Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
Scotland Construction News Archive for February 2016
29/02/2016
A new £50 million flexible grant and loan fund has been announced to speed up the development of new homes in Scotland. Social Justice Secretary Alex Neil said the fund will help unlock strategic housing sites of importance to local authorities to increase the scale of housing delivery. Building o
29/02/2016
Argyll and Bute council is calling on people living in the area to have their say on the future of housing. The council has launched an online survey which is inviting feedback on the proposed vision, priorities and actions that have been developed for the local housing strategy. The Council's Pol
29/02/2016
Significant progress is being made to convert a former school in Friockhein into a new community hub. Angus Council is working with the community to transfer the building to local community ownership. The hub will provide business units for rent, a fitness suite, sports hall and meeting rooms. Thr
29/02/2016
Building firm Kier has started construction work on the new Ayr Academy Learning Campus. The £25 million project is being delivered by hub South West and was set up in conjunction with the Scottish Future's Trust and other partner organisations. It is expected to open in August 2017. The new Ayr
29/02/2016
Construction work is continuing on a new £23.5 million leisure centre in Clydebank. Five pupils from the local Whitecrook Primary got a tour of the construction site to find out more about the extensive facilities that will be available once the centre opens early next year. Construction began eig
29/02/2016
North Larnarkshire Council has appointed Doig and Smith and Kier Construction to develop and produce plans to improve existing bus facilities in Cumbernauld. The council is working with partners Campsies Centre (Cumbernauld) Ltd, Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) and Cumbernauld Town Cent
26/02/2016
The Scottish Government has revealed plans to a new country-wide housing initiative. The Private Rented Sector (PRS) Rental Income Guarantee could deliver thousands of purpose-built homes for private rent. Under the initiative, the Scottish Government would share a proportion of rental income risk
26/02/2016
A road maintenance programme is due to begin on the A77 next week in South Ayrshire, Scotland TranServ has announced. Resurfacing works are set to take place between Dutchhouse Roundabout and Symington Road from Monday, 29 February. The oroject will take place between 9pm – 6am and is due to be co
26/02/2016
Consultants JM Architects have completed initial designs on a new £3.65 million school in South Syrshire. The designs for Invergarven School in Girvan are to be put on public display on 09 March, and the architects and other representatives will also be attending to answer any questions about the n
26/02/2016
Fife Council has announced it is to increase council tenants rent by 2.5%. The rent increase was supported by 52% of people who responded to the tenants survey, and was also unanimously backed at the Annual Tenants' Conference last October. Councillor Judy Hamilton, Executive Spokesperson for Hous
26/02/2016
Willowbank School in East Ayrshire have renewed their green flag status. Willowbank was the first special school to win a green Eco Flag in 2007 and they've managed to meet, sustain and renew the requirements every two years. Councillor Stephanie Primrose, Cabinet Member for Skills and Learning, j
26/02/2016
West Lothian Council has announced that it is currently developing 1,000 new council homes across all of its nine areas. The council is to spend over £76 million in building the new properties and over £109m will be invest over the next two years improving and increasing its council housing stock.
26/02/2016
Stirling Council is to invest £9 million in 2016 as part of a new house building programme. The council has pledged to purchase eight new properties from developers at Highland Gate, Kildean. Between 2016/17 and 2017/18, it will also buy 24 new properties in Raploch. The council will also build eig
26/02/2016
Approximately 500 new homes are to be developed specifically in rural areas across Scotland after a new £25 million funding was announced by the Scottish Government. The Rural Housing Fund will increase supply of long term affordable housing in rural areas over the next three years, by assisting th
25/02/2016
ScottishPower Renewables has granted final approval for a £2.5 billion offshore wind farm in the North Sea. The East Anglia ONE scheme is set to become one of the largest offshore wind farm sites in the world. The project will see 102 wind turbines generating 714 megawatts of electricity, enough t
25/02/2016
Robertson has won a contract to develop a new road-bridge for an iconic whisky distillery in Moray. The company's Civil Engineering division will engineer the structure for the Glenlivet Distillery in Speyside. The contract was awarded by Chivas Brothers. The firm will design and build a three-ar
25/02/2016
UCATT has welcomed a move by Glasgow City Council to secure employment of up to 1,600 maintenance workers. The local authority has formed a joint venture (JV) social housing maintenance company with the city's major housing associations. By forming a partnership between the council's City Building
25/02/2016
A new £11 million road and pavement network is to open at the Dundee Waterfront, it has been announced. Contractors Sir Robert McAlpine were responsible for the two-year scheme, which included the creation of: Thomson Avenue, Riverside Esplanade, Earl Grey Place [East and West], Patent Slip Way, Wh
25/02/2016
Weir Group has announced a £200 million pre-tax loss in its final results for 2015. Compared to a £149m profit in 2014, Chief Executive Keith Cochrane said the Glasgow-based firm has been "resilient" in the face of unprecedented market challenges in recent years. The Group also "aggressively" redu
25/02/2016
Around £500 million of funding has been provided to expand on childcare services across local authorities since 2014, Children's Minister Aileen Campbell has revealed. Over 40 nurseries have been built or expanded by Scottish councils to accommodate additional hours, flexibility, and children. The
25/02/2016
Homes for Scotland (HfS) has appointed Tammy Adams as its Head of Planning. The organisation said the role involves promoting its interests across all aspects of planning policy relating to delivering new homes and supporting infrastructure in Scotland. With 17 years' experience as a town planner,
25/02/2016
West Dunbartonshire Council has agreed to invest £114 million in council housing improvements throughout the region. However, to fund the programme, a 4% rents increase will be implemented. This will allow the local authority to carry out 170 kitchen replacements and install 120 new bathrooms, as
25/02/2016
Work is underway to maintain a historic building in Fife. Contractor Thomas Menzies began strengthening the retaining wall and installing safety barriers outside Abden House in Kinghorn on 20 February. The £100,000 project involves strengthening five reinforced buttresses and two horizontal beams,
25/02/2016
Orkney Islands Council (OIC) is encouraging local groups who want to improve paths in their area to apply for the Community Paths grant scheme. Administered by Paths for All, grants of up to £1,500 are available for groups looking to improve, maintain and promote local community paths. Funding can
24/02/2016
