similar to the new £38m Lasswade C
31/01/2014
A public notice for the main contract of the A96 Inveramsay Bridge improvement scheme has been published. The project is worth around £11m, Transport Scotland has said. Signalling the start of the procurement process, the agency issued the Public Contracts Scotland contract notice for the works
31/01/2014
Work to conserve a 351-year-old historic market cross in Kincardine, Fife, has commenced. An agreement by Kincardine Community Council and local Councillors resulted in funding package to ensure a specialist stone contractor can conserve the ancient monument. A £5,000 in grant funding from Fife
31/01/2014
Aberdeen City Council and Network Rail are to enter discussions about plans for the regeneration of the city centre. The talks, which are set to commence on Monday (3 February), will see the Council's Director of Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure Gordon McIntosh open exploratory talks with N
31/01/2014
Fife Council is to start work on a significant carriageway improvement scheme in Main Street Leuchars and on the A919/A914. Work is set to begin on the project from 10 February, and will continue along the entire length of Main Street to the Leuchars north-west limits. It will then continue along
31/01/2014
Important ground investigation works are due to begin at the A82 at Glen Gloy. The project will start on Monday (3 February), and last for approximately five weeks. The works are required following the effects of a previous landslide which washed away a section of the steep river bank that suppo
30/01/2014
Revised plans to develop a gap site in Edinburgh's city centre have been approved by the Council's Development Management Sub Committee. An international consortium, headed by Artisan Real Estate Investors, plans to construct a £150m mix of leisure, retail and offices which would link New Street a
30/01/2014
A planning application to extend Hyndford Quarry has been called in for review by Scottish Ministers. The extension lies inside the buffer zone of the site and Falls of Clyde Inventory Designed Landscape; it is also adjacent to the New Lanark Conservation Area, which is part of the Clyde Valley Wo
30/01/2014
Plans to boost business and investment across Argyll and Bute have been approved. The proposals will also create in excess of 1,000 jobs. The local authority's £18.9m Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) scheme is expected to unlock £125m in private investment and also generate hundreds of constructi
30/01/2014
Work is set to begin on a new council housing development in Cupar after Fife Council approved planning permission. The proposals will see a total of 18 flats constructed on St Catherine Street through the conversion of the County Buildings. There will also be a new-build extension under the plans
30/01/2014
Preparations are set to get underway as Phase Two of the Kessock Bridge improvement scheme begins next month. The preparations will involve temporary night-time lane closures on 31 January and 1 February, BEAR Scotland has said, and will involve structural investigation in advance of the main phas
30/01/2014
A 19th Century bridge has been restored to its former glory following a refurbishment programme. Work to restore the Linlathen West Bridge in the city began last year. The programme of improvements was undertaken by contractors GL Residential, on behalf of developer Clearwater Park. The histor
30/01/2014
Moray Council has voted to keep the proposed Elgin western link road in its new Local Development Plan. Last month, the Council's Planning and Regulatory Services Committee felt that reference to the project should be removed from the plan, but that decision was found to be contrary to the local a
30/01/2014
A regeneration project of Dundee's waterfront has won a national award. The scheme, which cost £1bn and is a 30-year project, was chosen by a judging panel to be the winner of the economic growth category in the Placemaking Awards, run by Planning Magazine. The Placemaking Awards recognise and p
29/01/2014
More than 29,000 construction jobs could be created in Scotland over the next five years, according to new research. The figures, released by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has forecast that 29,8000 new jobs will be created. Fuelled by demand for 245,000 new homes across the UK
29/01/2014
The Ibrox Subway Station in Glasgow has been officially opened following a £1.7m refurbishment by Graham Construction. The project forms part of Strathclyde Partnership for Transport's (SPT) multi-million subway modernisation programme of all 15 stations in Glasgow over the next six years. At Ib
29/01/2014
Work is to begin on a major £500m project to upgrade Scotland's motorway network. It is understood the Scottish Roads Partnership (SRP) will carry out advanced works on the scheme ahead of signing a contract with Transport Scotland for the full job in February. The project will see a six-mile st
29/01/2014
Creative Scotland has unveiled a £9.4m funding programme that will see 12 arts and culture organisations throughout the country benefit. The funds, issued through the Large Capital Programme, range in value from £100,000 to £1.5m. They are designed to help organisations undertake significant infra
29/01/2014
Electricity has been generated for the first time at the West of Duddon Sands Offshore wind farm, it has been confirmed. The energy project, which is located in the Irish Sea, is being developed by ScottishPower Renewables and DONG Energy. It is understood that engineers working on the scheme ha
29/01/2014
Proposals to create Scotland's first joint faith school campus has taken a step forward, East Renfrewshire Council has said. The campus, which would accommodate both Catholic and Jewish communities, will now move to the next stage of planning. If approval is granted to a proposed site in Newton Me
29/01/2014
Almost £1m is to be invested in a new affordable housing development in Bathgate. The funding will allow for an additional 35 homes to be built for rent in the area and is part of the Scottish Government's wider investment of £1.3bn in the Affordable Housing Supply Programme (AHSP) 2012-16 period.
