Building Briefs - August 13th

• Sanctuary begins work on final phase of Donside development

Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, visited the site where Sanctuary is delivering another 61 much-needed new homes.

The one, two and three-bedroom apartments will be managed by Sanctuary Scotland and available for social rent.

Set for completion in November 2022, the new homes will mark the end of Sanctuary’s development of Donside. Phase one of the project saw the regeneration of a former paper mill site to provider a further 267 new homes, 146 which were available for social rent and 121 for private sale.

The project is being built in partnership with the Scottish Government and Aberdeen City Council. The homes are viable thanks in part to a Scottish Government grant award of £4.7m.

• Clovenside Cemetery to receive drainage improvements

Clovenside Cemetery in Forres is to receive around £56,000 worth of drainage improvements.

Throughout last winter Clovenside Cemetery experienced disruptive and distressing flooding due to high intensity rainfall and deterioration of the existing soakaway drainage system and a similar flooding event occurred in the last couple of weeks following periods of heavy rainfall.

On the surface the drainage works, known as raingarden, will look like a small dip planted with meadow grasses and native shrubs, the dip is designed to capture any rain water runoff to allow it to drain into the soil below. The soil beneath will have high sand content with a deep layer of stone under that to maximise the drainage.

Some trees have already been removed from the lowest point in the cemetery to allow for works but they will be replaced by trees around the perimeter of the cemetery.

• Plans ramp up for Dalry Skate Park

Local residents are being asked to share their views on plans for a new skate park in Dalry.

North Ayrshire Council has launched a consultation on the proposals, which form part of wider regeneration works being undertaken in Dalry Public Park, thanks to funding from the Scottish Government’s Town Centre Fund.

The council has already been engaging with potential users of the skate park to gather their ideas as part of the design process. And now all residents are being invited to play a key role in finalising the plans.

Through an online survey they are being asked for their opinions on two integral aspects of the skate part – where is should be located and what design option they would prefer.

Once the survey closes at 5pm on Tuesday 31 August, the council will then evaluate the responses and finalise the plans based on the community’s feedback.

• Stirling Council launches consultation on flood risk management

Stirling Council is encouraging residents to offer their views on actions that can be taken to tackle the risk of flooding in local areas.

Working in collaboration with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and other key partners, Stirling Council is the lead local authority for the Forth Local Plan District Consultation. There are 14 district consultations across Scotland being co-ordinated between SEPA and local authorities.

The second phase of the consultation offers information on the local flood risk management plan in addition to consultation questions. It also provides information on how and when flood risk actions from the plan will be delivered locally.

The consultation is open to residents, businesses and any other interested parties including other responsible authorities. It will close on October 31.

Have your say on the Flood Risk Management Plan for the Forth here or by visiting the consultation hub for flood risk plans across the country.

• Community Facility Funding up for grabs in Forres

Almost £51,000 is available for community and regeneration projects in the Forres Academy area school group (ASG).

Moray Council seeks developer obligations towards education, healthcare, transportation and a 3G pitch within the Forres Academy ASG. The council currently holds £50,901 towards community facilities that was historically sought and are looking for input from local community groups to ensure that these remaining contributions are spent on projects that the public supports and benefit the residents of Forres and surrounding area

A series of consultation events are being held between Friday 13 August and Friday 12 November 2021 and planning officers from Moray Council will be on hand to discuss any potential projects with attendees.

Expenditure to date includes £1,606.66 spend on the creation of a wireless access point in Forres Town Hall, £9,603.34 committed for the purchase of acoustic panels in Forres Town Hall and £4,935 being ring-fenced for the James Milne Institute in Findhorn. 

Community groups with proposals and/or projects that meet the criteria are encouraged to apply by submitting project proposals to the Council for the intended use of this money. 

The deadline for submissions is 17:00 on Friday 12 November 2021, with more information and an application form available at: www.moray.gov.uk/forresdeveloperobligations.  

• Funding support for Argyll and Bute regeneration projects