Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
Scotland Construction News Archive for August 2014
29/08/2014
A project to build a new Boroughmuir High School has moved forward following the appointment of a preferred contractor. O'Hare & McGovern has been selected by Edinburgh Council to construct the new school. Work is expected to commence in October, with a scheduled completion date of summer 2016.
29/08/2014
Bower and Kirkland has been named as the preferred contractor for a new National Performance Centre for Sport at Heriot Watt University. The £30m scheme will include a new full-size indoor 3G synthetic pitch for football and rugby use, a nine-court sports hall, grass and synthetic outdoor pitches,
29/08/2014
Plans to build two new primary schools in South Lanarkshire have been given the go ahead. The local authority's Planning Committee approved plans to rebuild Libberton Primary School, Clydesdale, and Kirklandpark Primary School and Nursery, Strathaven. Some £10m will be invested in the projects,
29/08/2014
Construction work is continuing on a new housing development in St Andrews, Fife. It will be the first council homes to be built in the town for 17 years. A total of 29 flats are being constructed at Abbey Walk, and will consist of 22 two-bedroom and seven three-bedroom homes. The project will
29/08/2014
A play park at Harestanes Countryside Visitor Centre is to temporarily close in order to allow essential maintenance to be carried out, the Scottish Borders Council has said. The closure will be in place from Monday 1 September and last until Friday 5 September. The work will involve upgrading t
29/08/2014
A new initiative is to be discussed by Perth and Kinross Council, which could see homeowners with properties at risk of flooding benefitting from a free flood risk survey. The pilot scheme by Perth & Kinross Council, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and the Scottish Flood Forum, would see the Pr
29/08/2014
The Highland Council has welcomed a decision by the Court of Session to send an application for a proposed waste-to-energy plant in Invergordon back to the Reporter. It is understood that the Court ruled the inquiry has to be re-opened, but only to deal with the issue of what waste will be handled
29/08/2014
Another phase of the Dundee Waterfront project has now been completed, the Council has announced. The finished section is part of the city's new £11m grid pattern of streets at the central waterfront location. In a statement, the local authority said the central section of the Northern Boulevard h
28/08/2014
Industry body Homes for Scotland has voiced its concerns in relation to new mortgage figures that have been released. It claims that the figures only serve to "reinforce" concerns on jobs and investment over Help to Buy funding within the sector. The latest statistics revealed that there has been
28/08/2014
A Park and Ride facility at Blantyre Railway Station in South Lanarkshire it set to have its capacity more than doubled. Work on the scheme, which will cost £325,000 and be funded by SPT, will commence in the coming months, the local authority has said, with a potential opening date of early 2015.
28/08/2014
Work on a new Children's House for Orkney has commenced in Kirkwall. The facility, in Watersfield in the town, is being built by Orkney Builders and will replace the former Camoran facility. Gillian Skuse, Chair of Orkney Health and Care, said: "It's extremely pleasing to see construction of thi
28/08/2014
Planning permission has been approved for a new convenience store in Bearsden. The store will be located on the Milnagavie Road, on the site of the former Kessington Service Station. East Dunbartonshire Council has said the existing building will be demolished to make way for the new 400 sq feet
28/08/2014
Scottish Water is continuing its work to upgrade the waste water infrastructure in Paisley. The project will help to improve the natural environment in the White Cart Water and River Clyde, the utility provider has said. From Monday (1 September), contractors will start to upsize the waste water p
28/08/2014
A public hearing is to be held today into plans to redevelop the site of the former Aberdeen City Council headquarters, it has been reported. Muse, the developers behind the £107m proposals, wish to build a hotel, office complex, shops and restaurants on the site after the former St Nicholas House
28/08/2014
The Highland Council has announced it has set aside funding to support a number of refurbishment or development projects in the area. One of the projects to benefit will be a hospice. A refurbishment of Ness House, as well as the new Netley Centre in Inverness, will be undertaken. It will cost a t
28/08/2014
A number of organised tours have taken place to allow the local community to explore the new Hillhead Community Centre. Located in Kirkintilloch, work on the new £2.7m facility was completed earlier this month. It will be officially opened in September. East Dunbartonshire Council Leader, Rhondd
27/08/2014
SSE has said progress continues to be made on the Beauly Denny project. In the latest series of works, a new electrical tower has been constructed – 2,500ft up a Scottish mountain. The tower, which is said to be the highest in the UK, is located on the Corrieyairack Pass, above Fort Augustus.
27/08/2014
Balfour Beatty has been selected to construct the £14.3m Third Don Crossing project, on behalf of Aberdeen City Council. The contractor will be responsible for building a major crossing over the River Don, as well as a smaller bridge across a mill lade. There will also be 2.5km of road to be const
27/08/2014
Dumfries and Galloway Council has confirmed repair work is needed on part of its current regeneration programme in the town. Two new bus shelters were erected as part of the scheme, but it is understood a roof panel has shattered in each shelter. They have been forced to close until repairs are ca
27/08/2014
East Lothian Council has confirmed it is looking at the opportunities available if Cockenzie Power Station was to be redeveloped. The benefits of such a project, in relation to both the creation of new jobs in the area and to the local economy as a whole, were discussed at a council meeting on Tue
27/08/2014
A new 3G pitch has been installed at Lochgilphead Joint Campus, the local authority has said. Earlier this year, following a life cycle review by Argyll & Bute Council and its project partner ABC Schools, it was decided to replace the old playing surface at the campus. The new all-weather pitch
27/08/2014
The Highland Council has confirmed that Bank Street in Inverness will close from Monday 1 September until Friday 28 November 2014. It will close to through-traffic from Fraser Street to Friars Street. Bank Street was re-opened for the summer months to accommodate the increase in traffic while the
27/08/2014
Lovell, the housing developer and regeneration specialist, has been presented with a Gold Award for Customer Satisfaction in a recent independent survey of new homebuyers. The survey was carried out by In-house Research, and saw the construction firm, which is based at Glasgow Business Park, scoop
27/08/2014
A new clubhouse is to be created at Belleisle Golf Clyb in Ayr. South Ayrshire Council, which is funding the £1.5m project, has said work should be completed in time for the 2015 golfing season. The clubhouse will be made available to golfers playing Belleisle as well as its sister course, Seafiel
26/08/2014
A petition has been lodged to ask for a judicial review of a decision to approve a 67-turbine wind farm in the Monadhliath Mountains, it has been revealed. The John Muir Trust is behind the petition, which challenges the decision Energy Minister Fergus Ewing made in June regarding the development.