29/01/2014
Work is continuing to progress on the Rothesay Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI). To date, more than £2.5m has been awarded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Historic Scotland, LEADER and Argyll and Bute Council for the scheme, which started in March 2011 and runs until March 2016. The regeneratio
28/01/2014
Scotland's offshore wind industry could be under threat as major developers halved their spending on projects. The warning was issued by Scottish Renewables after they obtained the figures from offshore wind developers who have projects in Scottish waters. From its findings, the industry body su
28/01/2014
A total of 35 jobs are to be created at engineering manufacturing firm WGM Engineering Ltd, it has been announced. The investment comes after a £200,000 award in Regional Selective Assistance (RSA), through Scottish Enterprise. It will bring the total number of those employed at the WGM's Living
28/01/2014
A planning application for the proposed Quantans Hill wind farm has been submitted by E.ON. The development, which will be located near Carsphairn in Dumfries and Galloway, could feature up to 19 turbines and generate up to 57 megawatts of electricity – enough to power around 36,800 homes. Durin
28/01/2014
The Scottish Borders Council (SBC) has confirmed work to demolish the former Earlston High School will begin next month. Hunter Demolition is the firm appointed by the local authority to undertake the programme of works involved. It is anticipated that the project will take around 12 weeks to co
28/01/2014
Welfare Minister Margaret Burgess is urging Westminster to clarify how many of Scotland's vulnerable citizens could have been wrongly affected by changes to housing benefit. Recently, it emerged that thousands of social housing tenants in the UK are to be refunded after the spare-room subsidy, or
28/01/2014
Work on a new Family Resource Centre in Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, is scheduled to commence following a turf-cutting ceremony. Provost Jill Webster cut the first turf. Planning permission was approved for the project in November 2013 and the work is expected to be completed by Autumn 2014. The
28/01/2014
Perth and Kinross Council is to hold a drop-in event this week to provide information about an energy-saving home insulation project for homes in North Muirton. The session will be held by the local authority, in partnership with Scottish Hydro Electric, and will allow residents to find out more a
28/01/2014
Eight new homes for affordable rent in Connel are to be constructed, Scottish Housing News has reported. It is understood Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA) has secured funding and appointed a contractor to build the homes. The development, valued at £1,072,146 is largely made up of gra
27/01/2014
Planning approval has been granted for two renewable projects in Fife and the Highlands. Scottish Ministers gave their consent for a 20-turbine wind farm at Moy, near Inverness, while a combined heat and power biomass plant will be constructed at the Port of Rosyth. The Moy wind farm, which repr
27/01/2014
A major milestone in the Edinburgh to Glasgow Rail Improvement Programme (EGIP) has been reached. Transport Minister Keith Brown made the announcement and added that the funding plans for the scheme will allow for a complete transformation for the busy transport hub. In a statement, it was revea
27/01/2014
Work is to commence on improving waste water infrastructure in the Fox Street area of Greenock. The work will also tackle a flooding issue at properties in the area, Scottish Water has said. Commencing on Thursday 30 January, the improvement work will help address the issue of internal flooding
27/01/2014
Perth and Kinross Council is to meet this week to discuss proposals for upgrading Alyth Primary School. The report, which will be presented to the Lifelong Learning Committee, will outline the preferred option for improving the facilities for learning and teaching at the school. Through the loca
27/01/2014
Up to £200,000 will be provided over the next four years as part of a project to refurbish Highland war memorials. The announcement comes shortly before the centenary of the start of World War One. In a statement, the local authority said funding of £50,000 per year would allow the Council to su
27/01/2014
Argyll and Bute Council has agreed a site for the new Oban High School. Following feedback from the public about the potential sites, the local authority has now agreed that the preferred site will be that of the current school plus additional land between Tweed Mill, Dalintart and Glencruitten.
27/01/2014
Scottish Water has said it is to increase its household charges for customers later this year. The 1.6% rise will come into force from 1 April 2014 and is below the level of inflation. The company has said this will be the second rate rise since 2009 and is a sign of determination to build on cu
27/01/2014
A new housing development, Eastcroft Gardens, has been officially opened in South Lanarkshire. The development includes a range of facilities and new technology that will support tenants to live independently for years to come. In addition to the light and spacious flats, the building also allows
24/01/2014
Scotland's Forth Bridge has been nominated for World Heritage site status. The bridge, which connects Edinburgh with Fife, will be studied by Unesco over an 18-month period with a final decision expected in 2015. If the bid is successful, the landmark would join other worldwide attractions such
24/01/2014
SSE has said it remains on course to make more than £1.5bn in profit this year. The profit comes despite the fact that the energy supplier has lost some 250,000 gas and electricity customers. In its latest interim management statement, the firm said the number of its household accounts in the UK
24/01/2014
Renfrewshire Council has unveiled an ambitious masterplan for the future of the town of Paisley. If the plans are approved, the town is set to benefit from a multi-million pound transformation. The proposals will be discussed next week by Councillors and will focus on using the town's heritage a
24/01/2014
The historic Dreel Halls in Anstruther have reopened following a £700,000 repairs project. Under the scheme, the former Hew Scott Hall, St Nicholas Tower and Wester Anstruther Town Hall were transformed with external repairs carried out to the buildings, courtesy of Fife Historic Buildings Trust.
