Building Briefs – April 17th

• Calling all budding young artists and architects

The Savills Little Architects competition invites children to grab their tools, pencils, paint brushes and crayons and let their imaginations run wild to create their dream home.

There is an entry for different age groups and each has two categories: entrants can either draw or paint their creation or make a model out of any materials they have at home. The age categories are split into five years and under (little engineers), 6-10 years (junior builders) and 11-14 years (senior architects).

Each category and age group will have its own winner and two runners up. Winners will receive a £50 Hobbycraft voucher, while runners up will get a £25 Hobbycraft voucher.

Cameron Ewer, head of Savills Residential in Scotland, said: “To enter, budding young artists and architects simply need to take a really smart photo of their creations and email them to marketing@savills.com with their name, age, where they’re from and the category they are entering before the closing date of 23 April 2020.

“We have a wonderful line up of judges who are tasked with finding the very best artistic young people out there. They are Anne Ashworth, property and financial journalist and broadcaster and former editor of The Times Bricks and Mortar; Johnny Messum, founder of Messums Art Galleries; and Alison Parkhouse from Savills. There will also be another chance to win in a People’s Choice award voted on by the public so those wanting to vote should keep an eye on our social media platforms for their chance to judge the artwork.”

The winning creations will be shared with the world via the Savills website alongside the firm’s Instagram and Twitter feeds. Terms and conditions can be found on the Savills website.

• Green light for Stonehaven Harbour repairs

Aberdeenshire Council has approved plans for repairs to the existing sheet piles at Stonehaven Harbour.

Sections of the pier are encased by large sheets of steel to help protect the wall from the sea.

They were installed at the site about 70 years ago but have now reached the end of their design life.

Divers uncovered evidence of “significant” corrosion during an inspection several years ago and holes are visible in the metal above sea level.

A report by planning chiefs said the works were essential “to ensure the long-term impact” of the harbour’s net pier, fish jetty and south pier.

• Sports pitch planned for East Renfrewshire school

A new sports pitch could be built at Netherlee Primary School after plans were submitted by East Renfrewshire Council.

Proposals show how the pitch, set for the current sports field, would be fenced off and floodlights would be erected.

• Restaurant plans approved for former Fife bank building

Plans to transform a former RBS bank in Kelty into a restaurant have been given the go-ahead by Fife Council.

The change of use approval is for the old single-storey former Royal Bank of Scotland branch at 12 Main Street which was closed in 2015 and later put up for auction.

The proposal submitted by Savas Kilic includes a public dining area, kitchen, office and toilets and includes the removal of the cash machine.

• Canna House conservation approved

Plans to continue the conservation of a historic Inner Hebridean house have been approved and are likely to start next year.

Two years ago the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) embarked on a phased programme of conservation for Canna House, starting with fixing water ingress to the 140-year-old listed building.

The water coming in from the roof and windows and pooling in the founds has caused considerable damage over the years.

Project architects LDN said Canna House is structurally sound “but exhibits some signs of distress”.

The next phase in the conservation programme is to tackle rot in some of the floors and parts of the roof, replacing joists and guttering.

A programme to replace all the windows will continue; more power sockets and data points will be added and a comprehensive fire detection system installed.

The conservation work will include redecoration to restore the interior of the house to a standard which will permit public access once again.