Building Briefs – February 25th

• Kirkcaldy’s Postings Shopping Centre phone-bid buyer unveils development and rebranding plans

Tahir Ali at Evergold Property said: “With over 20 years’ experience within the commercial and residential property sector, the Evergold team has a wealth of experience in all aspects of property development. We are all about adding value to properties, communities and masterplanning sites to ensure the most productive outcomes can be achieved for the Local Authorities and other partners that we work alongside.

“Our aim is to reposition and revitalise this centre to the benefit of the local community. There are some attractive units here with an existing footfall averaging 15,000 people per week and we are already in advanced discussions with various operators for the large unit formerly occupied by Tesco as well as entering into discussion with prospective tenants offering a range of goods and services that serve the local community.

“We have had productive discussions with Bill Harvey, BID Manager at Kirkcaldy4All, about our shared interest in the promotion of Kirkcaldy town centre as a place where people want to work, shop and spend their leisure time and have started a positive dialogue with the Council about addressing the outstanding issues relating to the rear staircase entrance on Hill Street, which we hope to resolve in the near future.”

The 80,620 sq ft Kirkcaldy Centre is situated on a three acre site near to the town’s pedestrianised High Street. Comprising 21 shop units and a 304 space car park, existing tenants include Farmfoods, Lloyds Pharmacy, Stephens Bakers and Fife Council.

Evergold Property has now instructed Shepherd Chartered Surveyors to offer 14 vacant shop units, ranging from 700 sq ft to 53,155 sq ft, for lease. A majority of the units benefit from the Business Rates Bonus Scheme meaning that, once occupied, no business rates would be payable.

Bilal Ashraf, commercial surveyor in the Dunfermline office of Shepherd Chartered Surveyors, said: “The new owner has brought a fresh new vision to this centre and we are actively seeking to secure tenants for the vacant units to help revitalise the retail offering in Kirkcaldy city centre.

“The new owner understands the challenges ahead and, with his vision and our expertise in the local and national markets, I am certain we can work together to make the Kirkcaldy Centre a great success.”

• Government approves 150 Dundee homes plan

The Scottish Government has approved plans previously rejected by councillors for a new 150-house development in the Linlathen area of Dundee.

Plans for the Balgillo Heights project were rejected by Dundee councillors in June, despite officers had recommending the plan for approval.

Members of Dundee City Council’s planning committee rejected the proposals because they did not fit in with the then local development plan.

Pleas from developer Kirkwood Homes that the scheme would fit in with the new local development plan fell on deaf ears.

The new local development plan states there is room for 250 homes on the site.

The Scottish Government has now decided Kirkwood Homes can proceed with the development, which will mean they do not need to submit a new planning application to Dundee City Council.

Colin Crombie, Kirkwood Homes’ managing director, said: “We were always confident that our proposals were well considered and appropriate for the site.

“Dundee remains a key area for investment for Kirkwood Homes, and we look forward to bringing forward not just these new homes at Balgillo Heights, but also investing further into Dundee.”

More than 600 people registered interested in buying one of the new homes during a public consultation exercise last year.

The Scottish Government-appointed Reporter said he was minded to grant permission for the development but there will be planning obligations the developer must meet.

These include a contribution of £750,000, or £5,000 per house, for a new primary school and improvements to the Claypotts junction in order to ease congestion.

• Partner promotion for planning law expert

A lawyer specialising in planning and licensing has been made up to partner at one of Scotland’s premier commercial law firms.

Theresa Hunt, who is based in Aberdeen, has been promoted to support an ambitious multi-sector Property & Infrastructure growth strategy at Burness Paull LLP.

Often involved in high-profile projects in the northeast, she is a specialist in planning applications and appeals, planning gain negotiations and S75 agreements. She also provides environmental consenting advice for development proposals to developers, private individuals and public bodies. In addition Theresa leads the firm’s licensing practice, appearing regularly in hearings across Scotland and in England.