26/08/2014
A tidal energy project approved for construction last week is to have additional turbines installed, it has been reported. Last week, Atlantis Resources said it was to start installing devices in the Pentland Firth. The project would take two years to complete, and initially four turbines were to
26/08/2014
A total of £600,000 is to be invested at the Balmaha Waste Water Treatment Works (WWTW), it has been announced. The project, being carried out by contractors Veolia Water on behalf of Scottish Water, will see the east section of Loch Lomond benefit from the investment and allow the utility provide
26/08/2014
The Ferguson shipyard, located in Port Glasgow, is to be upgraded and expanded, it has been reported. Earlier this month, the business announced it was to close with the the loss of 70 jobs. Three bids were then submitted for the business. On Monday (25 August), Clyde Blowers Capital was named as
26/08/2014
An initiative to develop an affordable housing scheme for disabled veterans in Edinburgh is to receive additional funding of £250,000. Proposed by the Scottish Veterans Garden City Association (SVGCA), the project will see five accessible homes constructed in the north of the city, at Salvesen Gar
26/08/2014
A £1m Big Lottery Fund investment has been announced for a proposed new community centre in Forgewood, Motherwell. Forgewood Housing Co-operative is behind the plans and is one of 11 projects to benefit from a share of almost £6m from the Big Lottery Fund Scotland's Investing in Communities progra
26/08/2014
A 17th Century burial chamber located at Dunlop Parish Church in East Ayrshire, is to be restored thanks to £7,490 in funding from Historic Scotland. The chamber was built in 1641 by James, Viscount Clandeboye for his parents – Hans Hamilton and Janet Dedholm. The sandstone structure has a crowste
26/08/2014
A £5.5m refurbishment programme at Argowan Primary School, Greenock, continues to progress. The project is part of Inverclyde Council's £210m Schools Estate Programme which aims to deliver new and refurbished schools throughout the area. The development will see a new three-storey extension cons
22/08/2014
Construction work on one of the world's largest tidal power projects is to begin later this year in the Pentland Firth. The 269-turbine development, upon completion, could power up to 175,000 homes as well as provide support for more than 100 jobs in the north of Scotland. The MeyGen scheme has
22/08/2014
Plans to transform the former oil fabrication yard at Ardersier and bring it back into use have been approved. The Scottish Government granted permission for the scheme to go ahead. The company behind the proposals, Port of Ardersier Ltd, had already secured planning permission in principle from t
22/08/2014
A planning application to build a 32-turbine wind farm near Bonar Bridge in the Highlands has been rejected. Making a ruling on the matter on Thursday (22 August), Energy Minister Fergus Ewing said he was in agreement with the findings of the Public Local Inquiry Reporter which said the wind farm
22/08/2014
The running track at Glasgow's Hampden Park, which was used at this year's Commonwealth Games, is to be moved to another venue it has been confirmed. The track will be lifted and moved to Grangemouth Stadium, Falkirk. As part of the Games legacy programme, the Falkirk Community Trust (FCT) appli
22/08/2014
A new housing development is to be created in Aberdeen, which will be used, primarily, by NHS staff. The proposals, which have been announced by Health Secretary Alex Neil, will see he homes constructed on the Craiginches site in the city. The land belonged to a former prison and has been sold to
22/08/2014
The number of new homes constructed in Scotland has increased by 7% in the last year, official figures have revealed. This is the first annual increase since before the recession, the Scottish Government has said. In the year to March 2014, 15,957 new homes were built in the country, compared to
21/08/2014
Construction work has started on a new Waitrose store in Milngavie. Barr Construction has been appointed the main contractor for the project by developer Town Centre Securities. The development will see the new Waitrose supermarket built on West of Scotland Football Club's roadside pitch. An all
21/08/2014
Plans have been approved for a new power station on the Shetland Islands. The facility, Lerwick Power Station, will help to improve electricity supplies in the area. It will replace the current power station which is set to be decommissioned following the construction and commissioning of the new
21/08/2014
The Borders Railway will be operational from 6 September 2015, it has been confirmed. The announcement by First Minister Alex Salmond comes as work continues to progress well on the scheme. Work on the project is now starting to move away from the heavy civil engineering aspect and to track laying
21/08/2014
Councillors in Aberdeen have approved plans to construct hundreds of new homes across the city. Following a meeting of city Councillors on Wednesday (20 August), it was agreed that the homes will be built on eight sites. The initiatives are one of the priorities outlined in the local authority's S
21/08/2014
A new £24m office development in the East End of Glasgow is to become the new home of Police Scotland. On Wednesday, Police Scotland confirmed it will be the sole occupant of Riverside East, a five-storey building in Dalmarnock. Construction work on the project is due to be completed in November
21/08/2014
