Building Briefs - February 24th

• Scotland’s most remote pub up for sale

Sited on the shoreline of the Knoydart Peninsula in the north west of Scotland with spectacular panoramic views and ancillary accommodation, The Old Forge currently operates as a restaurant and bar with capacity for 65 diners.

Built in 1880, it is a traditional whitewashed single storey cottage style property set under a slate roof. 

The restaurant has been improved over recent times with the addition of a sunroom overlooking the bay but retains a considerable amount of original character and charm. To the rear lie a range of outbuildings including staff accommodation.

An attached cottage, comprising living room /bedroom and en-suite bathroom provides useful accommodation.

• Plan for restaurant on Troon’s seafront

Plans have been lodged with South Ayrshire Council for a new seafront restaurant in place of an old toilet block in Troon.

Applicant Dorothy Birks, who runs the popular Kirkmichael Arms, Maybole, has applied for planning permission to build a diner and a car park on Troon’s North Shore Road.

A surfers’ wet room, takeaway service, ice-cream kiosk and a restaurant were part of the proposals for the Barassie coastline.

Designs show a modern building with large windows for customers to enjoy the beach panorama.

The latest planning application was submitted again recently following approval five years ago.

• East Lothian Council approves £30m housing investment

East Lothian Council members yesterday approved a capital budget of almost £30 million for 2021/22 for modernising existing council housing & investing in new council housing.

The total spend on improvements and new stock over the next five years will be just over £175m.

Even with the lockdown of the construction sector earlier last year, the council has completed 80 new affordable units since April 2020. It has also secured starts on two sites which will deliver an additional 94 new houses over this calendar year and next with a further 163 units in the pipeline.

• Cupar care village makes prgress

Plans to build a £9.8 million care village in Cupar are a step closer to reality after councillors approved the project’s business plan.

The new facility, to replace the ageing Northeden House care home, will consist of a 24-bed home, 12 supported living flats, a 10-place day service facility as well as community support accommodation. It will be built at the existing site at Bank Street.

Members of Fife Council’s policy and co-ordination committee supported the revised plans for the multi-purpose facility, which was originally supposed to be a straight replacement for the existing 36-bed care home.

In December, it was revealed that the revised proposal would not be achievable on the hillside location and that an alternative plan should be drawn up.

Approval of the business plan also comes a month later than planned after the local authority was forced to defer discussions in January after it incorrectly claimed councillors had already been consulted, despite no such consultation having taken place.

• Maybole Castle revamp granted funding

An historic castle is set to be restored to its former glory thanks to a funding boost.

The Scottish Government has granted £729,659 from their Regeneration Capital Grant Fund to help transform Maybole Castle. The funding will turn the castle into a key attraction bringing the building back into use.

The 16th century castle will be completely refurbished so visitors and locals can enjoy the historic building and grounds.

Visitors will also be able to enjoy the gardens which will be restored too.

• Funding road improvement programme agreed in Easter Ross

A proposal to utilise 70% of this year’s area capital roads budget on the improvement of conditions and structure of the roads in Easter Ross was unanimously agreed by councillors.

A paper on the additional roads’ capital allocation was considered at the Highland Council’s economy and infrastructure committee on February 4 and members of Easter Ross area committee considered the plans for utilising this resource at area level.

As Easter Ross has a total of 23% of the road length in the former Ross and Cromarty area, the capital programme is based on 23% of the 2020/21 Ross and Cromarty Area Capital budget which equates to £239,623.

Members unanimously agreed with Cllr Robertson’s proposal which will see at least 70% of the capital budget used for patching, with more to be used should it be necessary, thereby enhancing the condition of roads in the Tain and Easter Ross area.

• Council seeks public opinion on shared-use paths in Inverurie and Portlethen

Aberdeenshire Council is seeking feedback from residents of Inverurie and Portlethen on a proposed cycle and walking infrastructure being developed in each town.

Working with design consultants WSP, a virtual presentation has been prepared which highlights the route corridors and further details on what is being proposed. The presentation and accompanying survey for both towns opened on February 22.

The proposals were first outlined in the development of the Integrated Travel Town Masterplan, and will be progressed following a successful funding allocation from Transport Scotland’s ‘Low Carbon Transport Travel Fund’.

The proposed design in Inverurie would aim to create improved access between Port Elphinstone and Inverurie Community Campus, including links to the A96 shared-use path to Kintore.

In Portlethen, designs would aim to create improved access along Muirend Road for walkers and cyclists and include links to Badentoy Industrial estate and Cookstone Road, linking to the primary school and railway station.

The surveys close on March 21 and can be completed at the end of the following presentations.