Building Briefs – June 24th

• Ryden to market commercial units within Waterfront Plaza Development

The Waterfront Plaza development, situated within the Shore area of Leith, will see the creation of 422 residential units, comprising a mix of townhouses, colonies and apartments. In addition, it will offer 154 undercroft car parking spaces, 27 electric car charging points and 320 cycle spaces.

The first two blocks of Waterfront Plaza will include 14 self contained ground floor studio commercial units ranging from approximately 500 – 900 sq ft, benefitting from retail, office and studio planning consent. The development is currently under construction and the commercial units are expected to be available from early 2020.

The immediate area is best known for Ocean Terminal which is shortly due to undergo a revamp and will further benefit from the extension of the Edinburgh tram line which is expected to significantly improve the access from Leith to Edinburgh’s city centre.

• Cameron House repair bill expected to top £18m

The owners of the luxury five-star Cameron House resort have revealed repairing the fire damaged building will cost £18.5 million.

The horrific blaze claimed the lives of two guests after it swept through sections of the Loch Lomondside hotel.

The hotel owners have said the bill for repairs to restore the resort are expected to top £18.5m but should be met by their insurance firm.

The main building of the hotel, which was built in the 18th Century, was destroyed in the fire and led to the evacuation of more than 200 people.

Police Scotland are still to hand their final report to prosecutors on the fire. The Crown Office will then decide whether any legal proceedings will be held.

Plans to rebuild Cameron House were lodged with the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park planning department in December.

• Studies to assess environmental impact of Space Hub Sutherland

Preparatory work is getting under way to agree the scope of environmental impact studies that should be carried out in relation to the site of a proposed space centre in Sutherland.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is currently developing plans for Space Hub Sutherland, which is expected to begin vertical launches of small satellites from the A’Mhoine peninsula, near Tongue, early in the next decade.

The project has attracted support from the UK Space Agency, which is also funding two launch companies that plan to set up in Sutherland, Lockheed Martin Space Systems and Orbex.

Space Hub Sutherland is planned as a key component of Scotland’s growing space sector. The development agency expects 40 high quality jobs will be created locally, part of a total of more than 400 across the wider Highlands and Islands.  Orbex has already opened a new manufacturing facility in Forres.

The potential launch site at A’Mhoine is next to the Caithness and Sutherland Peatlands Special Protection Area and Special Area of Conservation, and the Ben Hutig Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Understanding the environmental impacts of satellite launches, as well as the economic benefits, will be crucial factors in determining the outcome of a future planning application to the Highland Council for design and construction of the space hub.

That application is currently being prepared by HIE and will be accompanied by an extensive round of public consultation so that local people have opportunities to view the plans and put questions to the developer.

As a first step towards determining environmental impacts, HIE now seeking agreement on the scope of environmental issues that will need to be examined.  The development agency is consulting the Highland Council, statutory consultees Scottish Natural Heritage, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and Historic Environment Scotland, and a wide range of other interested parties.  

In line with the EU’s environmental impact assessment directive, HIE is proposing to examine potential impacts on the local area, specific habitats and the marine environment.

• Aberdeen architects among finalists for Northern Star Business Awards

A firm of architects based in Aberdeen is in the running for a top award at the Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce Northern Star Business Awards.

Cumming & Co is one of four finalists in the Business of the Year category.

Now in their 16th year, the Awards – held in association with the Press & Journal - recognise companies in the North-east for their exceptional accomplishments across a range of fields from internationalisation and innovation to people development, environmental action and customer service.

The winners will be announced at a glittering ceremony on September 26 at P&J Live.

• Housebuilder teaches tricks of the trade to Haddington pupils 

Lucky pupils at Meadowpark Provision, Knox Academy are gaining hands-on experience and learning basic construction skills from housebuilder David Wilson Homes.

To encourage local wildlife and develop students’ practical skills, the property developer is teaching students near their Dovecot Mill development in Haddington how to build bird boxes.

Located close to the banks of the picturesque River Tyne, the East Lothian area has an abundance of beautiful birds and wildlife. The new bird boxes will provide pupils from Meadowpark Provision, Knox Academy with the opportunity to bird watch and experience the beauty of their outdoor environment.

• Free kids engineering activities

Following a successful summer at the Forth Bridges last year, Transport Scotland is again hosting its unique and free Fantastic Forth future engineers summer programme in South Queensferry.

The six week programme of activities is available Monday to Friday from July 1 until August 9, 2019 and encourages families to explore the Forth Bridges and find out more about what it takes to be an engineer.

All activities are offered are free of charge, building on the Forth Replacement Crossing project’s successful outreach and education programme.

This academic year over 7,000 school pupils have visited the Forth Bridges education centre, on top of the 30,000 that have visited since it opened in 2013.