Building Briefs – September 25th

• Shepherd sells former Farmfoods outlet to Amber Taverns

The former retail unit will be converted into a new modern pub with Amber looking to open in time for Christmas this year.

Sam Frankland, property director at Amber Taverns, said: “We look forward to bringing an Amber pub to Dumfries. We will invest around £600,000 in this building to create an attractive pub which we believe will appeal to a wide range of customers.

“We hope Dumfries will mirror the success of our recent opening in Paisley, which was our first trading site in Scotland. We have started our development in Coatbridge on the former Post Office which is also due to open before Christmas, and we have other sites in legals in Scotland and will make further announcements soon.”

• Major infrastructure project announced in Stornoway

A major infrastructure project to create new facilities, buildings and roads within the Newton area of Stornoway has been announced by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and Highlands and Islands Enterprise in partnership with a local developer.

Plans to show these developments will be hosted at DR Macleod’s offices on Island Road, Stornoway today from 4pm to 6pm.

Members of the public, businesses and any interested parties are encouraged to see and discuss the plans for a vacant and derelict site within the area.

• Local firms in the frame for Union Terrace Gardens work

Firms from Aberdeen and across the North-east of Scotland are poised to benefit from sub-contracting opportunities during the transformation of Union Terrace Gardens (UTG).

More than 70 registered for a “Meet the Buyer” event, held yesterday at the Town House in Aberdeen.

It was hosted by Aberdeen City Council for Balfour Beatty, which has been appointed by the council to carry out the £25.7 million build.

The flagship Aberdeen City Centre Masterplan project will see the Victorian park transformed into an inclusive 21st century space by improving access, amenities and activity while enhancing heritage features.

The UTG design includes three pavilions (on Union Street, Union Terrace and Rosemount Viaduct), elevated walkways, landscaping and lighting, and the refurbishment of the Union Terrace arches.

Work is already is under way and is expected to be completed in summer 2021.

• New Falkirk infrastructure improvement plan to be unveiled

Falkirk Council will unveil new plans to improve the infrastructure around the West Mains, Westfield and Middlefield areas at a public consultation event on October 3 at Forth Valley College.

The event will show residents and businesses details on the next stage of the A9-A904 improvement works involving road widening, new roundabouts to improved access and road safety, and the construction of a pedestrian/cycle bridge at Westfield roundabout.

Funding for the project will come from the Tax Incremental Finance (TIF) scheme that allows local authorities to fund regeneration projects by attracting in more businesses and borrowing against future tax revenues. It is expected that when complete Falkirk will see a total of £258 million investment from £67m of council investment.

• Plans released for upgrades at RAF Lossiemouth

The dates of a major runway resurfacing upgrade at RAF Lossiemouth have been announced.

These works will enable the Typhoon and P-8A Poseidon to operate from the Moray base from 2020 and well into the future, securing both the skies and the seas of the United Kingdom.

Work on the main runway at RAF Lossiemouth will begin in January 2020, with Typhoon operations continuing throughout this period. From June to July 2020 the intersection of the two runways at RAF Lossiemouth will be resurfaced, and routine Typhoon activity will be temporarily located at Kinloss Barracks. The Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) Force for the north of the UK will temporarily relocate to Leuchars Station.

Typhoon activity at RAF Lossiemouth will resume with the return of routine training and QRA from the end of July 2020. All runway surfacing works at RAF Lossiemouth are being carried out by VolkerFitzpatrick Ltd and are expected to be completed by February-March 2021.

• Fife Council Better Homes Exhibition reveals council house improvements

This year’s Fife Council Better Homes Exhibition showcased the high-quality improvements being made to council homes.

The exhibition took place last week in the Rothes Halls, Glenrothes and exposed the changes which Fife Council are making to their council houses. The exhibition also gave council tenants the chance to find out about the planned improvements.

Tenants attended the exhibition to find out for themselves, what materials are being used, find out about their options and ask any questions about work in bathrooms and kitchens.

Information was also available on adaptations, windows and doors, heating, sustainability and specialist services.

Tenants were asked for their views surrounding a rent increase, which will help to shape the final rent options for April 2020. The tenants will also be given the opportunity to vote on their preferred option for the final rent options for April 2020 through the winter edition of the tenant newsletter.

Specialist energy and money advice were also on hand throughout the event, as well as information on new builds across the Kingdom.

• Over 2,000 homes are empty in Aberdeen

A report has revealed that more than 2,000 homes are lying empty in Aberdeen.

The audit committee will be updated this week on the challenges which will emerge from the council’s attempts to bring back void properties into use, The Press and Journal reports.

With more than 22,000 homes in Aberdeen belonging to Aberdeen City Council, it has recruited an empty homes officer to help it bring back some of the empty homes into use.

A report to the members of the council said: “There are currently more than 2,000 long term empty homes across the city. The Council Tax (Variation for Unoccupied Dwellings) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2016 allow local authorities to charge increased council tax on certain homes that have been empty for one year or more.

“The power contained in the regulations is intended as an additional tool to help local authorities encourage owners to bring empty properties back into use, both to increase the supply of housing for those who need homes and to reduce the blight on communities caused by homes being left empty and allowed to fall into disrepair.”

Aberdeen councillors will hear the £50,000 from the fund has been assigned to allow the council to establish an empty homes loan fund to get properties lived in once more.