Queens Cross Housing Association (QCHA) has completed a new £12 million housing development in Glasgow. A total of 108 flats and houses have been developed at Timber Basin on the banks of the Forth and Clyde Canal. Built by CCG Scotland, the Panmure Street project marks the start of QCHA's 40th an
24/02/2016
A new modern teaching block is due to be opened at a Lanarkshire college later today, 24 February. Education Secretary Angela Constance will unveil the new facility at South Lanarkshire College's campus in East Kilbride (SLCek). The opening follows the launch of new dental facilities at New Colleg
24/02/2016
Dozens of old Scottish industrial units could be demolished within weeks unless plans to slash the empty properties rates relief are revisited by the Scottish Government. Experts at Colliers International have warned that owners of empty industrial properties will be liable for 90% of the usual rat
24/02/2016
Scottish Water engineers are underway with repairs to a burst water main in West Lothian. A large pipe in the Meikle Inch Lane area of Bathgate ruptured earlier this morning, 24 February. The burst has caused some localised flooding to homes in the area. In addition, water supplies have been disr
24/02/2016
The Scottish Government's decision to exempt large scale investors from the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) has been welcomed by the Scottish Property Federation (SPF). Under the ruling, transactions of six or more homes will be exempt from a new proposed Surcharge. The amended Bill prop
24/02/2016
Work is continuing on a project to build seven new retail units at a town in East Ayrshire. Contractors are developing the facilities on Townhead Street in Cumnock. Existing retailers and new tenants will move into the new units, three of which measure 117 sq m while the remaining four extend to 9
24/02/2016
Esh Construction has received an accolade for its Building My Skills programme. The company was handed the CECA Inspiring Change in Education Award during a ceremony at the Houses of Parliament. The Building My Skills initiative provides structured employability skills to students across northern
24/02/2016
Proposals for a new £50 million school in North Ayrshire have been approved by councillors. The new campus will be built by Morrison Construction in Largs. It will accommodate a relocated Largs Academy, a relocated St Mary’s RC Primary School and amalgamated Brisbane and Kelburn Primary School. I
24/02/2016
The UK and Scottish Governments have agreed a 'historic' funding deal for the Scottish Parliament. Following rounds of negotiations, the agreement paves the way for the Scottish Parliament to become the most powerful of its kind in the world. Key features of the deal include new borrowing powers,
24/02/2016
Work is underway to repair a road bridge in Aberdeenshire, it has been announced. The Dee Bridge at Banchory was badly damaged by Storm Frank over the Christmas period. Each of the three piers which support the four-span masonry and concrete arch suffered significant score damage adjacent to their
23/02/2016
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has granted a £200 million loan to boost campus facilities at the University of Edinburgh. Together with £100m from a US investment fund (Ernst and Young), the 30-year loan will support a range of building and refurbishment projects over the next decade. The Univ
23/02/2016
North Ayrshire Council has announced the approval of its £315 million budget. One key point of the local authority was to build for the future through its £275m Capital Investment Programme. The initiative, which includes £71m of new investment, will be delivered over the next ten years. £140m ha
23/02/2016
A 'major' milestone has been reached on the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route/Balmedie to Tipperty (AWPR/B-T) project. A bridge beam is due to delivered for the B977 Echt to Balmedie Road (west) overbridge later today, 23 February. The steel beam, which is 33 metres long and 3.6 metres wide, will
23/02/2016
Stirling Council has joined a five-year pilot scheme to preserve the city's historic buildings. As the first of its kind in Scotland, the Traditional Buildings Health Check Scheme was launched in November 2014. It is open to all City of Stirling traditional building type owners and operated by the
23/02/2016
The Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) has approved plans to improve two scenic routes in the region. Planning permission for the installation of new features was granted on Friday, 19 February. Works at the Devil's Elbow at Glenshee include developing a viewpoint seat, path and visitor inf
23/02/2016
East Dunbartonshire Council has released a new digital form to respond to property repairs. Once a repair is reported by a tenant, a text messaging service issues jobs to operatives electronically via hand-held devices. The appointment will also be confirmed via a text message to the tenant, with
23/02/2016
Robertson Group has announced the creation of a new energy services division. In addition, the company has appointed Graeme Cameron as the company's first energy director. Sitting within Robertson Facilities Management, the energy business has been created as a 'direct response' to financial, envi
23/02/2016
Deputy First Minister John Swinney is to address the ninth annual Scottish Property Federation (SPF) conference next month. Mr Swinney will highlight the challenges facing Scotland's property sector as new reports show the country is the 18th most attractive place to invest in the real estate throu
23/02/2016
The Scottish Government has agreed with a recent independent group's assessment that housing is vital for the continued growth of the country. The Commission on Housing & Wellbeing's report suggests that new homes are 'fundamental to the wellbeing, fairness and prosperity of our country." Social J
23/02/2016
A Scottish engineering company has been fined for safety failings after a worker fell 20 feet and sustained serious injuries. Brown Engineering (Fochabers) Limited of Mosstodloch Industrial Estate, Mosstodloch, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4 of the Work at Heights Regulation 2005. It was
22/02/2016
Scottish Water has appointed two joint ventures (JV) to support a £120 million investment programme. The six-year deal will be divided between both JV's - ARC, comprising of Atkins and RPS, and m2, comprising MWH and Mott MacDonald. The two ventures will provide technical consultancy support on Sc
22/02/2016
The West Coast Mainline has fully reopened following repairs to a flood damaged viaduct in South Lanarkshire. The route is now open to passenger and freight services since this morning, 22 February. The Lamington Viaduct, which runs over the River Clyde, was damaged due to extreme weather caused b
22/02/2016
Aberdeen-based Wood Group PSN (WGPSN) has announced it will reduce rates paid to its UK-based contractor workforce by around a third. The oil services firm said its rates would be cut by an average of 9%. More than 7,500 people work for WGPSN in the UK, including around 600 contractors. James Cra
22/02/2016
Financial close has been reached on a new secondary school project in the Scottish Borders. Construction work on the new £21.4 million Kelso High School at Nethershot is now due to begin. The facility is being delivered by the council in partnership with Hub South East Scotland and its appointed c
22/02/2016
Work is to begin on creating a wetland area in Aberdeen. The council has put out to tender the work at Seaton Park, which will alleviate flooding in the area. Works include digging out wetland, creating drainage, and adding paths, signage and planting. The project is valued to cost £90,000. Four