24/01/2014
The Highland Council has said it is to support community projects at Foyers and Kyle. At Foyers, the local authority is to purchase land and build 21 additional car parking spaces at the Falls of Foyers. The plans formalise bus/coach parking close to the Falls of Foyers and to the nearby Waterfall
24/01/2014
North Ayrshire Council has unveiled its latest older people's housing developments. The sheltered housing, located at Currie Court in Ardrossan and Woodgrove in Dreghorn, have been fully refurbished and will provide its residents with a more attractive place to live. It also boasts a number of pra
24/01/2014
The A. Proctor Group has said its Wraptite-SA air tight membrane has been used as part of the refurbishment of the Sunshine Mosque Dome in Melbourne, Australia. The Sunshine Mosque is an Ottoman/Turkish-style mosque in Sunshine, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia. The complex structure comprises of
24/01/2014
Dumfries and Galloway-based firm Eco Insulate Ltd has started the new year as a BASF Foam Master approved contractor. The move follows extensive discussions between the two companies to develop business in Scotland and the rest of the UK. The trading relationship will provide the building industry
23/01/2014
Recycling firm Viridor has announced it is to construct a new £25m recycling plant at Newhouse, Lanarkshire. A total of 30 jobs will also be created as a result of the investment. The 70,000 sq ft facility, which will be located adjacent to the M8 motorway, will be capable of recycling 200,000 t
23/01/2014
An additional £950,000 of funding is to be allocated to Scottish Canals, it has been announced. Transport Minister Keith Brown has said the money will go towards a number of ambitious canal projects. Funding of £500,000 will go towards the development of a £1.2m visitor centre at the Kelpies canal
23/01/2014
A contribution of £250,000 has been approved by the Highland Council in contribution to the Millburn Road Cycle Project. The funds will be used to complete the £638,000 project in Inverness and will provide a safe cycle route between the city centre and Inverness Campus at Beechwood. The additio
23/01/2014
Highland Councillors have been told that officers have reached an agreement, in principle, to purchase the necessary land to construct a new golf course at Torvean. The project forms a significant part of major investment in sports facilities in Inverness. The announcement means that the new gol
23/01/2014
Scottish Water has completed an £11.9m upgrade at Cumbernauld's Dunnswood Waste Water Treatment Works. The project involved an entirely new waste water treatment process being introduced alongside the existing system to comply with new standards for waste water treatment. It will also provide for
23/01/2014
Plans for a new holiday village to be built in Sotherness, in Dumfries and Galloway, are to be advised for approval. According to the BBC, the development would include 125 homes, a range of leisure facilities and a nine-hole golf course. Those behind the project have earmarked potential land be
23/01/2014
Angus Council has teamed up with SCARF, the fuel action charity, to establish a 'Warm Angus' project. The project will aim to reduce household energy use and costs in the area. With funding approved of £700,000, the scheme will be used towards energy efficiency improvements. The local authorit
23/01/2014
Homes for Scotland has launched its 2014 awards scheme and is now inviting entries for the programme. The awards celebrate the achievements of Scotland's home building industry. Focusing on the themes "Driving Recovery" and "Delivery Results", the 2014 Homes for Scotland Awards build upon the su
23/01/2014
A new car park has been opened in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. The 133-space facility is located in Scott Street and has been constructed on the site of the former Cathedral Primary School. The project cost £500,000, the local authority has said. This is the third car park to open around the
23/01/2014
Buckie and District Fishing Heritage Centre is set to benefit from a pot of £400,000 provided by the Scottish Government's European Fisheries Fund (Axis 4) Programme, and Moray Council. The money will allow the coastal heritage centre to undertake a number of development projects. The centre, wh
22/01/2014
Finance Secretary John Swinney has revealed that the Scottish economy is benefiting from a £3.24bn boost due to investments in schools, hospitals, roads and other infrastructure projects. Mr Swinney added that the investment is expected to increase to £4.17bn. He was speaking on a visit to the C
22/01/2014
Moray Councillors are to continue discussions over plans to build a retail development on Common Good land in Forres. It follows an indicative offer from Redco Milne of £6.5m for a 35-year lease of the site at Bogton Road, the local authority said. The Council will now meet to further discuss th
22/01/2014
Following a consultation exercise, tenants in Dundee have supported plans for the lowest rent rise in the city for more than a decade. In a report, which is going before the Council's Housing Committee next week, it is proposed to increase rent by 2.25%. This was the lowest of three options presen
22/01/2014
Plans to construct a new hotel in Inverness have been withdrawn by the developer, it has been reported. According to the BBC, Carlton Rock Ltd are no longer proposing to construct the hotel at Glebe Street, which overlooks the River Ness. Just last week, the Highland Council recommended the plan
22/01/2014
Restoration work is to begin on a collapsed section of the Huntly Castle Bridge. The works are part of a wider conservation plan for the historic structure in Aberdeenshire. Located adjacent to Huntly Castle, the bridge suffered extensive structural damage in February 2009 when a section of the
22/01/2014
Two new primary schools are to be built at Bishopbriggs and Lenzie respectively. East Dunbartonshire has said the proposals are as follows:
22/01/2014
A scheme to protect properties close to the Denburn from flooding has been approved by Councillors in Aberdeen. The initiative will provide protection from fluvial flooding for homes in the Queen's Cross/Fountainhall, and Mackie Place/Jack's Brae areas. Previously, these properties have been at
22/01/2014
Scottish Water is to hold an information evening prior to staring work on improving its water infrastructure in Wishaw. In certain areas of the town, work will be carried out to replace around 35km of old water mains with new plastic pipes which will help provide clearer, fresher drinking water fo
22/01/2014
Shelter Scotland is encouraging local organisations and communities to share their experience of the role housing can play in improving the wellbeing of Scotland. The request comes following the recently-formed Housing & Wellbeing Commission, which is hosted by Shelter Scotland. The independent Co
22/01/2014
Balfour Beatty's £65.7m Holyrood Student Accommodation project – which constructed 1,165 bedrooms for the University of Edinburgh, was the focus of a recent UK-wide construction industry competition, TeamBuild 2013. Seven teams of up to six people, representing 26 top construction companies, made
21/01/2014
A new £1.7m office development, called District 10, and located on Dundee's waterfront has officially opened. The development has been constructed from recycled shipping containers has opened on Dundee's waterfront and will be based at the former railway goods yard, Seabraes. It has been designe
21/01/2014
Figures released by the Scottish Government has revealed that more than 45,500 households claimed £15.4m in emergency housing help from April to November 2013. Some 45,772 households claimed £15,365,860 in the eight-month period – almost a four-fold increase compared to just under £4m in 2012/13.
