Building Briefs – March 15th

• Dundee bakery returns with revised designs for rejected takeaway outlet

Owners of the renowned Clark’s takeaway business had submitted an application to open a new portable unit near the Myrekirk roundabout at Kingsway West.

The plans would have seen two converted shipping containers placed on a site near a new Starbucks.

However, council officers refused planning permission for the outlet after deciding the design would be “detrimental” to the area’s character.

New plans have now been submitted which would see the space occupied by a single-storey building consisting of a glass front and timber-shaded cladding.

The company will invest approximately £350,000 in the new bakery, covering the cost of the building, ground work and changes to the car park.

The Fulton Road spot will also feature a green wall and two electrical charging points in the car park.

The West Gourdie Industrial Estate also contains a 24-hour Asda superstore, as well as a number of other businesses such as car dealerships.

• Council brings more empty Argyll and Bute homes back into use

A total of 37 empty homes were brought back into use in Argyll and Bute from April through to December last year – exceeding Argyll and Bute Council’s annual target of 25.

At a meeting of the council’s Community Services Committee yesterday, members also heard how there have been 62 affordable houses completed during the third quarter of the year.

Twenty of these homes are in Bowmore, Islay; 16 are in Lochgilphead; and 26 are in Succoth. A further 41 homes are due to be completed by the end of next month.

• Awards to continue to raise profile of good design across Aberdeenshire

The Aberdeenshire Architectural and Landscape Design Awards will continue to highlight the best of the area’s design and promote excellence and innovation in 2020.

Councillors have agreed to carry on with the biennial event, intended to stimulate greater awareness of good design and its benefits.

The 11th awards took place last year, presented by Deputy Provost of Aberdeenshire Ron McKail.

Categories included prizes for innovative solutions to housing need, future-proof living, building communities for the future and conservation and building adaption.

There were 57 submissions across six categories, including one for students. The categories will remain largely the same in 2020 – the inclusion of a regeneration element is being considered.

The overall best submission and winner of the Ian Shepherd Award in 2018 was the Portsoy Sail Loft, designed by Pinny Neil of LDN Architects for the North East Scotland Preservation Trust.

Members of Aberdeenshire Council’s Infrastructure Services Committee (ISC) have agreed to proceed with the awards again in 2020.

See more about the Aberdeenshire Architectural and Landscape Design Awards on our website at: http://bit.ly/AALDA1920.