Building Briefs – January 12th

Work starts on Stirling homes

Rural Stirling Housing Association (RSHA) has celebrated its 25th anniversary with the start of work on 14 new affordable homes in Strathblane.

RSHA has recently started work on the homes for rent at Campsie Road – the first new affordable homes to be built in the village for over 40 years. The ceremonial turf-breaking was carried out by management committee member David Frood – a local resident and one of the Association’s founder members.

£75m Macritch Hill windfarm plan withdrawn

The largest windfarm ever proposed for Angus has had the plug pulled because of “uncertainty” over government subsidies.

The £75 million Macritch Hill development, which was to see 18 turbines stretch between Glens Prosen and Isla near Kirriemuir, was to save Scottish Water one-third of its annual energy costs.

Developer Eneco confirmed its decision to withdraw the application, which was to be decided by a Scottish Government reporter this year.

Work continues on West Coast Mainline viaduct repairs

Work is continuing on a project to repair a vital viaduct on the West Coast Mainline in South Lanarkshire, Transport Scotland has announced.

Engineers are underway trying to stabilise the structure after floodwater damage during Storm Frank weakened one of the stone piers in Lamington.

Large sections of the original stone foundations have subsequently been washed away.

Over 1,500 tonnes of stone has been used to create a temporary damn across part of the River Clyde to allow engineers to access the piers base.

Around 150 tonnes of quick-setting concrete will be pumped into the void during the weekend, recreating the pier base before additional work begins to strengthen the structure/realign and repair the railway track above.

It is understood the line will be reopened on 1 February.

Annual Falkirk Wheel maintenance work underway

Maintenance work is underway on a rotating boat lift attraction in Falkirk, Scottish Canals has announced.

The Falkirk Wheel is receiving its annual upkeep works and is expected to remain closed until 05 February.

Workers will drain the Wheel, allowing specialist teams to inspect, lubricate, repair and, if needed, replace each of the structures thousands of mechanical parts.

In addition, engineers will make sure the attractions gates, sluices, sensor arrays and pumps are working correctly in preparation for another tourist season.

Dumfries theatre renovation goes £200,000 over budget

A major renovation of Scotland’s oldest working theatre has cost £200,000 more than originally forecast.

Extensive work on the Theatre Royal in Dumfries was originally priced at about £1.9m.

Dumfries and Galloway Council has been told that “unforeseen structural issues” have pushed spending up to £2.11m.

Councillors have now been asked to award an additional £50,000 to the project.

The grant would be in addition to £455,000 the local authority agreed to give to the scheme in May 2013.

Work begins on second phase of Oban Bay improvement project

The second phase of a public realm improvement project is underway in Argyll and Bute.

Contractor Land Engineering began over £2 million of improvements at Oban Bay last week.

It is understood the shopfront side of George Street and Station Square will be completed first, with the seaward side being undertaken last.

Work will start at the roadside of the footway and continue inwards, allowing access to be maintained.

So far, works have included establishing pedestrian and traffic management, drilling trial holes, site clearance, demolishing existing bus shelters and excavating the footway.

In the coming weeks, Lanes Group will be on site to clear all drains and carry out CCTV survey.

In addition, seven containers filled with granite for the kerbs/paving are to be delivered this week.

Pupils build mini Forth Road Bridge

Around 600 Midlothian primary pupils are building their own mini version of the new bridge over the River Forth.

Promoted by the industry’s professional body, the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), the multi-agency initiative will see groups of up to 25 senior primary pupils from 12 schools in the county each build a model cable-bridge, similar in structure to the new bridge under construction. The pupils will then have the chance to walk across the bridge before dismantling the structure.

The first group of 22 P6 pupils from Tynewater Primary in Pathhead successfully built their bridge yesterday at the National Mining Museum Scotland.