Building Briefs - February 9th

• City Deal project reduces flood risk with Glasgow raingardens

The new design features on Croftpark Avenue offer a sustainable way of reducing flood risk in the local area and downstream by channelling surface water run-off into areas of vegetation and soil. This slows down the flow of water and provides essential moisture for the plants. Over time, and as the raingardens establish, they will enhance flood resilience, provide a home for biodiversity, aid urban cooling and help to improve air quality

Other drainage improvements delivered by contractor RJ McLeod and project supervisor/design consultant AECOM include work within the former Kings Park golf course to redirect surface water run-off into a new basin using ditches and sections of the Spittal Burn that now flow on the surface. Excess rainwater is now slowly released from the basin into an area of the burn which flows in a culvert beneath Croftpark Avenue.

The project has also delivered greenspace improvements, with an attractive woodland walkway recently completed on the former Kings Park golf course site, formed through a programme of tree planting and the construction of new path networks linking Croftpark Avenue with Croftside Avenue.

Project contractors have also worked closely with Croftfoot Primary School to construct an outdoor amphitheatre that combines outdoor learning space with an emergency storm water storage facility. A brand new MUGA pitch was also built for the school, as well as the installation of new surface water drainage features.

• Edinburgh school maintenance work continues over half-term break

More than 50 schools and nurseries are having planned works ranging from repairs and maintenance to upgrades in the February holiday as part of a major £193 million maintenance programme across Edinburgh.

Improvements include classroom upgrades, replacement windows, lighting and ceiling upgrades, electrical work and cleaning of gutters. Some of the specific work taking place is roofing work, toilet refurbishment and replacement windows at Royal High Primary School; ceiling refurbishment in the dining hall at Leith Primary School and installing a new sports pitch at Wester Hailes Education Centre.

The City of Edinburgh Council programme is significantly larger than in previous years as a direct result of decisions in previous budgets for additional investment in the council estate with the majority of the work taking place in schools.

For some schools, the February works form part of a major programme to address a backlog in maintenance requirements identified through condition surveys carried out across the estate and also include several rising rolls projects providing additional early years capacity across the city.

All the work being carried out is in line with the latest Scottish Government and health guidance regarding Covid-19.

• New bridge installation for Polmont/Brightons

Work started this week on a replacement pedestrian bridge for the Union Canal linking Polmont and Brightons.

The work, expected to last around two weeks weather permitting, will see a new 22m steel structure weighing 20 tonnes installed at a cost of £133k.

The new bridge will have a new protective paint system to make it stand up better to the elements.

The structure replaces the existing bridge that has deteriorated after being in place for 50 years.

• Ravenscraig active travel consultation begins

Proposals for new cycling and walking routes through Ravenscraig are being published for people to share their views.

North Lanarkshire Council is working with Sustrans and Ravenscraig Limited to improve connections between Ravenscraig and neighbouring communities and to expand the active travel network.

An online consultation, including a short survey, will run for two weeks.

The two key elements of the project are a south-north link to connect Craigneuk, via “The Castings” housing development, off Meadowhead Road, with the Regional Sports Facility (RSF) and new public park, and an east-west link to connect Craigneuk, via “The Castings” housing development, to New College Lanarkshire Motherwell Campus.

It’s proposed the paths will have lighting, seating, landscaping with wildflower areas and woodland planting, play features along the route, fencing and CCTV where possible.

The project is being funded by Transport Scotland and Sustrans, through its ‘Places for Everyone’ programme.

Feedback from the consultation will inform the final plans for the project, then the council will apply for planning permission. Subject to the necessary approvals and securing funding, it is anticipated work to construct the first of the two active travel routes would start later this year.

• Town centre funding projects agreed for seven Badenoch and Strathspey communities

Highland councillors at the Badenoch and Strathspey area committee have unanimously approved seven projects that will be offered a total £111,724 Scottish Government Town Centre funding to help deliver economic stimulus in the eligible settlements of Aviemore, Grantown-on-Spey, Kingussie and Newtonmore.

Projects need to have started by the end of March and grant spent by the end of September.