22/02/2016
Approval has been granted for a hotel refurbishment project in Cairngorms National Park. The historic Braemar's Fife Arms Hotel is set to undergo a 'major' upgrade after securing planning permission from the Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) on Friday, 19 February. Owners Highlands Hospita
22/02/2016
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has revealed £1.5 million of funding is available for a pharmaceutical company to expand their plant in Irvine. GlaxoSmithKline is extending their facility to meet growing demand, with more than £200m invested at their sites in Irvine and Montrose since 2013. It it t
22/02/2016
West Lothian Council has revealed details of its Revenue Budget for 2016/17. The final total is expected to be over £386 million, which will fund local services such as roads, education and social care for the next year. However, over £11m of savings will need to be made by the local authority, wh
22/02/2016
Work is underway on a new housing development in Argyll and Bute (A&B). Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA) have began developing five three-bedroom family homes at Victoria Park in Dunoon. The project is being built by M&K MacLeod and is expected to last around a year, with anticipated ha
22/02/2016
Dundee City Council is encouraging local businesses to attend a 'Meet the Buyer' event this week in the city. The exhibition will provide new suppliers an opportunity to talk informally about upcoming contracts in Tayside, find out about tendering, and the criteria to buy goods/services. Potential
19/02/2016
The Forth Road Bridge is set to fully reopen this weekend, the Scottish Government has announced. The structure will reopen to all traffic from 11pm tomorrow, 20 February. Repairs to the damaged main span truss end links are in the final stages. These works will be completed to allow the structur
19/02/2016
The UK Government's policy on renewable energy will cause the Scottish civil engineering sector to "fall off a cliff", according to the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA). The organisation added a "near collapse of ongoing work" will occur if the current approach to the industry is no
19/02/2016
Improvement works have been completed at a community centre in West Lothian. Nearly £400,000 was invested by the council in new changing facilities and improving existing centre facilities at Stoneyburn Community Centre. The work was carried out by contractor MMPS. The centre was originally plann
19/02/2016
Dumfries and Galloway (D&G) Council is underway with a significant roads repair programme across the region. Due to a recent prolonged period of extreme weather, a team of inspectors and technical staff have been deployed across the district to assess the damage on routes and structures. A schedul
19/02/2016
The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has pledged over £90,000 towards a museum redevelopment project in the Outer Hebrides. The £800,000 Eachdraidh Easgaidh project at Kildonan Museum will redevelop Taigh-Tasgaidh Chill Donnain to include an extension to the Museum and internal and external improvements
19/02/2016
A roadworks programme is due to begin on the A75 in Dumfries and Galloway (D&G), Scotland TranServ has announced. Works include resurfacing, bridge joint replacements and waterproofing at New Ramhill Bridge. The three-day project will begin on Monday, 22 February. The bridge joints will be replac
19/02/2016
A historic bridge has been closed in Aberdeenshire. The A-listed Park Bridge, which crosses the River Dee, has been shut over concerns about its structural safety. Divers assessing flood damage found extensive 'scouring' and possible undermining of the foundations of the central pier. The emergen
19/02/2016
A £460,000 water improvement project is due to begin in Angus, it has been announced. Ageing sections of water mains will be replaced with new polyethylene pipes between Bridge of Margie and Lethnot Primary School in Lethnot and Bridgend. The project is due to begin on 22 February and will last fo
18/02/2016
Industry body Scottish Renewables has identified six key innovation areas that could drive the future of sustainable energy in the UK. The organisations Innovation Paper reveals a 'world-leading' energy system could be delivered if a five-year £500 million fund pledged by the UK Government is used
18/02/2016
Falkirk Council has revealed its three-year £100 million spending programme to improve communities and services in the region. The budget will see existing projects continue, while new ones will be able to start. Spending plans for between 2016-2019 include: • £33.5m progressing the plans to brin
18/02/2016
Civil Engineering firm Farrans has begun developing a £4.9 million hydro scheme in Scotland. The NI-based company is underway with the Grudie Hydro Scheme in Kinlochewe. The development is being carried out on behalf of RWE Innology. The project includes building 1.8km of 1.2m diameter penstock p
18/02/2016
Work is underway on a £1.1 million primary school extension in West Lothian. The scheme will be delivered by Maxi Construction at Blackridge Primary School. Features include a new games hall complete with modern changing facilities and a new main entrance way. In addition, a new reception area wi
18/02/2016
Work has began on a new council housing development in Fife. The local authority's former Bankhead House offices have been demolished to make way for the project on Tantallon Avenue in Glenrothes. A total of 11 new homes will be built on the site, with housing ranging from cottage flats to three,
18/02/2016
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed to improve transport connectivity between Scotland and the north of England. Infrastructure Secretary Keith Brown signed the deal with Transport for the North's (TfN) board member Nick Forbes yesterday, 17 February, at the Improving Connectivity c
18/02/2016
A fit-out contractor based in Glasgow is targeting northern England maintenance contracts with its round the clock emergency repair service. Recently, Morris & Spottiswood has limited its Leeds and Warrington-based operations to fit out work. However, the firm has announced it believes there is 'g
18/02/2016
Local communities are being encouraged to apply for a community grant scheme in the Scottish Borders. Awards of up to £5,000 are available for community groups to support projects which: • Improve access to local activities/services • Improve the environment • Increase pride in communities • Im
17/02/2016
Forth Ports has announced plans to invest over £10 million in the Port of Dundee. Proposals include creating a new quayside with an industry-leading 'heavy lift' capability, alongside a 'significant' onshore operational area. The 60-acre facility will be located at the East end of the port, connec
17/02/2016
Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) has been awarded a consultancy contract to help the Scottish construction industry become familiar with Building Information Modelling (BIM). The GCU secured the deal in partnership with the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT). BIM is a computer generated model contain
17/02/2016
Local authorities in Scotland are set to invest a further £56 million in LED street lighting over the next twelve months. The initiative, which will save 65,000 tonnes of CO2, will result in nearly one-third of the country's street lamps being LEDs by April 2017. Out of the 900,000 existing street
