Building Briefs – July 9th

• Next phase of works at A890 Stromeferry to start in September

The work forms part of the Highland Council’s on-going maintenance programme for the rock slope and involves replacing sections of the existing rock protection in areas identified during survey work carried out last year.  

Unlike the works carried out last year, only night time closures of the route will be required as during the day traffic management on the existing road will be in place. However there will be one weekend closure from Friday night until Monday morning, over the weekend of the 13th /16th September. 

• Former Burntisland school transformed into affordable homes

Tenants have been moving into a new Fife Council housing project in Burntisland.

The development has seen the former primary school transformed through a major refurbishment of the historically significant buildings.

Designed and built by Fife Council in partnership with the Scottish Government, the development of 27 new affordable homes consists of a mix of housing types, including six for Mid-Market Rent and three for specific needs.

The project is part of Fife Council’s ambitious Affordable Housing Programme that is increasing the number of affordable homes across Fife. Where possible the council has aimed to put back into use, sites and buildings that are no longer being used.

The new development in Burntisland is one of a number of sites where construction is underway to meet the council’s commitment to deliver 3,500 new affordable homes by 2022. The council has committed £40 million over the Programme and plans to invest a further £74m to meet future housing needs.

• Dirtpot Corner fully reopens following improvement scheme

A notorious stretch of the A72 road has fully reopened after an 11-month improvement scheme.

The £2.2 million programme has resulted in Dirtpot Corner near Cardrona being widened by three metres and resurfaced, with a new retaining wall installed alongside the River Tweed. This striking new structure also has modern road safety fencing and a steel parapet.

The scheme began in August 2018, with foundations for the new six metre high stone faced wall completed before the winter.

The wall was then built up to allow the safety parapet to be accommodated and road widened and re-surfaced.

The improvements - which have been carried out by SBc Contracts – aim to reduce the traffic incidents, particularly issues with heavy goods vehicles meeting at the corner.

A key aspect of the scheme has been that much of the construction work was undertaken from the river bank. This was considered the best option in order to reduce the environmental impact, cost of the project and minimise the impact on traffic on the road, with Dirtpot Corner closed for only two days throughout the 11 months of the project.

In the coming months, tree and wildflower planting will take place, alongside landscaping works to restore the works area at the Corner.

• Investment in Edinburgh offices surges in 2019

Investment in Edinburgh offices during the first half of 2019 has outstripped 2018’s annual total after a flurry of significant deals in the second quarter, according to analysis from Knight Frank.

The commercial property consultancy found that nearly £310 million had been invested in the city’s offices between January and June 2019, well ahead of the previous 12 months’ total of £284m. Between April and June alone, more than £290m was spent by investors.

The six-month figure was buoyed by two recent deals. In May, one of Germany’s largest pension funds purchased 4-8 St Andrew Square, home to Standard Life Aberdeen, for £120m. This was followed in June by the £100m purchase of the Leonardo Innovation Hub at Crewe Toll by an unnamed Korean investor.

Earlier in the year, a £55m property at Gyle Square was also acquired by Korean investors. Korean funds have now made four major purchases in Scotland since their first transaction in 2017, including the £48m deal for Glasgow’s 110 St Vincent Street in June this year.

• Fife wedding venue enters final stage of transformation

An 18th century wedding venue in its final phase of renovations is set to position a local business for growth, with support of a £160,000 funding package from Bank of Scotland.

Oswald House Hotel in Kirkcaldy was acquired in 2018 by Douglas and Sarah Philip. Built in 1793, the property required a complete overhaul and refurbishment of all 15 rooms, the ballroom and dining room areas after being left untouched for 40 years.

The funding from Bank of Scotland will be used to install a new heating system, repair the roof and roughcast the exterior walls. These alterations are due to complete by Autumn 2019.

The 17,700 sq ft B-listed building is used as an exclusive-use wedding venue that sleeps up to 36 people.