Building Briefs – December 15th

Potential housing and business development sites in Moray published

Sites for potential housing and business development have been published as work progresses on Moray’s Local Development Plan 2020.

Moray Council’s planning & regulatory services committee approved the Main Issues Report for a 12-week consultation period. From mid-January, planning officers will exhibit at venues across Moray using use touch screens, interactive mapping and short videos to highlight the main planning issues and encourage discussion on what lies ahead for Moray over the next 10-15 years.

The Main Issues Report also lays out the challenges facing the council, including planning for new or expanded infrastructure and services, such as health services and schools. Neighbours of sites where new developments are being considered will be notified of the proposals near to them.

Draft Orders published for the Pitlochry to Killiecrankie dualling project

The draft Orders and Environmental Statement (ES) for the A9 Dualling project from Pitlochry to Killiecrankie have been published today.

Locals and road users will get a chance to see the plans at public exhibitions in Pitlochry Town Hall on 17 and 18 January 2018.

Details of the public exhibitions:

Pitlochry to Killiecrankie

Venue - Pitlochry Town Hall, 20 West Moulin Road, Pitlochry PH16 5DR

The exhibition material for the Pitlochry to Killiecrankie draft Orders exhibitions will be available from 1 pm on 17 January.

The draft Orders and Environmental Statement (ES) for the Pitlochry to Killiecrankie project are available to view on the project’s web page.

Strathleven Regeneration CIC wins ‘Best Implementation’ award for Lomondgate project

An economic development and regeneration project initiated in the aftermath of the closure of the J&B whisky bottling plant in Dumbarton 17 years ago, resulting in the loss of 470 jobs, has been recognised by the Institute of Economic Development (IED) in its inaugural awards.

Through the Lomondgate project, delivered by what is now Strathleven Regeneration Community Interest Company (CIC) – established with support from West Dunbartonshire Council, Scottish Enterprise and Diageo – in partnership with Walker Group (Scotland) Ltd, £106 million of capital investment has been attracted to the area against a target of £60m.

More than 750 people are now employed in a mix of full-time and part-time roles and over £300m has been generated in the region’s economy by Lomondgate and its businesses including Aggreko, BBC and Whitbread. The remainder of the former site has been redeveloped with 400 new homes by Walker Group, Persimmon Homes and Taylor Wimpey.

The IED singled out Strathleven Regeneration CIC in awarding it the ‘Best Implementation’ prize at its Annual Awards 2017 – a category which recognises those projects where a strategy has been put in place and executed particularly efficiently and effectively.

Invergordon tenants welcomed into new homes

Nineteen new council houses in Invergordon have been completed within a development selected as a pilot for a new collaboration between the Highland Council, NHS Highland and independence and inclusion charity Birchwood Highland.

The houses have been built at the newly named Dewdale Court, formerly the derelict Victoria Garage site on Invergordon High Street. The development is a mix of wheelchair, varying needs, and general needs flats and houses built around a courtyard just off the High Street at the Seabank Junction, which was also improved as part of the housing works.

All the houses have now been rented to tenants who are either existing council tenants who are transferring to a new home or are applicants from the Highland Housing Register.

Local councillors Maxine Smith and Pauline Munro visited the development earlier this week and welcomed tenants Karen and Andrew Sutton to their new home.

Melville Housing Association to boost Midlothian economy with plans for 20 new affordable homes

A £2.5 million housing deal has been agreed to transform a brownfield site in Mayfield which has been derelict for more than two years.

The deal, which will see the redevelopment of the former Mayfield Inn, has been struck by Melville Housing Association and includes plans to deliver work for local contractors as well as training opportunities in the surrounding area.

The 20 high-quality affordable homes on the Bogwood Road site will also help meet the high demand for social rented properties in Midlothian, where there are currently over 4,000 individuals and families on the housing waiting list.

Delivered by housebuilder ForthTay Residential Ltd, the new development is part of the Midlothian Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP) and has been made possible thanks to a Scottish Government grant of £1.47m. The remainder of the project will be funded by Melville Housing’s own finance.

The new properties, which are expected to be complete by early 2019, will mainly consist of one and two bedroom flats suitable for couples and single or older people. The homes will exceed modern energy efficiency standards and will also include solar panels for hot water and heating.