Planning permission to construct a new pier facility in Argyll and Bute has been approved by Councillors. The North Pier Maritime Visitor Facility, formerly known as the White Building, will surround a circular gathering space and be covered by a timber and glass canopy. The centre itself will inc
21/08/2014
Additional protective measures are to be given to Scotland's countryside from hilltracks, it has been announced. The new planning controls have been unveiled by Local Government and Planning Minister Derek Mackay. It is understood a prior notification and approval process will be introduced which
21/08/2014
Falkirk Council has agreed to plans to bring empty properties back into residential use. The five-year plan will run from 2014 to 2019 and aims to increase the supply of local affordable housing. Since April, the local authority has said 62 properties have been transformed and brought back into
21/08/2014
An investment of £500m is to be made in infrastructure in Glasgow by the Scottish Government, it has confirmed. Working alongside the eight local authorities in Glasgow and Clyde Valley, as well as the UK Treasury, the funding will bring the total infrastructure fund for the area to £1.13bn over t
21/08/2014
More than 50 homes in Whitfield, Dundee, could be set to benefit from home improvement measures. Plans for the properties are to be discussed by the Council next week. If a tender for the works is approved, some £795,000 will be invested in the scheme. It will see properties in Whitfield and Murra
20/08/2014
The GMB union has hit out at the "grossly inadequate" offer of compensation being offered to blacklisted construction workers. The eight companies that have set up the compensation scheme have said for affected workers to contact them. The scheme offers payments ranging from £4,000 to £100,000, bu
20/08/2014
More than £1.5m has been set aside to repair seven of Scotland's historic buildings. The restoration work is being funded by Historic Scotland's Building Repairs Grants scheme. Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs, made the announcement during a visit to Hospitalfield
20/08/2014
The names of two new hospitals have been chosen, the Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Board has confirmed. Both facilities will be located on the Southern General campus. The adult hospital will replace the existing Southern General Hospital, Western Infirmary, Victoria Infirmary and Mansionhouse Uni
20/08/2014
A planning application to build a 20-turbine wind farm at Glen Kyllachy, Tomatin, has been refused by the Highland Council. The Planning Applications Committee said the proposal "contravenes Policy 67 of the Highland Wide Local Development Plan". That is, it would have a significant detrimental vi
20/08/2014
A new study has found that one million people living in Scotland cannot afford adequate housing. A further 800,000 are too poor to engage in common social activities, more than 250,000 – including children and adults – are not fed properly. The findings are part of the Poverty and Social Exclusion
20/08/2014
A site has been chosen for a new Archive Centre in Dumfries, it has been confirmed. Following a meeting of the local authority's Community and Customer Services Committee on Tuesday (19 August), it was decided that the preferred site is that of the Ewert Library, located on Catherine Street. It
20/08/2014
St Andrews University has signed a 25-year lease as part of a rescue deal for Fife's Byre Theatre. The move means the iconic facility will once again open its doors as a theatre, educational resource, general arts venue and music centre. The venue was forced to close in January 2013 due to a lac
20/08/2014
RJ McLeod Ltd has been announced as the successful tenderer for the Great Glen Cycle route. The £2.9m route, which is located between Fort William and Inverness, is 66 miles long and passes along the length of the Great Glen. It will take in local roads, canal towpaths and forestry roads, as well
20/08/2014
Ineos has confirmed it has purchased a licence for shale gas exploration in Scotland. The licence will cover 329 sq km of the Midland Valley, which includes the firm's Grangemouth site. Ineos Upstream, the company's new oil and gas exploration and production business, has bought a majority share
20/08/2014
Dumfries and Galloway Council has issued an apology to businesses and residents in the local area after another deadline to complete works on the Burns Statue was missed. The improvement works, valued at £1m, were initially supposed to be completed by mid-June, but this was not achieved due to "un
19/08/2014
More than 4,000 new council homes have been built throughout Scotland since April 2009, newly-released figures have revealed. Described as a "huge boost" to the economy, the Scottish Government Council House Build Programme has seen more than £135m invested to provide council housing for people in
19/08/2014
A new green energy facility is to be created in Speyside, it has been announced. The plans for the £74m facility have been unveiled by John Laing and the UK Green Investment Bank (GIB), and will be developed by Estover Energy Ltd. According to the UK GIB, the new biomass Combined Heat and Power
19/08/2014
Transport Scotland has published a contract notice to move forward with the detailed design work of the first section of the A96 dualling programme. The contract, worth at least £30m, will see a multi-disciplinary consultant develop, assess and promote the preferred option for the A96 Inverness to
19/08/2014
A planning application has been submitted to increase the size of a wind farm located between the Scottish Borders and East Lothian, it has been reported. The proposals, which have been put forward to the Scottish Government, are in relation to the Crystal Rig wind farm in the Lammermuir Hills.