21/01/2014
A £10m programme of improvements to the Corsehouse Water Treatment Works (WTW) has been completed by Scottish Water. The upgraded facility, which is located near Stewarton, East Ayrshire, will see more than 9,000 benefit as a result – namely, customers in the Stewarton, Dunlop, Lugton and Fenwick
21/01/2014
Fife Council has confirmed it has terminated its contract with Byzak Ltd. Byzak Ltd were responsible for carrying out the works associated with the Dunfermline Flood Protection Scheme. However, in a statement, the local authority said the project has now overrun by more than four years and at leas
21/01/2014
Resurfacing works are set to commence on the A9 Lynwilg Junction, south of Aviemore, BEAR Scotland has said. Costing £550,000, the 1.5km section will be resurfaced in order to restore structural integrity and improve the quality of the surface for road users. Work on the project will begin on Mo
21/01/2014
More than 1,200 households have applied to the Scottish Government's Help to Buy (Scotland) scheme since its launch in September 2013. Of those that have applied, more than 200 are already in new homes. Official government figures show that 1,205 applications were received by the New Year for th
21/01/2014
A new hotel is set to be developed in Glasgow's city centre, it has been announced. Hilton Worldwide is said to be planning its first Hampton-brand hotel in the city by summer 2014, according to reports. It is understood a former office block located on West Campbell Street will be transformed i
21/01/2014
Energy Minister Fergus Ewing has said Scotland has a significant role to play in the European Commission's new marine energy forum. The Ocean Energy Forum, comprising of governments, regional directors and industry chief executives from across Europe, will coordinate an approach to dealing with th
21/01/2014
HouseMark Scotland and ALACHO, the representative body for Scotland's local authority chief housing officers, have launched a new council housing research project. Earlier this month, a focus group of local authority staff met to start discussions around some of the issues affecting council house
21/01/2014
The A. Proctor Group Ltd recently held a Roofing Contractors Forum which brought together those from throughout the UK wishing to share experiences and knowledge. Education is key within the industry and an understanding of the current technologies and differences between membranes is essential in
20/01/2014
A proposed wind farm near Invermoriston in the Highlands has received planning permission from the Scottish Government. The Bhlaraidh wind farm, which will be developed by SSE Generation Limited, will have 32 turbines, generating up to 108MW – enough to power approximately 50,900 homes. The sche
20/01/2014
Engineering from the Universities of Oxford and Edinburgh have claimed that a stretch of water off the north coast could provide enough energy to power almost half of Scotland. Their research looked at how much tidal power could be generated by turbines located in the Pentland Firth, between mainl
20/01/2014
West Dunbartonshire Council and Scottish Canals is encouraging the public to help shape the future redevelopment of the village of Bowling. Next month, a design charrette will be held at Bowling village Hall and will provide the local community the opportunity to share their thoughts on the creati
20/01/2014
Work is to commence on the latest phase of flood alleviation measures in Smithton and Culloden, Inverness. The programme of works will begin next week. Pat Munro (Alness) Lt has been appointed as contractor to the £158,000 scheme and will implement designs put forward by JBA Consulting. The work
20/01/2014
A large farm steading at Viewhill Farm in Inverness is to be partially demolished. The move comes amid fears over the safety of the building, the Highland Council has said. From Monday 20 January, the area in question will be fenced off, with remedial work scheduled to commence on Monday 27 Janu
20/01/2014
A report will be submitted to Perth and Kinross's Environment Committee later this week which will outline plans to improve parks and open spaces in the area. The main capital projects suggested would be carried out over the next two financial years. Planned investment for 2014-15 and 2015-16 wou
20/01/2014
A notice of a Formal Order for the Huntly Flood Protection Scheme, has been published by Aberdeenshire Council. The proposed flood alleviation scheme, which is valued at £2.9m, would mitigate the flooding of residential, non-residential, commercial and agricultural land in the town. The move is
20/01/2014
The B9075 South Nesting Road in Shetland is to remain closed as resurfacing works continue. Initially, the road was due to be closed at its junction with the A970 Lerwick to Voe Road and the Catfirth Brig from 14-17 January, but this has now been extended until 24 January. The closure will be in
20/01/2014
Aberdeen Council is to hold a public information session next week that will set out the development and infrastructure work being undertaken in the Dyce area. A number of significant new developments are being constructed across the city due to rapid growth and investment. This investment can part
20/01/2014
Helen Moonie, the Provost of South Ayrshire, has officially opened a new housing development in Maybole. The 13 homes, developed by Ayrshire Housing, have been constructed on a site that looks onto the Southern Uplands. The land was made available to the housing association through South Ayrshire
17/01/2014
Diageo has confirmed it plans to expand its Clynelish Distillery in Brora, Sutherland. The leading drinks business has said the investment, which is worth £30m, would take its on-going capital investment in the Highlands region to almost £150m. The Distillery produces single malt whisky and is h