Councillors agreed that the following seven successful projects will be offered Town Centre Funds:

Aviemore Village Green - £29,300 to Aviemore Community Enterprise for further hard landscaping works to the village green including: re-surfacing paths, access ramp, improving access for all abilities, and new stone-built seating to make the area more useable and create a more attractive environment.

Aviemore War Memorial - £24,504 to Legion Scotland (Aviemore Branch) for environmental improvements to the War Memorial site including: groundworks, natural stone planters, steps from main street to memorial, new paving, a Poppy sculpture, memorial poppy wreath stand and a stand and electrics for Christmas tree.

Grantown Square - £7,570 to Grantown Initiative for the supply and installation of new electrical ducting and cabling to replace existing faulty network in the Square. In turn this will stimulate greater use of the space for outdoor events.

Caberfeidh Horizons, Kingussie - £22,000 to Caberfeidh Horizons for further physical improvements to the community hub including a new front door and 8 replacement windows.

Gynack Gardens, Kingussie - £10,350 to Kingussie Community Development Company for further environmental improvements to the garden. Proposed works consist of: new bench seating, extension and planter; power supply for Christmas tree; new fencing; relocation of the roe deer sculpture to beside the river bank; mature flowering specimen for North end (bus stop); two new all ability picnic benches; Spring woodland bulbs provided for the Primary school to plant; installation of additional safety barrier opposite school; maintenance of wild flower meadow; and removal of the avenue of 10 old Cherry trees.

Market Stance Playing Field, Kingussie - £10,000 to Kingussie Camanachd Club to assist in the upgrade of the Market Stance Playing Field. The project is to fence the boundary, install floodlights, and do some ground works and grass seeding.

Newtonmore War Memorial - £8,000 to Newtonmore Business Association to improve accessibility to the War Memorial by carrying out improvements to the paths.

• Morrisons named as preferred bidder for Banff supermarket project

Supermarket firm Morrisons has been named as the preferred bidder in a project that could see a new store and other facilities built in Banff.

The development would involve the creation of a supermarket, café, filling station, car wash, and parking on land at Canal Park/Old Market Place.

The area of ground and buildings proposed for the project lies to the west of the Deveron Bridge and currently features a grass football pitch (Canal Park), pavilion, and the Bridge Street Community Centre. The land also includes three redundant tennis courts and a basketball court. The adjacent Princess Royal Park does not form part of the project.

As a large portion of the site is designated as ‘common good land’, part of the procedure for the proposed sale requires the council to consult with the community and invite views for consideration before a decision is made.

The consultation will begin this month and run for eight weeks, supported by an online platform featuring a variety of information. Participants will be able to share views on the proposed sale itself, the potential benefits, and any issues or concerns.

Once the consultation is complete, a report will be brought back to the area committee for consideration before a final decision is made on whether to sell the land.

Aberdeenshire Council would then need to secure a Common Good Order to allow the land to be sold, outlining the expected benefits of the sale and how community interests would be safeguarded.

Money generated from any sale of the land would be protected for the benefit of Banff and Macduff under the council’s Common Good Fund.

• Developing Low Traffic Neighbourhoods for communities across Edinburgh

Community engagement to help develop proposals for Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) in three parts of the city began yesterday.

The City of Edinburgh Council is proposing measures to make it safer and more comfortable to walk, cycle, wheel and spend time in Leith, Corstorphine and East Craigs. Following public engagement and subject to committee approval the schemes would be introduced under an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order. This provides further opportunities for public involvement in refining measures, even once they’re in place.

Residents’ views are now being sought on travel choices and spaces for movement and relaxation in the relevant areas. Feedback will be used to inform design proposals for each of the schemes, which are the first in a potential programme of low traffic neighbourhoods being considered across the city.

In Leith, the council is also developing a protected cycle lane between the Foot of the Walk and Ocean Terminal, which will complement the adjacent Trams to Newhaven project, as well as pedestrianizing Sandport Place Bridge and creating a bus-only section at the Shore. It is seeking people’s views on concept designs as part of the engagement.