17/02/2016
Work is due to begin on a water pipe diversion project in Midlothian, Scottish Water has announced. Plans are in place to build a roundabout to serve a new housing development in Penicuik. However, before works can begin, Scottish Water will need to divert piping at the Mauricewood Road junction w
17/02/2016
The Glasgow City Deal Cabinet (GCDC) has approved £3.17 million towards the next stage of the £46 million Metropolitan Glasgow Strategic Drainage Plan (MGSDP). The plan, formed to tackle deficiencies in the city's drainage system, will pave the way for 22,000 new homes to be created on brownfield s
17/02/2016
100,000 new Scottish homes should be built over the course of the next parliament, Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson has said. Ms Davidson made the call during a keynote speech in Aberdeen yesterday, 16 February. Figures for the north east suggest 55,000 new homes will need to be built by
17/02/2016
Hamilton Brothers has announced its sister company, Ross of Lanark, has been appointed Wacker Neuson Agents for East Central Scotland. As one of Scotland's foremost suppliers of brand leading Agricultural, Construction, Groundcare and Garden Power machinery for over 80 years, Hamilton Brothers has
17/02/2016
Clark Contracts has started 2016 with over £20 million of new construction and refurbishment contracts across Scotland. The new work includes two contracts, with a combined value of just over £8m, for Renfrewshire Council, to build the new St. Fergus' Primary School in Paisley and to undertake exte
16/02/2016
The phased reintroduction of heavy goods vehicles (HGV's) to the Forth Road Bridge is to continue, the Scottish Government has revealed. Opening hours for HGV's are now to be extended from 11pm to 5:30am following a successful trial period yesterday, 15 February. Structural monitoring installed on
16/02/2016
Four nuclear power plants across the UK are to have their operational lives extended, EDF Energy has announced. The French company has revealed Heysham 1 and Heysham 2 in Lancashire, Hartlepool in Teesside and Torness in East Lothian, Scotland will be kept open longer than originally scheduled. He
16/02/2016
A decision by the Highland Council not to object to a proposed wind farm extension has been welcomed by SSE. The scheme at Gordonbush Wind Farm involves adding 15 turbines to the 35-turbine site in East Sutherland. Since its commissioning in 2012, the development has delivered around £20 million i
16/02/2016
Discussions to shape the future of development in Dundee are progressing, it is understood. Over 250 residents, businesses, landowners and individuals have been taking part through a series of workshops and presentations. Interested parties have been commenting on the Main Issues Report, which wil
16/02/2016
Work is underway to improve bus facilities at a town in North Lanarkshire. The £2.2 million project in Cumbernauld town centre is being delivered by Hub South West. Doig and Smith and Kier Construction have been commissioned to develop the proposals and produce an outline design for the scheme. I
16/02/2016
A community grants programme is one possible solution to help bring thousands of empty Scottish homes back into use, according to the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership (SEHP). The organisation, which is funded by the Scottish Government and hosted by Shelter Scotland, said that the initiative would
16/02/2016
Councillors have agreed to reopen a shopfront enhancement scheme in Argyll and Bute, it has been announced. In partnership with Drum Development, £140,000 has been made available to redevelop shopfronts within Helensburgh's town centre. To date, £75,000 has been set aside to upgrade the frontage o
16/02/2016
Funding has been secured to develop a new sports pavilion in Fife, it has been announced. Plans will now progress to develop the facility at Over Stenton Park in Glenrothes. The council has awarded £300,000 as a one-off investment towards the Glenrothes Strollers Community Football Club's project.
16/02/2016
Planning permission has been secured for a £15 million mixed-use scheme in South Lanarkshire. The TwoM74 project is being developed by Ashfield Land. It will comprise of an anchor retail store, a retail terrace, drive-thru restaurant and two family restaurants opposite Clyde Gateway's One Ruthergl
16/02/2016
A £72,000 roads maintenance programme is due to get underway next week in South Ayrshire, Scotland TranServ has announced. Resurfacing works to repair defects in the existing road surface of the A77 will begin on Monday, 22 February. The project will take place between 8pm until 6am and will last
15/02/2016
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has revealed plans to create a skills academy to support the manufacturing industry in Scotland. The Centre of Excellence for Manufacturing and Skills Academy is part of the government's plans to boost the sector within the country. Speaking ahead of a visit to Glenh
15/02/2016
The West Coast Mainline is due to reopen next week, the ScotRail Alliance has announced. The route was originally closed at the start of the year as the Lamington Viaduct was damaged by floods caused by Storm Frank. Train services will resume running on Monday, 22 February. Works to repair and re
15/02/2016
Work is underway on a new community hub and high school in Midlothian. The facility is being built by Morrison Construction on the site of the Mayfield Complex in Newbattle. Features of the 15,714 sq m project include a new library, a new gym, a swimming pool, sports facilities (including all weat
15/02/2016
A planning application has been submitted to expand a major shopping centre in Scotland, London property firm Hammerson has announced. Union Square is seeking to carry out a multi-million pound expansion of its current facilities in Aberdeen. Proposed plans include a 120-bedroom hotel, an expanded
15/02/2016
Grosvenor has announced the sale of a hotel development site in Edinburgh. Plans by Queensgate include creating a 228-room hotel in the city centre at Fountainbridge. The proposal forms part of Grosvenor's Springside mixed-use development. Recently, the council granted planning consent to develop
15/02/2016
Deputy First Minister (DFM) John Swinney has stated the UK Government must "immediately" consider reducing the headline rate of tax for the oil and gas industry. Mr Swinney said without urgent action, there was a risk the low oil price could lead to the premature decommissioning of North Sea assets
15/02/2016
CCG is underway with a £2.5 million primary school extension in West Lothian. The project is taking place at Toronto Primary School in Howden. Features of the scheme include developing a new purpose built gym hall and changing areas, as well as a new accessible main entrance and safe drop-off area
15/02/2016
Hundreds of Tata Steel employees will join thousands of fellow steelworkers at a protest in Belgium today, 15 February. More than 500 employees, with about 150 workers from the UK, are expected to meet over 5,000 steelmakers in a demonstration against unfair cheap Chinese steel imports. Tata Steel
15/02/2016
Two schools in Dundee are set to receive almost £500,000 of investment, it has been announced. The city development committee will meet on Monday, 22 February to decide if councillors want to back the move. Tenders have been received to replace windows and cladding at St John's High School and Mil
15/02/2016
