Building Briefs – June 10th

Education for pupils at Annbank Primary School is set to be transformed as work gets underway on a significant new extension.

The South Ayrshire Council project will deliver a new focal point for the communities of Annbank and Mossblown, while also allowing the local library to move to a new purpose-built facility.

The £1.6 million project will provide a new gym hall, as well as a separate multi-use dining hall, which will also be available for use by the local community. Other features include: accessible changing rooms, a new kitchen, substantial storage space, and new PE equipment and chairs.

The main contractor for the project will be Prestwick-based Ashleigh (Scotland). The building was designed by South Ayrshire Council Professional Design Services.

The project also paves the way for the existing Mossblown Branch Library to be relocated to the school, creating a custom built, modern space that will be used by pupils and the wider community.

Initial work will see the demolition of the existing janitor’s house on the school campus. The main contract works are due to begin on 13 June 2016, with completion expected by February 2017.

Official opening of the new Don crossing

A new £22.3 million crossing over the River Don was officially opened yesterday.

The project, which has involved the construction of two major bridges, 2.4km of new roads, and new cycleways and pavements, is designed to connect with other major infrastructure projects which will transform moving around the city including the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR/B-T), the £19m Berryden Corridor, and the £426,000 A96 Dyce Park and Choose.

The new road created for the third Don crossing links up to The Parkway and will connect directly as a major arterial link with the AWPR/B-T.

The crossing over the River Don is part of £516m of capital investment over the next five years by Aberdeen City Council to help the city achieve the ambitions in the Regional Economic Strategy, Strategic Infrastructure Plan and recently-agreed City Region Deal – it’s also part of the biggest regeneration programme of the city’s history involving new schools and cultural centres.

The main contractor for the Don crossing project, which started in August 2014, has been Balfour Beatty.

A separate official naming ceremony is to be held for the bridge at a later date – the pupils from the two primary schools overwhelmingly voted for Diamond Bridge, which is based on the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and Aberdeen’s historic ties with HMS Diamond.

£750,000 upgrade investment for Scotstoun Stadium

Scotstoun Stadium is set for a major upgrade after Glasgow City Council approved plans that will see £750,000 invested on a new all-weather synthetic playing surface and significant improvements to the existing athletics facilities.

As well as a new synthetic playing surface, the investment also paves the way for improved athletics and rugby training facilities, a new event standard throws area and improvements to the outdoor running track.

The existing grass infield at Scotstoun Stadium has been badly affected during recent winters with heavy rainfall rendering it unplayable for long periods. During the 2015/16 rugby season Glasgow Warriors were unable to play three matches at Scotstoun and a fourth game was postponed, while there was limited use by Victoria Park City of Glasgow (VPCOG) Athletics Club due to the weather.

The artificial pitch, which will meet World Rugby guidelines, will significantly reduce the risk of Glasgow Warriors fixtures being postponed. It will also increase the use of the infield for athletics during club sessions. Improvements to the adjacent training pitch will also provide an International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) compliant throws area for training and events.

As part of the planned investment the existing 400m outdoor running track will be improved along with drainage works to the training pitch.

The £750,000 project will be funded by Glasgow City Council (£325,000), Scottish Rugby/Glasgow Warriors (£275,000) and sportscotland (£150,000). Subject to contracts being finalised, work will commence in the next two weeks with completion expected ahead of the 2016/17 rugby season.

Work to begin this summer on River Tay pontoons

Plans to transform the use of the River Tay into an even greater asset for the Fair City have taken their next step forward with confirmation today that a contractor has been appointed.

Gael Force will finalise designs and then install pontoons on the river at the Fergusson Gallery, and at Willowgate on the outskirts of Perth.

The exciting £600,000 project is being taken forward by Perth & Kinross Council, in partnership with the Tay & Earn Trust, to put in place the infrastructure required to encourage river trips and promote the cultural offering of the Tay to residents and visitors alike. Funding for the project was secured in 2015 from the Coastal Communities Fund (CCF).

