Building Briefs – April 2nd

• Rejuvenating Roseburn placemaking plans open to consultation

The ‘Rejuvenating Roseburn’ project aims to make a range of public realm improvements along a section of the City Centre West to East Link (CCWEL), a major new cycle route which will connect the Roseburn path to Leith Walk via the city centre.

A public consultation on the completed designs launches today, with two drop-in sessions being held on-site at the Old Coltbridge from 1pm to 6pm on 2 and 30 April, where people can speak to the project team and find out more about proposals. Designs will also be made available online for comment.

These include improved footway surfaces, play features integrated into the streetscape, a viewing platform over the Water of Leith and more greenery, and have been developed in response to suggestions from local people.

The family-friendly City Centre West to East Cycle Link and Street Improvements Project was approved in December 2016 and aims to install a largely protected cycle way to and through the city centre, providing a crucial link from existing Quiet Routes in north and west Edinburgh to Leith Walk.

The scheme intends to encourage more commuters to choose to travel into the city by bike or on foot instead of by car, reducing congestion and contributing to improved air quality while boosting healthy, active travel.

Find out more about the project online.

• Latest Kingdom development achieves Secured by Design accreditation

Barratt Homes has completed the latest Kingdom Housing Association development, at The Heathers in Lynebank, Dunfermline.

At the handover of the new development, Police Scotland awarded the project the Secured by Design (SBD) accreditation.

The SBD standards are based on proven crime prevention design techniques that recognise design and specification elements which increase the physical security of buildings and external environment.

Police Scotland’s National Designing Out Crime manager, Stuart Ward, explained that the Police SBD award’s proven crime prevention techniques include the layout and landscaping, such as incorporating natural surveillance and limiting through movement, and increasing the physical security of buildings, such as attack resistant doors, windows and locks to deter opportunist burglars.

The benefits of building to SBD security standards are wider than just security in that significant reductions in maintenance and repair costs can be achieved. For police, falling crime reduces demands on services and enables us to focus on other priorities.

The partnership working between Police Designing Out Crime Officers and architects / developers for new developments can have an exceptionally positive impact on enhancing communities, reducing the incidence and fear of crime, and improving the quality of people’s lives.

The Kingdom project was provided by Barratt through negotiation as part of its affordable housing agreement and has provided a mix of 2 and 3 bedroom homes that Kingdom will allocate as social rented homes.

Barratt Homes developed 29 new homes for Kingdom as part of its larger development in Dunfermline, The Heathers, which will provide a total of 114 new homes.

The total cost of the Kingdom project was around £3.8 million, with approximately £2.3m provided to Kingdom, by the Scottish Government. In addition to achieving the secured by design accreditation, the project has been built to Scottish Government’s Greener Standards aspects 1 & 2 sliver sustainability standards, through the installation of photo voltaic panels, mechanical extract ventilation system and enhanced insulation standards.

In a 1987 Police Scotland undertook a  study of over 150 of Kingdoms developments,  which have achieved the secured by design standards in Fife and found that there had been 87% fewer reported crimes reported in the Kingdom projects, compared to properties not similarly designed and protected.

• West Lothian development celebrates success at national construction awards

A Lovell housing development site at Kirkhill in Broxburn has received a Bronze award at the Considerate Constructors Scheme’s National Site Awards in Scotland.

The development of 230 new homes, which is being built by partnership housing provider Lovell on behalf of West Lothian Council, received an overall score of 43 out of 50 during the Considerate Constructors Scheme’s monitoring visits.

It was assessed on areas including respecting the community, protecting the environment, securing everyone’s safety and valuing the workforce.

The annual National Site Awards recognise construction sites registered with the Considerate Constructors Scheme that have raised the bar and improved the image of construction. The Scheme looks at the measures a site has put in place to be more considerate towards local neighbourhoods, the public, the workforce and the environment.

The 230-home development at Kirkhill is one of the largest social housing projects in Scotland and is one of 15 sites across West Lothian that Lovell has been working on as part of West Lothian Council’s new-build social housing programme.

• Over £13m for social housing solar panel project

A project to help people in social housing get solar panels is to benefit from a share of £13.4 million of low carbon funding.

The smart storage project in Aberdeenshire will enable residents in social housing to make the best use of solar panels.

It is being funded by the Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme (LCITP), which will also be funding a new absorption chiller for the Mackie’s ice cream plant in Aberdeenshire and a district heat network for the Shawfair housing development in Midlothian.

The £60m fund focuses on supporting three priority areas outlined in Scotland’s Energy Strategy: low carbon heating solutions, integrated energy systems and ultra-low emission vehicle infrastructure schemes.

• Pitching for Pennies off to a flying start

Following the recent announcement of its Pitching for Pennies initiative, staff at Lochmaben-based Russell Roof Tiles have already rallied together to support charities that are close to their hearts.

Russell Roof Tiles announced the Pitching for Pennies initiative at the start of 2019, in order to encourage and reward staff for their fundraising efforts. For the first time, the leading roof tile manufacturer has pledged to match fund the amount of money its staff raises for charity.

Since the announcement, staff at Russell Roof Tiles’ 11-acre Halleaths site, have been keen to throw their hat in the ring and take on charity challenges, including participating in the ‘Great British Beach Clean Up’ in Lincolnshire in September and taking on a sugar-free month. Macmillan Cancer Support, Cancer Research and the Marine Conservation Society are just some of the charities set to benefit.