Essential carriageway repair work is due to begin later this month in Fife, it has been announced. The council will resurface the A921 Admiralty Road in Inverkeithing from 22 to 26 February. Additional works will also occur on 29 February, with works being carried out between 10pm to 6am each day
12/02/2016
Aberdeenshire Council has set aside £60 million for housing as it announced its budget for 2016/17. Almost £700m of funding for local services has been agreed by councillors. In addition, £45m in reserves has been set aside for specific projects and priorities including £5m for regeneration, £4m f
12/02/2016
More than £850,000 is being invested to build industrial units at a business park in Moray. Contractor Darroch and Allan [Joiners & Builders] is developing five units in partnership with the council at Waterford Circle in Forres. The move follows a success in building and letting four factory unit
12/02/2016
A new £1.5 million golf clubhouse is nearing completion in Ayr. The facility will be located at The Belleisle championship course and is due to be finished at the end of March. An application to allow the clubhouse to operate as a family-orientated licenced premises was approved by South Ayrshire
12/02/2016
East Lothian Council has announced over £112 million will be used to modernise housing across the region. The funding will also be invested to increase affordable housing over the next five years. In addition, council house rents will rise 5% to allow investment in the regions existing stock and n
12/02/2016
Renfrewshire Council has brought in additional resources to clear a backlog of streetlighting repairs following a dispute with the original contractor. Lightways Contracts disagreed with the local authority over the agreed costs of the project, resulting in the contractor's failure to carry out the
12/02/2016
Lovell has won a gold award from the Investors in People (IIP) agency. The company received the prize for its excellent people management and staff development. The developer employs 90 people in Scotland, builds/sells new homes, and works with housing associations and local authorities on new-bui
12/02/2016
West Lothian Council has been nominated for two accolades at the UK Housing Awards 2016. The awards are organised by the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) and Inside Housing magazine. The local authority's 1,000 new build housing programme has been named as a finalist in the Outstanding Develop
12/02/2016
A £1.7 million flood alleviation scheme has been completed at a town in Fife. The Scottish Water project aims to reduce the risk of flooding at Kirk Street in Kincardine. Works included tank installations in the grassed area to the rear of Tulliallan Primary School to store water during heavy rain
12/02/2016
A £150,000 road upgrade project is due to begin in Dumfries and Galloway (D&G), Scotland TranServ has announced. The works involve developing a new right turn lane on the A75 at Mossyard. The eight-week project is scheduled to begin on Monday, 22 February. Andy Fraser, Operating Company Represent
12/02/2016
A number of road layout changes are due to take place in the Orkney Islands, it has been announced. The council (OIC) has revealed alternate vehicle entrance and exit arrangements are to be made at Kirkwall Pier. The current exit on to Shore Street will become both an entrance and an exit, with th
11/02/2016
New research has revealed Scotland still has a long way to go before enough homes are built for its growing population. A new report from JLL, 'Rising to the Challenge', warns the country does not have enough homes to either meet current demand or the Scottish Government's recommended targets for h
11/02/2016
CCG have began building a new 'affordable' housing development in Edinburgh. The firm will develop 94 new homes on the site of the former 18th century fort in Leith. A mix of one, two, three and four-bedroom homes will be built as well as a communal green space. The council will own 32 units for
11/02/2016
Tulloch Developments has completed the first section of a new £16.5 million jetty at Lerwick Harbour. The 110-metre section at Holmsgarth North has now been handed over to Lerwick Port Authority. The projects early completion clears the way for demolishing a nearby former Shell jetty as part of th
11/02/2016
Robertson Group has been selected to develop a £40 million scheme in Dundee. The company will deliver flats, premium office space and a 120-bed hotel next to the new V&A Museum on the Waterfront. A total of 67 one, two, and three-bedroom PRS flats will be built alongside 50,000 sq ft of Grade A of
11/02/2016
The Highland Council has awarded funding to three community groups for carbon reduction projects in Sutherland. A total of £200,000 has been made available in the 2015/16 Carbon CLEVER Community Grant Fund. Councillors have now approved funding to The Embo Trust, Ardgay Public Hall Committee and T
11/02/2016
A £2.5 million primary school extension project is underway in West Lothian. Improvement work is being carried out to the Toronto Primary School in Howden. Features of the project include a new purpose built gym hall and changing areas, as well as a new accessible main entrance for the school and
11/02/2016
Work is due to begin later this month on a new shared cycle and pedestrian footway in Aberdeen. A three metre-wide footway is to be developed along The Parkway between Ellon Road and Balgownie Road. Works involve upgrading and widening the western footway of Ellon Road (A90) between the Parkway (A
11/02/2016
The Scottish Government has announced a £2.5 million fund will be available for community organisations to bid for regeneration funding. The Strengthening Communities Programme (SCP) has received an extra £500,000 investment for 2016/17 and helps communities lead economic/redevelopment work in thei
11/02/2016
Work is progressing on plans to create a new community hub at a village in Midlothian. The Rosewell Community Trust has successfully secured a derelict site for the facility at Rosewell Mains Steading. Plans include creating a community cafe, local produce market, arts and crafts centre and genera
11/02/2016
The final phase of a £120,000 road bridge project is due to begin this weekend in Glasgow. Scotland TranServ will carry out the last stage of roadworks on the Nithsdale Road Bridge over the M77 from Sunday, 14 February. Works include improving the quality of the road surface, waterproofing the bri
10/02/2016
The John Muir Trust has welcomed the Highland Council's objection on plans to build a new wind farm in north west Sutherland. The application for Caplich Wind Farm involves erecting 20 turbines up to 132 metres high. In addition, it would require an extensive network of access roads to be develope
10/02/2016
Sustrans has shortlisted five potential projects to improve the Milngavie area of East Dunbartonshire. The sustainable transport charity selected the schemes as part of the Community Links Plus initiative. The projects include building a safer roundabout in the Burnbrae area and continuing the Bea
10/02/2016
Work is due to begin on a new high school in Elgin, Moray Council has announced. The project is set to go ahead after council planning officers managed to reduce construction costs by £400,000. Last year, delays which set the scheme back by months meant contractors added £1 million to the projects
10/02/2016
Multi-technical services provider SPIE UK is to move into a new office block in South Lanarkshire, it has been announced. The company is relocating to the top two floors of the four-storey One Rutherglen Links building. The £5 million facility was built by regeneration firm Clyde Gateway in 2014.