19/08/2014
Plans to develop a vacant site in Dundee are to be discussed by the local authority's city development committee. The site is that of the former Maxwelltown Works on Alexander Street. A draft site planning brief is expected to be discussed by the committee next week before it is then put out to co
19/08/2014
A 14-home development in Ullapool is nearing completion, the Highland Council has said. Around £1.75m has been invested by the local authority and the Scottish Government into the project. The investment has transformed the derelict site of a former hotel into 14 new cottage flats. Ten of the
19/08/2014
Aberdeen Council has confirmed that a section of the Mugiemoss Road has reopened. The road was forced to close in March in order to allow essential work to be carried out on a new housing development, but on Monday (18 August), motorists were able to access the route once again. In a statement,
19/08/2014
Kier Mining has scooped a Gold award at this year's Scottish Green Apple Awards. It was awarded the prize in the category of 'Green Practices', for its work regarding the Greenburn surface coal mine in New Cumnock, Ayrshire. In their decision, the judges were said to be impressed by the firm's s
18/08/2014
Two new health projects have been approved by the Scottish Government, totalling more than £90m. The initiatives include the development of the East Lothian Community Hospital, as well as the refurbishment of operating theatres at Monklands General Hospital. At East Lothian Community Hospital, the
18/08/2014
Plans to construct a new film studio have been submitted to Midlothian Council. It is understood the facility would be located on the outskirts of Edinburgh and would provide both studio space and production facilities. The £40m Pentland Studios would be in the Straiton area of the city, and the
18/08/2014
The Scottish Government has confirmed it will make a financial contribution towards replacement PE facilities at Liberton High School. Details of the agreement are included in the Liberton High School report which will be discussed by the local authority later this week. However, it is understood
18/08/2014
A series of new road maintenance contracts have come into force in the east of Scotland, it has been announced. The contracts will result in improved maintenance arrangements, as well as higher levels of service for road users, Transport Scotland has said. Under the fourth generation contracts,
18/08/2014
A new £20m local energy challenge fund has been launched by First Minister Alex Salmond. According to the Minister, the fund will help to "reshape how energy is delivered and used" in communities throughout Scotland. Through the Community and Renewable Energy Scheme, (CARES) Local Energy Challen
18/08/2014
A site for a new Archive and Local Studies Centre in Dumfries is to be chosen by the local authority tomorrow (19 August). It is understood Dumfries and Galloway Council's Community and Customer Services Committee will be presented with the four available options for the facility before coming to
15/08/2014
Construction work has been completed at a gin distillery in Caithness, the most northerly distillery in mainland Britain. Dunnet Bay Distillers, which is run by husband and wife team Martin and Claire Murray, custom-built the facility, and the first batches of Rock Rose gin have already been disti
15/08/2014
New statistics have revealed that there has been a fall in the number of people living in social houses. Over the past 14 years, the proportion of households in social rented homes is said to have fallen by almost 10%. According to the 2013 Scottish Household Survey, the number of households in th
15/08/2014
Construction work has started on the site of the former Broxburn Primary School in West Lothian. The land will be transformed to accommodate a new council housing development. Located off West Main Street, a total of 18 homes will be built by Lovell Partnerships Ltd and will consist of one and t
15/08/2014
The Scottish Government has said it will object moves that will remove the right of householders to oppose fracking companies drilling underneath their homes. The proposals are coming from the UK Government, which would allow companies to drill below people's land – without negotiating a right of
15/08/2014
A new 3,000-home development has been recommended for approval by planning officials at Aberdeen City Council. According to reports, the 528-acre site would be located between Kingswells and Cults, to the west of Hazlehead Park. The development would have to meet certain conditions, however, such
15/08/2014
Moray Council has said its partially completed flood alleviation schemes in Elgin and Forres helped to save hundreds of homes and businesses from flooding earlier this week. The local authority referred to analysis of flow volumes in both the River Lossie and River Findhorn and was able to confirm
15/08/2014
The first students from a new programme designed to help young, unemployed people into work within the construction industry have graduated, Homes For Scotland has said. A total of 14 young people took part in the five-week pilot course, Get Into Home Building, at Edinburgh College, where they lea
15/08/2014
A public consultation is to be held with the local community in Aberdeenshire regarding the future provision of play parks in the area. The consultation will involve a series of public meetings and presentations and the feedback received will be used to help shape proposed developments. Currently,
15/08/2014
A road closure is in place on the A875, near Killearn, Stirlingshire, due to a damaged gas main. In a statement, Scottish Water confirmed the closure starts just north of Killearn and runs to its junction with the B818. It was enforced after a contractor working on behalf of the utility provider d
15/08/2014
A new £22m Asda supermarket has opened on Main Street in Barrhead. The 25,000 square foot store includes a pizza counter, a bakery counter, a clothing section and a new born baby department. Welcoming the opening of the store, Provost Alastair Carmichael said: "We have worked closely with Asda s
14/08/2014
Balfour Beatty has confirmed it has been award the contract for the new £28m Portobello High School in Edinburgh. The school, once completed, will be the largest in the city and will accommodate some 1,400 pupils within the catchment area. The construction firm will be responsible for the design a
14/08/2014
A new survey has revealed that house prices in Scotland continue to remain steady. It is thought growing demand, as well as a lack of supply of properties, has contributed to the results. The findings, by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), are said to be in contrast to the rest
14/08/2014
