Building Briefs – October 8th

Options that include the existing A96 Inverurie Bypass and the offline southern route between east of Huntly and Blackburn, which passes through the Bennachie Special Landscape Area, are amongst the options that have been removed following initial design and assessment work and also drawing on the feedback received to date.

Starting today in Inverurie, local communities and road users will get the chance to see and comment on the options being taken forward for further design as we look to identify a preferred route option in 2019.

Details of the public exhibitions:

All exhibitions run from 12:00 noon until 7:00pm.

Switched-on CMS Window Systems invests in 100% electric vans

CMS Window Systems has taken another major step in reducing its carbon footprint with the addition of its first 100% electric powered vans to its fleet, along with the installation of new charging points.

This latest green initiative by the company, which is one of the UK’s leading window, door and curtain walling fabricators and installers, will further reduce its environmental impact as part of a broad strategy designed to continuously improve operational efficiency with reduced CO2 emissions and waste. The success of this approach was demonstrated recently by figures showing that CMS Window Systems diverted 100% of its waste away from landfill in the 2017-18 financial year, and now the reduction of vehicle emissions is in the spotlight.

The company, which won a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in 2017 for its environmental achievements, has installed the infrastructure for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles at both its sites at Cumbernauld near Glasgow and in Kirkcaldy, Fife. The charging points will ensure that the new 100% electric vans can be kept charged and operational, as well as offering staff and visitors who drive plug-in electric vehicles access to fast recharging when they are on-site at CMS.

Operating from its 15-acre main manufacturing and recycling facility and HQ at Castlecary near Cumbernauld, together with its new door manufacturing and recycling plant in Kirkcaldy, Fife, CMS Window Systems continues to be one of Scotland’s fastest growing manufacturing businesses. The company has been backed by mid-market private equity investor LDC since May 2016, when it secured a significant minority investment to further support the business’ expansion across Scotland and England.

Landowners urged to propose Shetland development sites

Shetland Islands Council has called on landowners to propose sites that may be suitable for future development.

The Scottish Government requires local authorities to identify sufficient land for future housing, business and industry needs. The ‘Call for Sites’ process is being used to help the council to achieve this.

Over the next six months, landowners and developers with potential sites may submit them for inclusion in the next Local Development Plan (LDP). When finalised, the LDP will guide planning policy in Shetland for the next ten years including the identification of suitable land for future housing growth, as part of the Local Housing Strategy.

Having sufficient land for future developments will also help to ensure that new sites will have appropriate infrastructure investment, such as roads, schools and transport links. It is hoped that by taking a strategic view on land use, there will be a reduction in the number of planning applications in future for unplanned ‘windfall’ developments.

The council has identified ‘Preferred Areas for Growth’ for housing development, where suitable sites are sought for the construction of three or more houses. Proximity to community facilities, such as shops, schools and past growth patterns have informed this process. Other areas have also been identified for business and industry development in Lerwick, as well as mixed-use sites in areas outside Lerwick.

Any landowners or developers with areas of land that they think may be suitable are invited to submit their proposals using the council’s online form.

The council will consider submissions and any site taken forward as a preferred option will be allocated for development in the next Local Development Plan. This has the effect of giving the site the status of planning permission in principle, therefore reducing uncertainty for applicants when they apply for planning permission. During the next stage of the Local Development Plan, called the ‘Main Issues Report’, members of the public and other parties will be able to make representations on sites that are identified by the council.

Broughty Ferry flood protection scheme details revealed

Final details of the proposed flood protection scheme for a Dundee community are set to go on display, as the notice of the confirmed Flood Protection Scheme is published.

Dundee City Council’s plans to reduce the impact of any future flooding in Broughty Ferry have been the subject of detailed design and consideration by more than 200 residents and other interested parties since 2016.

The scheme is designed to reduce the risk of flooding to residential, open space, community and businesses within Broughty Ferry through works along Douglas Terrace, James Place, Fisher Street and Beach Crescent.

BBC Scotland’s Glenn Campbell opens ACHA’s 350th new home

Argyll Community Housing Association’s (ACHA) 350th new home was officially opened on Islay by BBC Scotland personality Glenn Campbell.

The new build housing for rent is part of a 20 homes project being built by ACHA on the outskirts of Bowmore. The development has a contract value of £3.4 million and is a three way funding partnership between ACHA, Argyll and Bute Council and the Scottish Government.

The new homes were built by MacLeod Construction of Lochgilphead and employed 30 tradesmen. The housing mix ranges from one to four bedroom homes.

Stirling home heating scheme celebrates 1000th happy customer

A joint initiative between Stirling Council and the Scottish Government has helped increase the heat for more than 1,000 homes across the area.

James McGrory and his wife Janette from Afton Court, Braehead became the latest residents in Stirling to benefit from the Home Energy Efficiency Programme Scotland (HEEPS) after work was completed at their property by contractors A.C. Whyte & Co. Ltd last month.

First introduced in 2013/14, HEEPS allows local authorities to bid for funding to treat ‘hard to heat’ private homes with external wall insulation in a bid to reduce fuel poverty and carbon emissions.

The programme involves the placing of insulation boards on the external walls of a property, which are finished with a render coat. The insulation boards reduce the heat loss from the property, improving thermal performance, reducing heating costs and levels of fuel poverty.

Since the programme began, Stirling Council has secured over £9 million of funding and a further £2m of ECO funding from power companies, enabling the council to deliver external wall insulation to 1,000 private homes over the past six years at no cost to the owners.