17/01/2014
Aberdeenshire Council is to hold a public meeting to discuss plans for a stopover site for Gypsy/Travellers in the city. The proposals suggest a seasonal stopover site at Aikey Brae, near Old Deer. A public meeting on the project was held in May 2013 and discussions covered issues such as potent
17/01/2014
A new £15m laboratory has opened at Glasgow Royal Infirmary (GRI). The state-of-the-art facility, which will help with patient diagnosis, will provide a modern new home for Clinical Microbiology, the West of Scotland Specialist Virology Centre, which has relocated from Gartnavel General Hospital,
17/01/2014
Progress is continuing on a number of new affordable homes in Clydebank. The development, which is a joint partnership between Cube Housing Association and Barratt West Scotland, will see a mix of one- and two-bedroom flats constructed on the site of the former Clydebank College. More than 30 fl
17/01/2014
Plans have been submitted to construct a state-of-the-art, all-weather synthetic pitch at Trinity High School in Renfrewshire. The £400,000 investment also includes plans to resurface the playground at the back of the school in addition to replacing the existing blaes pitch. The new sports pitch w
17/01/2014
Aberdeen Council has approved plans for a new hydro scheme and fish pass. The investment could bring significant long-term ecological benefits to protected species. Earlier this week, members of the Council's Planning Development Management Committee approved the application by Gordon Investment
17/01/2014
Works to create a new civic space in Cornmill Square, Galashiels, is well underway, the local authority has said. The work commenced earlier this month and is part of the Galashiels Inner Relief Road improvements. Originally opened in 1913, Cornmill Square was constructed following the removal f
17/01/2014
Scottish Water is to invest £5.7m to improve the water infrastructure on the island of Mull. When completed, the system will provide clearer, fresher drinking water to residents in the Craignure and Tobermory areas. The first stage of the projectwill involve the installation of more than 11 mile
17/01/2014
The green light has been given by Angus Council to construct a new housing development in Carnoustie. The local authority's Planning Department agreed to approve plans to build a mix of 16 semi-detached and terraced homes on the site of the former Camus House care home. As part of the programme of
17/01/2014
Falkirk Council has said it is to continue to rollout its town centre regeneration scheme. To date, the strategy has helped to attract more than £34m of investment and grants to town centres across the council area. Now, the scheme will expand to help maximise future potential business opportuniti
16/01/2014
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has warned that increasing house prices could become "unsustainable" in some areas unless more homes are made available. In its latest market survey, it added that the number of homes coming onto the market is not enough to meet demand. Last mo
16/01/2014
Funds have been released to transform a visitor centre in Inverness On Wednesday, Highland Councillors agreed to support the re-branding and re-launch of the Inverness Floral Hall. They approved some £39,000 in funds towards a development plan for the initiative. There was also support of a busi
16/01/2014
A major milestone has been reached in the construction of a new road bridge in Moray. The structure will be over the River Lossie in Elgin. The 850-tonne weight of the bridge, which is a key component of Moray Council's £86m flood alleviation scheme for the town, has been supported from beneath
16/01/2014
Orkney Islands Council (OIC) has said it has secured more than £25,000 from Museums Galleries Scotland towards a refurbishment of the Scapa Flow Visitor Centre and Museum. It is understood the funds will be used to support the conservation of artefacts from the museum's collection during the works
16/01/2014
Details of a multi-million pound project to replace the Muirfield Community Centre in Cumbernauld are to be unveiled later this week. The plans will also launch a public consultation for the new £8m Cumbernauld Community Enterprise Centre, North Lanarkshire Council said. The local authority has
16/01/2014
Plans to construct a new hotel in Inverness have been recommended for approval by the Highland Council. Developer Carlton Rock Ltd has asked to construct a seven-storey building on the site at Glebe Street, which overlooks the River Ness. The hotel would have 165 bedrooms, a restaurant and loung
16/01/2014
New Gross Domestic Product figures released by the Scottish Government has revealed that the country's economy continues to go from strength to strength. Figures for quarter three report a strong performance in construction, services and manufacturing. For the months of July to September 2013, t
16/01/2014
A consultation on the first stage of a planning document for Aberdeenshire is to come to an end. The local authority has said members of the public will have until the end of January to comment on the Main Issues Report which deals with the future development of the area. The Main Issues Report
16/01/2014
Residents in East Renfrewshire could benefit from home improvement initiatives, the local authority has said. The £500,000 'mixed tenure improvement scheme' has also been carried out at some shared blocks in the area, with almost 100 homes in Barrhead and Neilston benefitting. The Council has sa
16/01/2014
MCK Construction have recently completed a project at a private dwelling in Scotland. The Montrose-based joinery and building contractor firm, which was established in August 2009, serves an area approximately 23 miles from Montrose, and covers the Brechin, Laurencekirk and Angus areas. Fully qu