10/02/2016
Work is due to begin on the first stages of an extension project at Stirling Sports Village. The council approved a long term development plan of the site around the PEAK and Forthbank Stadium last year. The first work phase includes increasing parking space, improving traffic flow, installing bet
10/02/2016
The Scottish Government has held a meeting to discuss job concerns in Lochaber. Council Leader Margaret Davidson and senior officers met with Business Minister Fergus Ewing yesterday, 09 February to discuss economic development in the region. Last month, Rio Tinto announced it would review its alu
10/02/2016
Hunter Construction is due to begin a £140,000 flood alleviation scheme in Aberdeen. The contractor will carry out works to reduce the volume of water residing in the existing sewer in the Leggart Terrace area. The eight-week scheme involves developing a new extension to the system, removing flood
10/02/2016
Work is underway to develop a £17 million sports facility in Dundee. Councillor Ken Guild joined Stewart Harris from sportscotland as £850,000 of preparations began at Caird Park yesterday, 09 February. The Regional Performance Centre for Sport will provide a training venue for squads across a ran
10/02/2016
A new 'affordable' housing project is underway in West Lothian, it has been announced. McTaggart Construction has began building three one-bedroom bungalows and two two-bedroom bungalows on behalf of the council at Auldhill in Bridgend. The development will contribute to the council's £100 million
10/02/2016
The final phase of a £100,000 bridge upgrade project is due to begin next week, Scotland TranServ has announced. Works will take place on the northbound lane of the A76 Bargower Rail Bridge located south of Crossroads roundabout adjacent to Cessnock Water. Scotland TranServ will carry out the refu
09/02/2016
Work is underway on a new £4 million oil and gas testing facility in Aberdeen. Energy Minister Fergus Ewing broke ground at 'The Core' site to mark the start of construction on Monday, 08 February. The non-destructive testing (NDT) and Rope Access facility is being created by oil and gas supply ch
09/02/2016
New research has revealed Scotland's wind power output met nearly half of the country's total energy needs during January. Analysis by WWF Scotland of data provided by WeatherEnergy found that wind turbines provided 1,125,544MWh of electricity to the National Grid during the start of 2016. This eq
09/02/2016
SSE has built an energy centre for a new mixed-use development in London. The Scottish company's Enterprise Utilities business has delivered the multi-utility facility for the Riverlight project on the banks of the River Thames. Features of the energy centre include a Combined Heat and Power (CHP)
09/02/2016
Redevelopment work is underway at a former primary school site in Fife. The project involves renovating the three main vacant buildings at Burntisland into 25 'affordable' homes. The development will be made up of one, two and three-bed flats, two-bed wheelchair bungalows, a two-bed wheelchair fla
09/02/2016
Road maintenance works are due to begin next week in Perth and Kinross, the council has announced. The scheme is to take place in the town centre of Aberfeldy at the crossroads of A827 Bank Street, Kenmore Street, Taybridge Road and Crieff Road. A ten day project to lay new traffic signal cables w
09/02/2016
Midlothian Council has secured a £3.4 million grant to boost communities through the LEADER programme. The scheme is a rural grant fund and part of the Scottish Rural Development Fund. The council will use the funding to run the Tyne Esk LEADER programme throughout Midlothian and East Lothian (exc
09/02/2016
Scottish Water has announced it is investing £3 million to upgrade the waste water network in Cambuslang and Rutherglen. The company's alliance partner, aBV, is carrying out two projects along Glenside Drive and Dukes Road. Works involve relaying the sewer network along Glenside Drive and upsizing
09/02/2016
Procurement consortium LHC has began the tender process for its new Pitched Roofing framework. A contract notice for the programme, worth an estimated £100 million over four years, has now been issued by the local government organisation. Features of the framework include the removal of existing r
09/02/2016
McTaggart Construction has begun building a new housing development in West Lothian. Planning permission was granted last week to build 190 new homes on a former factory site in Bridgend. Three one-bedroom bungalows and two two-bedroom bungalows are also being developed by the council. Cllr Georg
09/02/2016
Page\Park Architects has announced two of its projects have been shortlisted at the RICS Awards 2016. The Scottish Opera Theatre Royal scheme in Glasgow has been nominated in the Community Benefits and Leisure and Tourism categories. The extension involved demolition works, new foyers and selectiv
08/02/2016
A new strategy has been revealed to tackle issues surrounding Scotland's oil and gas sector. The Industry Leadership Group (ILG) has drawn up a plan which calls for a transformed supply chain to drive efficiency, innovation and internationalisation to ensure the industry's future. The Group, co-ch
08/02/2016
Velocita has secured financial close for two onshore wind farms in Scotland. The renewable energy developer has achieved non-recourse financing on the Airies wind farm in Dumfries and Galloway, and the Sorbie wind farm in North Ayrshire. Over £76 million of financing has been secured to build the
08/02/2016
A new £3.5 billion gas plant has begun production in the west of Shetland area. Operator Total said the Shetland Gas Plant will serve the Laggan and Tormore gas and condensate fields. Located around 77 miles to the north west of the Shetland Islands, the fields are estimated to produce approximate
08/02/2016
A five pillar plan for sustainable growth in Scotland's construction sector has been revealed by the Scottish Building Federation (SBF). In its new policy manifesto ahead of the 2016 Scottish Parliament elections, the organisation sets out a series of recommendations to support the industry. Key a
08/02/2016
Two popular tourist attractions in Orkney are to be redeveloped, the council has announced. Both the Orkney Museum and St Magnus Cathedral will receive "significant" investment from the Kirkwall Townscape Heritage initiative (KTHI). New exhibits, environments and modern technology will be develope
08/02/2016
Financial close has been achieved on a £26.5 million schools project in Dumfries and Galloway(D&G), it has been announced. Construction on the Dalbeattie Learning Campus is to begin in March. The project will be delivered by hub South West Scotland and built by Graham Construction. Features of th
08/02/2016
A maintenance and clearance programme is to begin on A82 between Tarbet and Inverarnan next week, it has been announced. The £140,000 project involves clearing trees, drainage and removing loose rocks from the verge of the A82 route. The works are part of a pledge by Transport Minister Derek Macka
08/02/2016
