Building briefs - July 14th

• Screwfix plans to establish Forfar base

A planning application submitted to Angus Council said it will create 12 new jobs at the former Carpetright building on Queenswell Road if a change of use is granted.

The application says the company “would make a positive contribution to the commercial and community life in the area by providing essential trade counter services to local businesses”, The Courier reports.

Screwfix already has an Angus outlet in Arbroath and two sites in Dundee.

• Edinburgh councillors approve 5G mast

Edinburgh councillors have approved plans for a new 5G mast despite hundreds of objections based on pedestrian safety and the local environment.

The 18-metre mast will be built near New Swanston Road to deliver telecoms services for Three UK, EdinburghLive.co.uk reports.

A Three spokesperson said: “Masts need to be situated where people will be using the service and, in precise locations to ensure the widest breadth of coverage. We carry out extensive searches and surveys to evaluate all the options.

“We then choose the option most likely to gain planning approval from the local council. This will include showing we have minimised the impact on residents and the locality.

“We try to keep masts as unobtrusive and small as possible. However, they do need to be tall enough to transmit over nearby buildings and trees to meet regulations and to ensure the signal can reach as many people as possible.”