15/01/2014
Argyll and Bute Council have released an update regarding the Helenburgh CHORD Project. Phase Two of the scheme commenced earlier this month, with improvement work beginning in Colquhoun Square. As part of the work, the existing hard surfaces, planted and turfed areas, and footpaths needed to be r
15/01/2014
The Highland Council has published its application for planning permission in principle for four major projects in the Torvean area of Inverness. The application includes the relocation of Torvean Golf Course at Charleston, the creation of a new sports hub on part of the golf course, the provision
15/01/2014
Aberdeen City Council has confirmed it is to extend its energy efficient district heating network. A further 287 properties in the Cornhill area of the city will benefit from the award-winning scheme. The initiative aims to provide energy efficient, low-cost heating to multi-storey blocks and pu
15/01/2014
Students at Inverness College UHI have submitted design plans for a terminal at Skye airfield. The architectural students worked together to plan a hub building and a hangar for a Twin Otter-size aircraft, the BBC has reported. The project is in connection to the Fly Skye campaign which wants co
15/01/2014
The next drop-in session regarding the Dunfermaline Flood Prevention Scheme is to be held next week. It will provide those affected by the scheme to discuss the construction plans with Council officers and site staff. This will be the seventh drop-in session, with further meetings scheduled to tak
15/01/2014
A new national plan, which proposes 14 infrastructure developments across Scotland to deliver economic growth, has been unveiled. The proposed National Planning Framework (NPF3) sets out a sustainable vision of growth and development and includes two new national developments. Following a period
15/01/2014
Detailed plans for a new primary school, located north of the river in Wick, have been approved by the Highland Council's North Planning Applications Committee. The proposals will see the school constructed on part of the existing playing fields which service the current North Primary School on Gi
15/01/2014
East Ayrshire Council has said essential building works are to be carried out at The Cross, Galston. As a result of the works, Cross Street will be closed until 7am on Thursday 16 January. This is to allow the construction of scaffolding at The Cooperative (7-9 Cross Street) where emergency repair
15/01/2014
The A. Proctor Group is to hold an exhibition at EcoBuild. The show takes place in London from 4-6 March 2014. Throughout the exhibition, the Blairgowrie-based firm will be showcasing its Roofshield range. The unique vapour and air permeability characteristics of Roofshield allows the most com
15/01/2014
Plans regarding Edinburgh's transport future have been approved. The new five-year Local Transport Strategy 2014-2019, will highlight a number of "forward-thinking objectives", the local authority has said. The Local Transport Strategy (LTS) sets out a number of key actions intended to:
14/01/2014
Graham Construction has been awarded a second contract in the £100m Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) Station Refurbishment Programme. The programme, which is part of a Subway Modernisation Stations and Accessibility work stream, will see all 15 stations across the system being refurbish
14/01/2014
Barratt Developments has reported a growth in sales over the past six months. The house builder said the Government's Help to Buy scheme has helped drive the demand. In its latest trading update, the firm said it had completed 6,195 new homes in the six months to the end of 2013; an increase of
14/01/2014
A new Marine Renewables Test Centre is to be created at the University of Dundee. The £2m centre will become a leading facility for the development, design and testing of marine renewable construction materials and prototype foundations. The facility is being supported by £833,000 of funding unv
14/01/2014
A record number of people are now employed in the renewable energy sector in Scotland, a new report has claimed. More than 540 companies were surveyed by independent researchers on behalf of Scottish Renewables for the study. Its findings suggest that 11,695 people are currently in full-time emp
14/01/2014
Councillor Drew Hendry, Leader of the Highland Council, has welcomed the progress on the Berriedale Braes project. In a statement, the local authority said Transport Minister Keith Brown had confirmed a public consultation on the preferred alignment of the route will take place soon. There are als
14/01/2014
Edinburgh Council is to discuss plans which could transform some of the city's underused sites. The proposals would see seven of the 15 public bowling greens maintained by the Council put to alternative use in a bid to combat falling levels of demand. If approved, changes would take place across
14/01/2014
Edinburgh Council has said it could save up to £280,000 a year with the roll-out of new street lighting. Following a successful pilot scheme last year, the decision was made to take the scheme throughout the capital. It is understood the initiative is to be discussed by the Transport and Environme
14/01/2014
Scottish Water has said there could be an increase in traffic and noise levels at the Dalmuir Waste Water Treatment Works. The firm started the £20m project in November 2013 and a scheduled completion date has been given of mid to late-2015. As part of the initiative, piling work is due to begin
14/01/2014