The Letters to Loggie Road, west of Loch Broom just off the A835 Ullapool Road, has temporarily closed, the Highland Council has said. The closure has been deemed necessary as emergency repairs need to be carried out to the road after a landslip occurred on the west side of Loch Broom. It is und
14/08/2014
A new national centre is to be established in Dumfries that will help improve Scotland's responses to natural hazards, such as flooding. The centre will be located at Crichton Campus and will also act as a national hub, coordinating work to discover how communities and local emergency responders c
14/08/2014
A public information evening being held in relation to new community facilities in Banff is to be held this evening (14 August). The consultation was initially due to take place earlier this week. The meeting, which has been organised by Aberdeenshire Council, will allow the local community of B
14/08/2014
Turner & Townsend has reached a "significant milestone" in the £100m mixed-use development in Glasgow. The firm has now handed over the first 200 homes of the Laurieston Transformational Regeneration Area to New Gorbals Housing Association. In a statement, Turner & Townsend said it was providing a
14/08/2014
Markinch Hill in Fife is set to undergo a number of improvement works to transform the facility into a community recreational area. The news comes after Glenrothes Area Committee said it had awarded £3,000 to the Markinch Environmental Action Group. The fund, which is being provided from the Marki
14/08/2014
The Highland Council has issued a statement, assuring the local community in Caol that the correct planning procedures were followed in relation to a new £7m Gaelic school being constructed in Lochaber. Councillor Thomas Prag, Chairman of the Highland Council's Planning, Development and Infrastruc
14/08/2014
SSE has opened up Peterhead Power Station to the local community for a tour of the site. Almost 100 people attended the event which provided a guided tour of the facility, as well as information regarding future plans for a carbon capture storage (CCS) project. Following a presentation on the CC
14/08/2014
A total of 23 new classrooms have opened in Edinburgh. The new facilities aim to address an increase in the number of children enrolling in schools in the city. At Victoria Primary School, St David's RC Primary School, Craigour Park and Broughton Primary Schools, a total of 18 high quality class
13/08/2014
Two projects which have helped to transform the environment of Falkirk have been awarded at this year's Green Apple Environment Awards. The Green Apple Award is a national campaign to find Scotland's greenest companies, councils and communities, and this year, the Falkirk Greenspace Initiative and
13/08/2014
The turf has been cut at the site of the new Inverness Academy, signalling the start of construction works. The £34m Inverness Royal Academy campus is being delivered as part of the Highland Council's modern schools building programme. The new school will replace the current Inverness Royal Academ
13/08/2014
A second large design contract for the A9 dualling programme has been awarded, Transport Scotland has confirmed. Each of the three designs is estimated to be worth between £40m and £60m. This contract, which will see the 32-mile stretch of the A9 between the Pass of Burnam and Glen Garry dualled,
13/08/2014
Thirty new homes are being built on a plot of land at the former St Patrick's Primary School in Kilsyth, North Lanarkshire. The £3.8m project will see a mix of three, four and five-bedroom apartments, bungalows and houses constructed. Work on the development, known as Fisher Avenue, is scheduled f
13/08/2014
An engineer's report has revealed that a pedestrian bridge at Sponish, Lochmaddy, is unfit for use, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has announced. The inspection report found that the structure, initially constructed in the late 1980s, is in need of restoration work. The local authority has added that d
13/08/2014
Work on a new 35-home development is underway at Falkirk Road, Bonnybridge, it has been announced. The £4.2m project by Link Group is expected to be completed by July 2015. The properties will meet Link's design standards for affordable housing and will consist of 14 two-bedroom flats for social
13/08/2014
Angus Cockburn, the interim chief executive of Aggreko, is to leave the firm and join Serco. He will join his former boss, Rupert Soames, at the outsourcing firm. In a statement, Serco said Mr Cockburn will take up his new position as group chief financial officer from the end of October. Mr Coc
13/08/2014
Argyll and Bute Council has said phase two of the Helensburgh CHORD project is nearing completion. This phase of works, which focuses around Colquhoun Square, is set to finish at the end of August. Following this, it is anticipated that phase three will begin in September, with phase four starti
13/08/2014
Progress is being made on a number of new housing developments in East Ayrshire. Construction work is currently underway on sites in Kilmarnock and Stewarton, as well as Cumnock, Darvel, Galston and Mauchline, the local authority has said. The Council's Strategic Housing Investment Programme will
13/08/2014
Hunting Energy Services has secured £10.7m worth of contracts to supply specialist well equipment to clients in the Far East. Hunting, which is based at Portlethen in Aberdeenshire, has said the agreements include one with a Malaysian oilfield services company, Deleum, which would see the firm sup
12/08/2014
The Scottish Government has said it will consider emergency funding for local authorities in order to help deal with the costs of flood damage. The Bellwin Scheme was activated on Monday following representations from Moray Council, it is understood. The scheme provides special financial assistanc
12/08/2014
Work is due to begin on a new bridge across the river at Dean Road, Kilmarnock. The structure will replace the Dean Ford which has become difficult, and sometimes impossible, to cross if there is flooding, for example. The project will commence on 18 August and will see the existing ford and Lau
12/08/2014
Aker Solutions has confirmed it is to lease a new office complex in Aberdeen on a 20-year contract. The move is said to be part of a planned expansion in the UK. The facility, which is currently under development, will consist of three interconnected buildings in the Aberdeen International Busines
12/08/2014
Work is continuing to progress at the site of a £1.3m dock development project in Westway Park, Renfrewshire. The 53-hectare site was one of the first locations in Scotland to receive funding from the Scottish Government's National Renewable Infrastructure Fund (N-RIF), which is managed by Scottis
12/08/2014
