Building Briefs – October 8th

• Aberdeen property developer unveils major new project in England

The former Westerleigh School Site in Hollington Park is set to be the location of 68 residential units.

The site, which was acquired this week, has been available for many years and sits within the local development plan in Hastings.

Cater Group is partnering with Westerleigh Land Ltd on the project.

• Ryden completes sale of unit in Glasgow industrial estate

Acting on behalf of a private Irish investor, Ryden has successfully completed the sale of a modern trade counter investment on the south side of Glasgow for c. £790,000 representing a net initial yield of 6.7%.

The property, which consists of a 10,149 sq ft unit located at 101 Spiersbridge Lane, Thornliebank Industrial Estate, has been purchased by a private Irish client represented by CBRE.

It is currently let to Howden Joinery Properties Limited on FRI terms expiring in May 2026 and a passing rent of £55,858 per annum (£5.50 psf).

• Dates announced for Aberdeen built environment heritage lectures

The art of conservation, a visionary thinker and Britain’s greatest gardens will be explored in a series of public talks in the Granite City this autumn. 

Aberdeen City Heritage Trust – which is supported by Aberdeen City Council and Historic Environment Scotland – is hosting “Aberdeen Heritage Lectures” in association with the Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and the Built Environment at the Robert Gordon University, where the lectures will take place. 

In “From Walling Brick to PhD. What’s the Point?” [October 9], Tim Meek will describe the importance of lime harl and other traditional coatings as surface finishes throughout Scottish history. Tim’s work includes repairs at Brodie Castle in the early 1990s and the Great Hall at Stirling Castle. 

Dr Peter Burman will profile “John Ruskin (1819-1900), the ‘Good Steward’” [October 30]. Ruskin’s ideas about art and conservation, as well as the environment and sustainability, were revolutionary and helped inspire the foundation of the National Trust in 1895. 

Robert Grant will present “Paradise Lost – Reflections on the Evolution and Decline of Great Gardens and Designed Landscapes” [November 6]. With illustrated examples, including case studies from the North-east, Robert will identify the defining features. 

For more information or to book, click here.

• S Harrison helps green-fingered charity grow community allotment initiative

Edinburgh community health project Health All Round is taking its local allotment initiative to the next level after property development company S Harrison supplied a new state-of-the-art greenhouse that will be used to grow a wide range of fruit and vegetables.

Health All Round supports people living in Gorgie, Dalry, Saughton, Stenhouse and their surrounding areas, to live longer and healthier lives. The charity and voluntary sector agency provides services focusing on physical, social and emotional wellbeing and aims to build social capital and reduce inequalities in Edinburgh.

Two years ago, the City of Edinburgh Council offered Health All Round a disused allotment within Stenhouse Allotments and the charity’s members quickly transformed it into a highly productive area growing all types of fruit and vegetables. The food is used at Health All Round’s weekly lunches and shared out between members.

Following this success, the council has now provided another allotment. The charity was keen to create a facility that could benefit disabled users, so S Harrison agreed to supply a greenhouse that is fully wheelchair accessible and features toughened glass to enhance its safety credentials.

The York-based company recently submitted planning applications to create two student accommodation schemes nearby complete with high-quality amenities, consisting of 269-bedrooms on Gorgie Road next to the Water of Leith, and another with 394 bedrooms, on the corner of Westfield Road and Westfield Avenue, close to Health All Round’s HQ. The design of the development also incorporates a suite that local community organisations can use.

• Road improvement works in South Lanarkshire

South Lanarkshire Council has announced that a major programme of road improvement works is set to begin on Saturday 12 October.

The work is being carried out as part of the Council’s ongoing Roads Investment Programme on the A723 road between Strathaven and Hamilton, focussing on the stretch of road between the Glassford and Chapelton (Bents and Station Highway) road ends.

For safety reasons, the A723 will be completely closed which means there will be no through traffic allowed from Strathaven towards Hamilton and vice-versa. A signed diversion route will be in place via East Kilbride.

The closure will be removed at midnight on Sunday 20 October although temporary traffic signals will be in place for a few days afterwards to allow completion of associated works.

The following week (Tuesday 22 - Friday 25 October) will see extensive carriageway patch repairs take place on Calderwood Road, East Kilbride.

Again, for safety reasons, the road will be closed between Maxwellton Road and St Leonards Road. A signed diversion route will be in place via Maxwellton Road and St Leonards Road although access will be available to Maxwellton and Hunter Primary Schools and John Wright Sports Centre from the St Leonard’s Road side. Access to the Alison Lea Medical Centre will also be maintained via Maxwellton Road or Morrishall Road.