A waste water improvement project is underway in East Dunbartonshire. The £340,000 project involves carrying out 'major' improvements to the water network in Bearsden. Works include installing a new Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) adjacent to Maryhill Road. This will reduce the number of spills fro
05/02/2016
New research has shown 40% of Scottish non-householders do not believe they will ever be able to own their own home. The Bank of Scotland report reveals two-fifths of Scots believe they will never climb onto the property ladder. As new home building remains 40% down compared to 2007 levels, trade
05/02/2016
A recent public exhibition has backed plans to create a new visitor centre at Inverness Castle. The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS), which occupies the building, has announced plans to leave the castle for a new purpose-built justice centre. In response, a public consultation was held
05/02/2016
The Highland Council has approved an extra £2.7 million to spent on improving road, bridges and piers between 2016/17. As part of the local authority's Capital Plan, £2.3m will be allocated for re-surfacing, surface dressing and road markings across the Highland's road network. In addition, £400,0
05/02/2016
Work has begun on a new £90,000 multi-use games area (MUGA) in Fife. The project will see the new sports facility being built in Lochgelly. It will be located on the former skate park at the top end of the Lochgelly Public Park. The scheme is being funded by the council's Cowdenbeath area local c
05/02/2016
CCG (Scotland) has announced three of its development projects have been shortlisted for this year's RICS awards. The three schemes have been nominated for accolades across three categories. The £12 million Penmure Street residential development in Glasgow has been put forward for the Regeneration
05/02/2016
Work is underway on a new £10 million housing development in Edinburgh. Persimmon Homes East Scotland has begun building the Silverfields development in Leith. A total of 82 homes, including a mix of apartments and town houses, will be built on the site off Stanwell Street. As part of the plannin
05/02/2016
A new gym hall has been opened at a primary school in Edinburgh. Over £1 million was spent on developing the new facility for Blackhall Primary School. Previously, the building was used as a dining hall and for other school activities. The project was delivered by hub South East Scotland and Morr
05/02/2016
Work is due to begin on a new roundabout in the Orkney Islands. The structure is being built at the junction of New Scapa Road, the Holm Branch Road and the new Scapa Link Road in Kirkwall. However, to allow works to continue, a section of New Scapa Road leading to Scapa beach from the Holm Branch
05/02/2016
Water mains upgrade work has been completed earlier than expected in Ayr, Scottish Water has announced. The work involved improving around 55 metres of water mains in the Viewfield Road area. The project began on Monday, 01 February and was estimated to take around two weeks to complete. However,
05/02/2016
A major renovation project is underway at a town in Angus, it has been announced. New housing, landscaping and improved public access is to be developed at the Abbey quarter of Arbroath. Safedem is now beginning the demolition of empty council flats at Guthrie Hill and Smithy Croft. The four block
04/02/2016
Work is underway on a city centre refurbishment project in Edinburgh. Knight Property Group has begun redeveloping 110 George Street and 2 Castle Street to provide over 18,000 sq ft of office accommodation. The two sites were acquired by the developer in early 2015. Once completed, 110 George Str
04/02/2016
Limited night time access for Heavy Goods Vehicle's (HGV) on the Forth Road Bridge (FRB) is to begin later tonight, 04 February. Structural monitoring installed at the truss end links of the bridge reveals the structure can now allow around 600 northbound HGVs to cross between 11pm and 4am, subject
04/02/2016
The Scottish Government has announced a one year cut on business rates for Tata Steel plants in Scotland. Rates at the Clydebridge and Dalzell steel mills are set to be reduced from April. Business Minister Fergus Ewing revealed legislation for a one year relief on rates will be put forward by min
04/02/2016
Contractors are due to begin developing a new biomass pipeline in Fife, it has been announced. The new £25 million St Andrews University biomass plant is being built on the site of a former paper mill in Guardbridge. Hot water will be pumped from the plant four miles underground to heat/cool labo
04/02/2016
Work is underway on a new £2.9 million housing development in the Highlands. The council has begun developing 22 flats in the Tweeddale area of Fort William. The project, due to be completed by January 2017, will take the amount of council investment over the past five years to £40 million. In th
04/02/2016
Civil engineering firm Bachy Soletanche has appointed Ken Gailey as its new Operations Director. Mr Gailey will be responsible for developing operational performance and implementing new processes to help achieve the company's business objectives by 2020. As a Civil Engineering graduate from Dunde
04/02/2016
Community groups in Orkney are being invited to attend a LEADER drop-in session in Sanday. The discussion will provide an opportunity for interested parties to discuss project ideas and gain advice from the council's LEADER team. The programme is aimed at small-scale, community-driven projects tha
04/02/2016
Contractors have completed a £1.9 million primary school refurbishment programme in North Lanarkshire. The two-phase project took a year to deliver at Netherton Primary School. The first stage involved developing a new admin wing containing a school office, meeting room and medical room. During t
04/02/2016
Construction work is underway on a new £24 million school in Fife. The new Waid Academy in East Neuk is being built by BAM Construction. The building will replace the existing facility and will include a new library, police services, a community office, adult learning and secondary education. The
04/02/2016
Scottish Water is underway with network improvement works in the Western Isles, it has been announced. The ageing water mains sections are being replaced with new polyethylene pipes by Calmax Construction in Flesherin and Aird. In addition, local contractor MacAulay Askernish is replacing the exis
03/02/2016
Knight Property Group has completed the first stage of a £45 million development project in Aberdeen. The developer has revealed the first of two industrial units on the Westhill site at Kingshill Commercial Park. Both units consists of 5,500 sq ft of office space complete with air conditioning, r
03/02/2016
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) has announced the closing date for developers to bid on a former hospital site in Glasgow. The closing date has been set for 10 March 2016. NHSGGC said it expects 'strong developer-led' interest in the 9.5 acre former Victoria Hospital. The site was declared
03/02/2016
Proposed alterations to the A96 Dualling Scheme are now on display to the public, it has been announced. A series of drop-in sessions starting today, 03 February in Culloden will detail proposed changes to the A96 dualling Inverness to Nairn (including Nairn Bypass) project. The new plans include