A new state-of-the-art community centre has opened in Auchendinny, Midlothian. The £1.2m facility – the Glencorse Centre – is located near north west Penicuik and was developed by the Glencorse Association, with support from the local authority, the Scottish Rural Development Programme and Charity
14/01/2014
The Selkirk Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS) is to host a series of seminars for local building contractors and professional agents. The three workshops, which are free to attend, will provide local companies with additional knowledge and skills needed in relation to the repair and mai
13/01/2014
The final phase of the A77 Improvement Scheme is to commence later this month. The £10.6m Symington and Bogend Toll scheme will improve access for road users. Contractor R J McLeod are carrying out the works and include widening the existing junctions, closing central reservations between Spitta
13/01/2014
The Highlands Astronomical Society (HAS) has voiced concerns over a new housing development in Culloden. Last week, planning permission was approved for 16 homes to be built close to the famous Culloden Battlefield site. Highland Councillors initially refused planning permission, but an appeal b
13/01/2014
Belleisle Park, Ayr, has secured more than £1.9m in funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). The award will be used to deliver a five-year masterplan to restore and rejuvenate the park. Through the Parks for People initiative, Belleisle was awarded £1,938,400 and plans for the funds include:
13/01/2014
The second phase of streetscape works is to begin today (13 January) in Wishaw town centre. As a result, Stewarton Street will be closed to traffic. North Lanarkshire Council has said The Cross will remain open and the traffic lights will be amended to take into account the closure and maintain tr
13/01/2014
Preparations for the second phase of the £13.2m Kessock Bridge improvement works are to begin today (13 January). BEAR Scotland has said the works, which will last for four weeks, will see scaffolding installed underneath the bridge deck. To allow this to take place, the local authority has said i
13/01/2014
The A. Proctor Group is to hold an exhibition at the Surface Design Show next month. The exhibition takes place from 4-6 February 2014. Throughout the event, the Blairgowrie-based firm will be showcasing both its painted and natural Timber Cladding ranges. Silverwood is a factory-finished painte
13/01/2014
Work at the site of a new road bridge is underway in Aberdeen. The third Don crossing, will link the Bridge of Don and Tillydrone, providing improved access to the north of the city. According to the BBC, tree felling commenced in the Gordons Mills Road area this morning as part of the project's
13/01/2014
A football club in the Scottish Borders is benefitting firm improved facilities. The work was carried out from Unpaid Work by offenders, which is one of the options courts can impose as part of a Community Payback Order (CPO). As part of the project at Selkirk Football Club, workers created new
10/01/2014
A new construction industry survey has said that house building has been showing continued signs of revival. According to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), there was also a report of improved infrastructure work among its Scottish members. More respondents said they expected t
10/01/2014
Gartocharn Primary School in West Dunbartonshire has secured funds of £100,000 to create a new sports facility. The local authority's Educational Services Committee agreed to match the £55,000 funding secured by Gartocharn Parent Council from SportsScotland to provide an all weather multi-use game
10/01/2014
Aberdeenshire Council has said the first stage of a multi-million pound redevelopment project at a north east park is complete. Contractors have spent the last two years at Haddo Country Park as they carried out a major redevelopment of the 18th century site, and last month they finished major bui
10/01/2014
North Ayrshire Council has said essential repairs to the Witches Bridge on Arran are due to commence on Sunday 12 January. As a result, a road closure is necessary in order to ensure the safety of both the workers and road users. The road will be closed between 9.30am and 3.30pm on the day. To k
10/01/2014
The Highland Council has said its deadline for the public to submit comments on the Dounreay Planning Framework is next week. The updated draft framework outlines a policy to deal with future land use and site restoration plans at the former nuclear power research site at Dounreay in Caithness.
10/01/2014
MacLay Civil Engineering has commenced work on Phase 2 of the Helensburgh CHORD project. This phase will see the transformation of Colquhoun Square. The project aims to make the square one of the key focal points of the town through a combination of improvements including:
10/01/2014
Barrhead Sports Centre will partially close today (10 January) as major improvement works are undertaken at the site. The closure is necessary to allow contractors to switch off the power at the building for a short time. As a result, the pool and gym will close from 12.30pm. The gym is expected t
10/01/2014
A summit on the future management of the Clyde is to be held later this year it has been announced. The event will bring together a number of representatives with a stake in how the Firth of Clyde is managed. It is part of the Clyde 2020 programme which explores ways to support regeneration of mar
09/01/2014
Transport Minister Keith Brown has announced a £750,000 fund towards a new cycle path from Strathyre to Kingshouse. The funding will be allocated to Sustrans Scotland who will work alongside the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park and Forestry Commission Scotland to build the 3.5km route.