Hebridean Housing Partnership (HHP) has said it is to invest an additional £12m in its housing stock over the next four years. Already, the partnership has said expressions of interest have been invited from contractors to undertake the work. The improvements would include central heating installa
12/08/2014
Planned improvements to a junction in Kirkintilloch are to be tested over the next month as part of an initiative to reinvigorate the town centre. The junction, between Catherine Street and Cowgate, will see a number of temporary measures in place. They include: • Deactivation of traffic lights
12/08/2014
A consultation event has been organised by North Lanarkshire Council and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) in relation to the regeneration of Stane Gardens. The meeting will allow the local community to share their views on the proposals for the site. The plans include the restor
12/08/2014
Work has been completed on two new homes in Bonawe by Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA). The two-bedroom family homes were funded by a grant and loan facility by the local authority's Strategic Housing Fund. The Council has a specific grant facility for rural housing development. Stewa
12/08/2014
A year-long restoration project to one of Paisley's landmarks has been completed, Renfrewshire Council has announced. In 2013, the town's A-listed Grand Fountain, which is located in the Fountain Gardens, was dismantled and removed from the site to be repaired by a specialist team before being ret
12/08/2014
Stewart Milne, Chairman of Aberdeen Football Club, has said he would like the club to have a new stadium by 2017. He added that he plans to announce details of a new training facility later this year. The comments were made by Mr Milne in an interview with BBC Scotland. He is quoted as saying:
11/08/2014
Barratt Homes has said it will continue with plans to construct up to 400 new homes in east Scotland. According to reports, the house builder is set to construct 139 homes at Duddingston Park South in Duddingston, and a further 165 at Newcraighall Village. An additional 102 affordable properties w
11/08/2014
A floating hotel boat is set to be berthed next to the Royal Yacht Britannia in Edinburgh. Around £1m will be spent to transform the ship and convert it into a 25-bedroom luxury "boatique" hotel, which will eventually be berthed permanently in the port of Leith. Launched in August 1963, the MV W
11/08/2014
Preparatory works are to begin on the Aberdeen bypass this week, it has been announced. In a statement, Transport Minister Keith Brown confirmed the preferred bidder for the contract – Connect Roads – is to start on the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route/Balmedie Tipperty (AWPR) scheme. The pre-s
11/08/2014
Plans to construct a new skate park in Jedburgh have been resubmitted, it is understood. The proposals are to build the facility on a riverside area in the town. Last year, an application was submitted by the Jed Skatepark Group to the Scottish Borders Council. It aimed to construct a grassy are
11/08/2014
The Glasgow School of Art (GSA) has started the tender process to appoint an architect-led design team for the restoration of its fire damaged Mackintosh building. In May, the historic A-listed building was partially destroyed when the blaze happened. At one stage, around 200 firefighters tackled
11/08/2014
A series of improvement works are to be carried out at Paisley Museum and Art Galleries. The project will take place over a period of seven weeks and will include the installation of a new chair lift and stairway, which will help improve access to the facility for wheelchair users or those with re
11/08/2014
Plans for two small housing developments on separate sites in Perth have been unveiled by Perth & Kinross Council. The projects would be located in the villages of Alyth and Balbeggie respectively and will offer a total of 27 homes available for social rent. Designed by Holmes Miller, the developm
11/08/2014
West Lothian Council has said there are still vacancies on a number of construction programmes at West Lothian College. The courses, which commence in August, cater for different entry levels, including: • National Certificate: Built Environment (as a full-time or part-time option course), which p
11/08/2014
Dundee City Council has taken charge of a service that will help match individuals who need a home, with a landlord. The Homefinder Service, which was formerly run by Transform, has been transferred to the local authority due to budget savings that were agreed earlier this year. John Alexander,
11/08/2014
SSE has published the response to its 'Connecting Orkney – Electricity Network Reinforcement' consultation which took place earlier this year. The consultation asked for views from a number of stakeholders regarding the electricity network on Orkney, as well as options for reinforcement. Outlining
08/08/2014
A new cycle path has been officially opened in North Lanarkshire. The 1km route runs from Calderbank to Airdrie and has been made possible by the local authority with funding available from Sustrans and the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT). A section of the new path is part of the Sou
08/08/2014
A £4m grant has been announced to help develop a new deepwater quayside at the Port of Cromarty Firth. The funding has been made available by the Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). The latest monies brings the total redevelopment scheme to £25m. The 35-acre Invergordon Service Base, which i
08/08/2014
A new community facility in Mearns, Aberdeenshire, is to open its doors later this month. An open day will be held for the local community ahead of its formal opening, it is understood. On Sunday 17 August, a preview event will be held at the Mearns Academy Community Campus, from 10.30am to 4pm,
08/08/2014
Work to upgrade Glendevon Footbridge at Main Street, Winchburgh, is set to begin later this month. Located on the B9080, the bridge carried the pedestrian footpath over the Union Canal. A total of £75,000 will be invested in the scheme which will include steelwork repairs, the repainting of the s
08/08/2014
The refurbished Lodge Forest Visitor Centre in Aberfoyle has been awarded five-star status by VisitScotland's Quality Assurance scheme it has been revealed. Last year, the centre underwent a £2.4m refurbishment by Forestry Commission Scotland. Located on a hill, just off The Duke's Pass, the facil
08/08/2014
Work has started to clear tons of sediment from a boating pond in Cooper Park, Elgin. Earlier this year, a project was carried out to drain the pond in order to allow a retaining wall and embankment to be constructed at the north end. The work is part of the town's £86m flood alleviation scheme.
