Building Briefs – January 29th

• Three Ayrshire station footbridges revamped

Network Rail will refurbish the station footbridges at Newton on Ayr, Saltcoats and Barassie stations cleaning the existing paint and rust back to the metal and undertaking steel repairs before repainting and water proofing with a modern paint system.

The anti-slip surfaces on the bridge will also be replaced.

• Campion Homes development plans approved

Campion Homes has been granted permission to build 29 new homes in Star of Markinch.

Concerns had been raised about the Fife village’s infrastructure, including its primary school, roads and pavements, and its inability to cope with an influx of people.

However, Ewan Campbell, Fife Council case officer, said the scale of the development had been assessed through the FIFEplan process and the suitability of the allocated site for housing development had been deemed acceptable by the council.

Consent for the development is subject to conditions and the conclusion of an agreement to secure financial contributions from the Dunfermline-based developer, The Courier reports.

Campion Homes has been asked to contribute £8,352 towards transport infrastructure measures, £49,300 towards affordable housing, £47,589 towards extra capacity at Auchmuty High School in Glenrothes, and another £29,000 towards off-site play equipment.

Fife Council transport officials have also been asked to assess the feasibility of installing a raised crossing as part of planned pedestrian improvements.

• Homelessness plan for Perth housing block

Perth & Kinross Council has announced plans to transform a housing block in St Catherine’s Square into flats in an attempt to help tackle homelessness across the region.

The council’s ‘Home First’ approach has been praised by the Scottish Government and charities for successfully reducing the number of people experiencing homelessness and for cutting the length of time they are left waiting for permanent housing.

The campaign was launched in 2018 and aims to rehome people quickly by avoiding housing them in temporary accommodation such as B&Bs.

The council has now revealed plans to transform St Catherine’s Square by converting “unpopular” bedsits which have been used for temporary accommodation into modern flats or maisonettes.

A report detailing the plans is due to be presented to councillors this week.