09/01/2014
Plans to build a replacement for Portobello High School in Edinburgh is to go before MSPs later today (9 January). The controversial proposals have been referred to the Scottish Parliament because the land in question is part of a public park. The Parliament will be asked to support a private bi
09/01/2014
The Scottish Government has unveiled a £30m fund which will be used to build new train stations in the country. The monies can also be used to refurbish existing train stations and their associated facilities. Dumfries and Galloway Council has said it hopes, in partnership with SWestrans (South We
09/01/2014
Argyll and Bute Council, working with the Friends of Hermitage Park, has been awarded more than £2m to restore Hermitage Park in Helensburgh. The £2,087,200 grant will see a development of a whole park plan, including proposals for the A-listed monument and memorial gardens, community consultation
09/01/2014
Aberdeenshire Council has confirmed the restoration of Stonehaven Clock Tower has reached an important milestone. The first phase of work on the 18th century B-listed building has now been completed, with external work on the clock tower coming to an end. The exterior work on the building includ
09/01/2014
Three sheltered lounges in Dundee could be set to benefit from a series of upgrading works. Next week, the local authority's housing committee will hear of improvement plans worth just over £63,000 for Dryburgh, Strathmore Street and Morven Terrace. The works would be undertaken at the facilitie
08/01/2014
SSE has unveiled a £5.4m programme to help tackle fuel poverty in rural areas. The energy firm has said the scheme could reduce bills for 2,000 Scottish homes through a range of energy efficiency measures. The new funding will be made up of £1.4m from the Scottish Government's Home Energy Effici
08/01/2014
Planning permission for a housing development close to Culloden Battlefield has been approved. The development by Inverness Estates will see 16 homes constructed at Viewhill, around half a mile from the famous battle location. Members of the Highland Council had previously refused permission for
08/01/2014
GMB Scotland has said an overwhelming majority of its members have voted for strike action at a gas construction site in Shetland. The long-running dispute is said to be over accommodation and travelling time. GMB has now said unions will seek "urgent talks" with the main contractor in order to
08/01/2014
Moray Council has said it is to hold a two-day exhibition next week to update residents on the £86m Elgin flood alleviation scheme. The consultations will allow the public to see members of the project team and discuss the proposals, which are said to be the biggest of its kind undertaken in Scotl
08/01/2014
Almost £50,000 of improvement works are to be considered at Balgay Cemetery in Dundee. The Council's Environment Committee will discuss the proposals at a meeting next week. It is understood the plans come after a review into cemeteries in the city. Proposals for the planned improvements inclu
08/01/2014
Scottish Water is continuing a project to improve the waste water network in St Andrews. During the early phases of work in the A91, contractors encountered a number of unexpected ground conditions which delayed progress on the schedule. As a result, some of this was delayed until this month. It
07/01/2014
Award-winning national developer Dandara has confirmed the £3.82m sale of a new office and industrial premises in Aberdeenshire to IKM Property (UK). The 22,500 sq ft facility, located at Westhill Business Park, will be occupied by pipeline and process service specialist firm IKM Testing (UK) Ltd
07/01/2014
Aberdeen-based firm Amec has secured a North Sea contract with Nexen Petroleum, it has been reported. The company will provide engineering, procurement and construction services for Nexen's North Sea offshore assets. Nexen is a significant contributor to energy development in the UK. Around 150
07/01/2014
Significant regeneration plans for Stane Gardens in North Lanarkshire are to commence on 13 January. The project will cost around £3.45m. Under the proposals, and in partnership with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), the local authority has approved plans to clean up historical
07/01/2014
Hundreds of properties in Falkirk could be set to benefit from a home energy efficiency initiative. The £600k project is being funded by the Scottish Government under its Home Energy Efficiency Programme for Scotland (HEEPS) and Scottish Hydro through the Energy Company Obligation (ECO). It will
07/01/2014
A former community centre in Tillicoultry, Clackmannanshire, is to be demolished. The local authority confirmed work on demolishing the building will begin this month. It will involve stripping the building, which will then be followed by a controlled demolition. The site will then be cleared of t
07/01/2014
A footbridge located over River Findhorn at Broom of Moy, Moray, is to temporarily close later this month. The closure – which will be in place for one day – is essential to allow construction work to be completed. The bridge is part of the £40m Forres (River Findhorn and Pilmuir) flood alleviat
06/01/2014
A scheme has been designed to secure properties close to the Denburn, Aberdeen, from flooding. The scheme will provide protection from fluvial flooding for a one-in-200 year event for homes within the Queen's Cross/Fountainhall area and the Mackie Place/Jack Brae area. In 2012, the above areas w
06/01/2014
Perth Theatre has closed as part of a £15m refurbishment project, the BBC has reported. The theatre, which first opened in 1900, will be closed for up to three years while work is carried out. It closed its doors on Saturday night following the end of the season's pantomime shows. It is understo
06/01/2014
A total of £1m has been awarded by the Scottish Government to help secure the future of Millport marine base. The funding comes one year after the University of London said it was to close. The base is now expected to re-open in February with the new money. North Ayrshire Council has been awar
06/01/2014
Transport Minister Keith Brown has said work on the construction of the central Scotland motorway scheme is to begin. The £415m scheme will improve the central motorway network. In a statement, Mr Brown said: "The Central Scotland motorway network is moving closer to completion with Transport Sc
06/01/2014
Perth and Kinross Council has said restoration and improvement works in Blair Atholl are to commence this week. Work will start on 10 January 2014, and will see the enhancement of the public realm in the village. The project is being delivered as part of a £300,000 fund which has been secured th
06/01/2014
Scottish Water has completed work on a new £1.7m waste water treatment works (WWTW) at Caddonfoot. The work is part of a £12.5m programme of work which the firm is carrying out to improve and protect the natural environment of the River Tweed. The new WWTW at Caddonfoot, in the Scottish Borders,