08/08/2014
Aberdeen City Council is to update residents on how the city is being shaped for the future. The initiative, known as Shaping Aberdeen, is a long-term plan which aims to build on establishing strong foundations, demonstrate the city's strengths and carry out ongoing improvements within the area. T
08/08/2014
A series of temporary road and bridge closures have been put in place by the Highland Council. In the Stratherrick area, located south of Inverness, the Gourag Bridge on the U1221 Loch Bran – Boleskine – Garthbeg Road has been closed with immediate effect. The local authority has said the move has
08/08/2014
Tenants of Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA) has voiced its support for affordable housing in the area. The support comes as ACHA confirms it met the Council's submissions deadline for a proposed housing development at the former Rockfield School site. The Association's plans would inv
08/08/2014
The SPIE Group has confirmed its acquisition of Scotshield Fire & Security. In a statement, the group said the move will enable it to develop its expertise in Intelligent Buildings. It is a new market for the firm, but it will also simultaneously build on its existing portfolio. Established in S
07/08/2014
A consultation regarding the future regeneration of Muirton Park is to begin tomorrow (Friday). The consultation will allow the local community to get have their say on the proposed plans for the area. Organised by Caledonia Housing Association, the events will run from 8 August until 5 September
07/08/2014
A new £9m para-sports facility is to be built at the sportscotland National Sports Centre Inverclyde, it has been announced. The development, located in North Ayrshire, will be the first centre of its kind in the UK and will allow disabled athletes to train at world-class, fully-integrated, multi-
07/08/2014
A major maintenance project has commenced at Hunterston B power station. EDF Energy confirmed that one of the two units at the power station has been temporarily switched off for its statutory outage, in order to allow the work to be carried out. Each of the two generating units at Hunterston B i
07/08/2014
The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) Scotland has appointed an interim director. Catherine Lowe, who is the current interim head of learning and development at CIH Scotland, will begin her new role at the end of the month when current director Alan Ferguson steps down. Earlier this year, the
07/08/2014
A new 17km section of Scotland's The Great Glen Way has been officially opened. The £1m project moved the path higher up the hill above the tree line, taking walkers away from tree felling areas and opening up to views to the north and south of Loch Ness. The route, which is co-managed by Forest
07/08/2014
Stewart Milne has stepped down as chief executive from his company. The move comes as the housebuilding firm continues with its expansion plans. It is understood that Mr Milne will remain with the Aberdeenshire-based business and will provide overall leadership as executive chairman. His role wi
07/08/2014
A project to develop a new play park in Selkirk is moving forward after a contractor was appointed to the scheme. Wicksteed Leisure has been named as the contractor to carry out the project, which has been made possible by a £248,750 grant from the Big Lottery Fund Scotland's Community Spaces prog
07/08/2014
A proposal to build a housing development on the site of a former prison has been supported by Councillors in Angus. The plans would 48 homes constructed on the former HMP Noranside estate, and involve demolishing the cell blocks and farm buildings on the land, while the stable block and the B-lis
07/08/2014
Scotland's largest marine energy conference has been awarded the Scottish Cities Global Excellence status. The award is part of the Commonwealth Games legacy programme. The Scottish Renewables' Marine Conference, Exhibition and Dinner, will be held in Inverness on September 23 and 24, will showcas
07/08/2014
The former Camoran Children's House in Kirkwall is for sale, Orkney Islands Council (OIC) has confirmed. The property is located in a residential area close to the Easdale Loan and Holm Road junction, within walking distance of many of Kirkwall's amenities. The building itself is on a site of appr
06/08/2014
Almost 100 new affordable homes are to be constructed at Western Harbour in Leith as part of the National Housing Trust (NHT) initiative. The announcement comes after all 422 built under the first round of NHT procurement in the city has been completed. Welcoming the news, Housing Minister Marga
06/08/2014
Councillors in Moray have given the go ahead for the £100m redevelopment of a distillery in Speyside. The plans will see the construction of a new distillery and visitor centre created at Macallan Distillery, near Craigellachie, in the area. The existing facility will be mothballed, while visitor
06/08/2014
Scottish Hydro Electric (SHE) Transmission has confirmed it is to strengthen the transmission network on Kintyre. The Kintyre to Hunterston Connection will reinforce the 132kV transmission network on Kintyre, by providing a new 132kV connection between Carradale Substation and the new Crossaig sub
06/08/2014
Donald Trump has revealed he plans to create a new clubhouse at his golf course in Menie, Aberdeenshire. The plans are thought to be a scaled-down version of a design that was granted planning permission in 2012. The property tycoon has previously said that no work on a hotel and a second golf cou
06/08/2014
Another key milestone has been met as construction progresses on the Queensferry Crossing, it has been confirmed. The news was revealed as Transport Minister Keith Brown visited the site. It is understood all three of the structure's main towers have now reached the bridge deck level. Recent con
06/08/2014
A roads improvement scheme is set to commence tomorrow (7 August) in the Rutherglen and Cambuslang areas of South Lanarkshire. From Thursday 7 August until Tuesday 12 August, carriageway resurfacing works will begin on Greenhill Road, Rutherglen, between Mill Street and Stonelaw Road. An alternati
06/08/2014
A new link path in Benderloch has been completed by Argyll and Bute Council. The path connects a sheltered housing complex at Ford Spence Court in the area to the newly-constructed Sustrans National Cycle Network (NCN) route 78. Despite being part of the cycle network, the routes are also popula
06/08/2014
The new Aberdeen Community Health and Care Village has been officially opened. The Health Village, which is located on Frederick Street, provides a number of diagnostic and treatment services for the local community, as well as advice and opportunities to remain healthy and independent. Katherin
06/08/2014
Excavation work at a development site in Stirling was forced to stop recently following the discovery of human remains. Last week, it was revealed that at least one skeleton was uncovered at a site located opposite Stirling Railway Station during an archaeological excavation project. Further remains
06/08/2014
Golf facilities in South Ayrshire are set to be upgraded after the local authority agreed to a series of proposals that will not only build on the current support base, but also encourage new investment. Currently, the sport is worth around £4m to South Ayrshire, but the Council has said it wants
05/08/2014
Plans to create a new restaurant and cinema development in Aberdeen city centre have been submitted to the Council, it has been confirmed. The plans for the multi-million pound initiative would see the Bon Accord & St Nicholas shopping centres expand. As many as 300 jobs cold be created by the dev
05/08/2014
Aggreko, the temporary power firm, has reported a fall in its pre-tax profits. In its latest trading statement, the Glasgow-based company said the fall is due to "currency translation". In the first six months of 2014, Aggreko made £132m a fall of 9% on previous results, but added that is underl
05/08/2014
A new wind farm has been proposed for Loch Ness. It is understood Coriolis Energy is behind the scheme that would see 14 turbines constructed on the Dell Estate, near Whitebridge. New tracks would also be created on the site of the Monadhliath Mountains in order to provide access to the turbines.