Peter Lawson, Burness Paull chairman, said: “We place huge importance in recruiting into our business and developing personable and high-performing talent. Theresa is very deserving of her promotion, having joined the firm as a trainee in 2002 she is testimony that our strategy is working well. 

“As part of our highly regarded planning team Theresa supports our Property & Infrastructure clients in shaping the future of the built environment in towns and cities and anticipating where future developments will take place.”

• Extensive investment programme for all Borders schools revealed in budget plans

Borders schools are tol be transformed through the spending of millions of pounds on new and improved schools, with £16 million invested over a ten year period in a new ‘Inspire Learning’ programme across all primary and secondary schools in order to make sure children learn in the best possible environments, with the latest technology at their fingertips.

The programme outlined in the budget plans for Scottish Borders Council (SBC) is aimed at raising attainment, supporting equity and inclusion for all children and young peopleand will include £16m spent on the replacement of Eyemouth Primary School, £9m for a new Earlston Primary School, and has identified funding towards a new Galashiels Academy and to accelerate a new Hawick High School.

As part of the budget proposals:

• An extra £2.3m will also be spent on roads and pavements with £86m investment for road/transport infrastructure over 10 years being planned.
• An additional £3million will be invested in new extra care housing for projects in Hawick, Kelso, Eyemouth and Peebles in addition to those already committed to at Todlaw, Duns and Langhaugh, Galashiels.

The Council’s five year revenue budget and 10 year capital plans will be set at a meeting of the full Council on Thursday 28 February.

Information on the proposed Inspire Learning programme including FAQs, can be found at www.scotborders.gov.uk/inspirelearning

• Graham appointed to Forth Port’s Tilbury 2 project

The Port of Tilbury, the UK’s fastest growing port, has appointed Graham Construction to deliver their new multimillion pound port terminal, Tilbury2.

The port, which is owned by Forth Ports Group, received development consent from the Secretary of State for Transport to build the new port last week and will now work with GRAHAM to begin construction of the port immediately.

The contract will involve the creation of a new port terminal and associated facilities on land at the former Tilbury Power Station on the north bank of the River Thames at Tilbury. When operational in Spring 2020, Tilbury2 will be the UK’s largest unaccompanied freight ferry port, the country’s biggest construction processing hub and the creation of a new significantly larger rail head which can accommodate the longest freight trains of 775m.

Graham has been awarded the contract for both the Terrestrial and the Marine Package. The Terrestrial contract incorporates a Roll-On/Roll-Off (RoRo), highway works, the relocation of the existing railhead, and a fixed structural steel bridge to the linkspan. The Marine contract includes works within the tidal estuary beyond the existing sea wall/flood defences, including a floating pontoon, link-span/articulated bridge, associated pilings and river bed preparation for the berth.

Charles Hammond, chief executive of Forth Ports Group, said: “Tilbury2 is a significant project for our business and our customers. We are very pleased to have the expertise of GRAHAM to help us create this new port for London and the south east. GRAHAM are experts in what they do and have demonstrated this in their recent maritime projects in Hull, Grimsby and in Folkestone. There is a great deal to do over the next 12months and we look forward to opening our new port in 2020.”

Michael Graham, Graham executive chairman: “The Tilbury2 project is a complex scheme that will facilitate the expansion of the Port of Tilbury and support its continued local, regional and national economic growth. We look forward to working collaboratively with The Port of Tilbury and local stakeholders to deliver this transformational scheme.

“At Graham, we are committed to delivering lasting impact and the Tilbury2 project is an example of a development programme that will not just enhance the Port’s offering to importers and exporters but will deliver long-term regeneration and create significant new employment opportunities.”

Tilbury2 is central to the Port of Tilbury’s £1 billion investment programme during 2012-20. Tilbury has doubled the size of its business in the past 10 years and is projected to double the volume of cargo across the quay (from 16 million to 32 million tonnes) and increase direct employment (from 3,500 to 12,000 jobs) over the next 10-15 years.