03/02/2016
Union leaders have called on both the UK and Scottish Governments to make 'urgent interventions' to save the oil and gas sector in the North Sea. It is understood 70,000 jobs have been lost in the industry since the price of oil began declining in January 2015. Union Unite is now urging for furthe
03/02/2016
The Scottish Government will provide a £2 million boost towards a £6.4 million schools project in Stirling, it has been announced. The funding was revealed by Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop during a visit to the region last week. It is understood a new building will be built for St Margaret's Prim
03/02/2016
Transport Minister Derek Mackay has chaired the first meeting of the Ardrossan Harbour Taskforce. The organisation was set up by key stakeholders to look at measures which could improve the facility's operation in North Ayrshire. It is understood the taskforce will consider any infrastructural wor
03/02/2016
Work to repair a faulty meter at a secondary school in Aberdeen is now complete. The Bridge of Don Academy in Braehead Way was closed on 01 and 02 February after the malfunctioning boiler produced no heating or hot water. It is understood engineers have carried out temporary repair works to the me
03/02/2016
Alba Pools has won an accolade at the prestigious British Pool & Hot Tub Awards in Coventry. The Angus-based business picked up the Gold Award during the ceremony at the Ricoh Arena on Sunday, 31 January. The event brings together the British and Irish Spa and Hot Tub Association (BISHTA) and the
02/02/2016
A new primary school has been opened in Perth and Kinross. The new Crieff Primary School is located on Broich Road and was officially unveiled on Thursday, 28 January. It was designed by Holmes Miller Architects and built by BAM Construction. Features of the building include new primary and nurse
02/02/2016
Residential sales have risen 14.5% in Scotland, according to new research. New data published by Registers of Scotland (RoS) reveals a total of 28,779 properties were submitted for registration between October and December last year. The figure represents the highest volume of sales for any quarte
02/02/2016
Scottish Water is progressing with work on a regional improvement project in Glasgow, it has been announced. It is understood contractors George Leslie are developing a half mile-long sewer tunnel beneath the streets of the Yoker area of the city. The work is part of a £7 million project to improv
02/02/2016
West Lothian Council is seeking to encourage more young women to apply for its construction apprenticeship schemes. The local authority said that while the scheme attracts hundreds of applicants each year, women are "greatly underrepresented". It is understood the number of female trades apprentic
02/02/2016
Robert Gordon University (RGU) has appointed RICS Fellow Norman McLennan as a Visiting Professor. It is understood Mr McLennan has been assigned to the Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and Built Environment. With 30 years' experience in the oil and gas, energy, engineering and traditional c
02/02/2016
Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead has confirmed grant funding will be available for farmers affected by recent flooding. The Agricultural Floodbank Repair Grant Scheme, announced by the First Minister earlier this year, will allow farmers to apply for a grant to help repair man-made floodban
02/02/2016
An Edinburgh-based consultancy firm has been fined for safety failings after a construction worker fell six metres from a platform in London. Meta Management Services Limited (trading as Aktrion), of Rutland Court, Edinburgh, who was the principal contractor for the project, pleaded guilty to a bre
02/02/2016
Essential roadworks are due to take place next week in Fife, it has been announced The council will resurface the carriageway on Viewforth Terrace in Kirkcaldy. The two-phase project will begin on 10 February and is scheduled to finish on 17 February. A road closure will be in effect from 10 to 1
01/02/2016
A total of £20 million is to be invested at Aberdeen International Airport, it has been announced. The funding was announced by First Minister (FM) Nicola Sturgeon during a visit to the airport today, 01 February. The project will increase the size of the terminal building by 50% and includes rede
01/02/2016
Homes for Scotland's (HfS) Chief Executive Nicola Barclay has revealed an action plan for tackling the country's housing crisis. It is understood there are currently 160,000 people on a housing waiting list, while many other are struggling to access the home of their choice. However, Ms Barclay sa
01/02/2016
The Chartered Institute of Housing in Scotland (CIH Scotland) has welcomed a housing subsidies increase for 'affordable' housing by the Scottish Government. It has been revealed future grant subsidies are to be increased for 'affordable' homes for rent being delivered over the next three years by u
01/02/2016
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced a package of support will be available for oil and gas firms to compete on an international level. It is understood Scottish Enterprise will provide £10 million to help firms reduce risks associated with carrying out research and development, as well as
01/02/2016
Hub North Scotland has been shortlisted for the Scottish Property Company of the Year award. The organisation has been nominated for the accolade along with four other entries at the Scottish Property Awards (SPA) 2016. In addition, the company has been put forward in the Community Development Pro
01/02/2016
Environment Minister Aileen McLeod has announced an increased level of grant support for crofters to build and improve their homes. Up to £28,000 will be available under the new new Croft House Grant Scheme from 01 April. In addition, up to £38,000 will be made available if crofters live in island
01/02/2016
Options to complete Inverclyde Council's £270 million schools estate programme five years ahead of schedule are to be explored by the local authority. It is understood the remaining primary and nursery school projects are being brought forward for delivery by 2020. An additional £6.8m is needed to
01/02/2016
Water mains upgrade work is due to begin later this month in Ayr, Scottish Water has announced. It is understood Caledonia Water Alliance will carry out improvement works to around 50 metres of water mains in the Whitletts area. Works are due to begin on Monday, 15 February and will be completed i
01/02/2016
Midlothian Council has secured a £3.4 million grant allocation to boost local communities. The local authority will use the funding to operate the Tyne Esk LEADER programme throughout the Midlothian and East Lothian regions. The initiative is part of the Scottish Rural Development Fund which comes
01/02/2016
Essential carriageway resurfacing work is due to take place this weekend in Fife, it has been announced. Roadwork teams will carry out improvement works on Pitcoudie Roundabout in Glenrothes from Friday, 05 February. It is understood the scheme will last until Friday, 12 February. Road closures a