05/08/2014
A number of significant road improvement works are to commence in East Renfrewshire today (5 August). The work is the next phase of the Council's plans to improve the roads infrastructure in the area. From Tuesday, this stage of the project will be carried out on the East Kilbride Road. Lasting fo
05/08/2014
A housing association has said it is now inviting bids for a £35m biomass station in Fife. The project, proposed by Ore Valley Housing Association, would see a combined heat and power station built in the area, the Construction Index has reported. An estimated value of the contract, issued throu
05/08/2014
Plans have been submitted to create a new traffic route at a popular woodland in the Scottish Borders. The route, if approved, would keep forestry and recreational traffic separate, it is understood. According to the BBC, the plans for Cardrona have been drawn up by Forestry Commission Scotland (F
05/08/2014
A new £1.5m sports facility is nearing completion at Rankin Park, Greenock. The plans include creating a pavilion with two team changing rooms, a changing room for officials and a separate disabled changing area. With a majority of the work already completed, Inverclyde Council said that the contr
05/08/2014
Fife Council has welcomed a total of 20 young apprentices that have recently joined the authority. The individuals started their four-year apprenticeship with the Council's Building Services in July. The positions vary from electricians and joiners, to plasterers, plumbers and stonemasons. Sin
05/08/2014
More than £8.7m has been invested in Aberdeenshire by Scottish Water, it has been revealed. A total of five projects have been carried out in the area which will not only help to protect the environment, but also allow more development to happen as more capacity in the waste water network has been
05/08/2014
Ogilvie Construction has been awarded a Gold Award from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) at this year's Occupational Health & Safety Awards. As the UK’s family safety charity, RoSPA is the UK's family safety charity which aims to save lives and reduce injuries during all s
04/08/2014
Work has commenced on a new distillery in Glenrothes. Fife-based distiller, John Fergus & Co Ltd, confirmed work on the project had started at its new Lowland malt facility, known as InchDairnie. To mark the beginning of construction work, a sod cutting ceremony was held last week. The new faci
04/08/2014
A new bridge that will link local communities in Falkirk has opened to the public. Work on the £350,000 Dorrator Bridge has been completed and will replace the original historic swing bridge crossing which initially opened in 1893. The distinct lime green structure of the new bridge will provide
04/08/2014
Edinburgh Council has confirmed it has received the go ahead to commence with the new proposed Portobello High School. Royal Assent was granted for the City of Edinburgh Council (Portobello Park) Act 2014 on Friday (1 August). It comes into force from today (4 August), and will allow the local aut
04/08/2014
Aberdeenshire Council has confirmed work is to commence this week on the Tarlair pool complex. The project, which will cost around £300,000, will see the historic open air swimming pool stabilised and help to conserve its traditional features as well as prepare it for future use. The pool, locat
04/08/2014
Essential upgrades are to be carried out to the sewer network in East King Street, Helensburgh, to address issues of flooding in the area. The project, being carried out by Scottish Water, will see the installation of three new storm culverts at East End Park. It will include a spill chamber and p
04/08/2014
A total of £1.2m is to be invested in BioCity Scotland at Newhouse in North Lanarkshire, it has been confirmed. The funding, which is being provided by the UK Government, is part of the Glasgow and Clyde Valley City Deal and will be used to establish MediCity Scotland at BioCity. At its Newhouse c
04/08/2014
A new 16-space car park has been created at Newbattle Abbey College by Forestry Commission Scotland. The additional facilities will make Lord Ancrum's Wood more accessible to visitors, it has been said. The new car park can be found located on the left-hand side after entering the college grounds
04/08/2014
Aberdeen City Council's Trading Standards team has warned job hunters to be aware of scam websites that are offering online training courses for the offshore oil and gas industry. The warning comes after the local authority received a complaint from a graduate seeking work in the oil industry. He
01/08/2014
Work is continuing to progress on a new housing development in North Fod, Dunfermline. A total of 49 Council homes are being built on the site, located just off Pittsburgh Road. The development consists of 11 bungalows, 26 semi-detached houses and 12 cottage flats. Work is set to be completed
01/08/2014
A multi-million pound investment to create new visitor centres at Galloway Forest Park has been completed. Forestry Commission Scotland invested a total of £4.5m into its three visitor centres. At Kirroughtree, a brand new centre was constructed, while modernisation work was carried out at the Cla
01/08/2014
A project to install 12 storage lockers for electric bikes has started in Inverness. Six of the lockers will be installed at Falcon Square, while the remaining six will be located at Glenurquhart Road, the Highland Council has confirmed. McGregor Construction and SSE will carry out the work and
01/08/2014
West Lothian Council is looking to hear from local residents regarding the future development of the area. Later this month, an eight-week consultation will commence that will look at the future use of land and resources in West Lothian. The consultation follows the approval of the Main Issues Rep
01/08/2014
Two play parks have been forced to close in East Ayrshire after they were found to be unfit for purpose. The parks, located at Stitt Place and Garpel Avenue, had until recently been leased to Muirkirk Enterprise Group. The group were responsible for ongoing maintenance at the sites, but an inspect
01/08/2014
A project to remove properties from the flooding register has been completed in Scone. Scottish Water confirmed it had removed three properties from the register after it carried out essential upgrades to the waste water network in the Elmgrove area of Scone. The project involved constructing a
01/08/2014
Industry body Homes for Scotland has responded to the latest figures by Registers of Scotland, which revealed a 22% increase in the number of homes sold in Scotland between April and June, compared to the same period the previous year. Philip Hogg, Chief Executive of Homes for Scotland, described
01/08/2014
A new independent report, led by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), has revealed its recommendations to improve Scotland's housing market. The independent Scottish Housing Commission is made up of cross-sector experts within the housing industry who have developed a number of recom