Constructing the pontoons goes hand in hand with the development work the Tay and Earn Trust is carrying out at Willowgate, and the promotion of leisure activities on the river. The project is one of the first to be undertaken as part of the Perth City Plan.

Gael Force are expected to begin work on site in August 2016, with the project due to take approximately three months. After the works are complete, the new facilities will be tested before the winter to ensure they are ready for use from the first day of the 2017 season.

Inverclyde businesses invited to £1bn City Deal event

Businesses in Inverclyde are being invited to find out more information about opportunities on the £1 billion City Deal.

A Supplier Development Programme event is being held at the Beacon Arts Centre on Thursday, 16 June.

The City Deal is an opportunity to investment millions of pounds to deliver major infrastructure projects across the Glasgow city region.

Various schemes in Inverclyde includes the extension of the quayside at Greenock Ocean Terminal and promoting development of the former power station site in Inverkip.

Different projects are also being delivered in Renfrewshire, Glasgow and West Dunbartonshire as well as in South and North Lanarkshire councils.

New homes for Glasgow’s Gorbals

The first residents have moved into a new housing development on the south bank of Glasgow’s River Clyde.

The Queen Elizabeth Square site, located in Ballater Place, was developed by New Gorbals Housing Association and offers 24 affordable homes in an area currently undergoing significant regeneration.

It follows a £5 million funding package from Bank of Scotland and a £1.4m grant from the Scottish Government via Glasgow City Council’s Development Funding budget.

The properties are being supervised and let by New Gorbals Property Management, a subsidiary of New Gorbals Housing Association.

A proportion of the funding from Bank of Scotland has also enabled the association to invest in its extensive capital maintenance programme. Geared towards improving living standards, this includes upgrading and replacing kitchens and bathrooms as well as installing energy efficient heating systems.

With construction completed in January 2016, the properties will help individuals and families on low and modest incomes to access affordable rented accommodation.

Alongside the Queen Elizabeth Square site, New Gorbals Housing Association is soon to unveil a further 39 affordable homes in Laurieston.

Good progress on Kelty’s new council housing development

Work is entering the final stages on Fife Council’s new housing development at Blairadam Fields in Kelty.

Cllr Judy Hamilton, executive spokesperson for housing & building services, visited the development recently where 58 properties are being built by Persimmon Homes for the council.

Thirty-four of the homes have already been built and are now occupied. Eight more are due for completion next month and the final 16 will be completed before the end of the year.

The mixed development is made up of 42 houses for social rent by Fife Council, consisting of 12 one-bed, 15 two-bed, nine three-bed and six four-bedroomed homes. There will also be 16 homes for mid-market rent and these will be leased to Ore Valley Enterprises (subsidiary of Ore Valley Housing Association) who will rent them out at a mid-market rent. They will be a mix of flats, two-bed and three-bedroomed houses.

The £7 million development is also supported by £580,000 of Scottish Government funding.

West Dunbartonshire residents invited to have their say on former school site

Residents and community groups in West Dunbartonshire are being encouraged to have their say on the future of the former St Eunan’s Primary School at a public consultation event.

A biodiversity park, play area, skate park, Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) and allotments are just some of the suggestions which have been made for the future use of the five acre site in Clydebank.

Residents who attend the consultation sessions will hear more about the options, and have the opportunity to ask questions and put forward their ideas and opinions.

The sessions will take place on Tuesday 21 June at The Hub on Kilbowie Road, Clydebank, with the afternoon session held from 2.30-4.30pm and the evening session from 6.30-8.30pm. Residents who cannot attend for the whole two-hours are welcome to drop in.

Communities urged to apply for £10m Scottish Land Fund

Environment secretary Roseanna Cunningham has urged communities to make the most of the opportunity to own and manage land and other shared assets.

The £10 million Scottish Land Fund initiative supports communities in both urban and rural areas to buy their own land and other assets.

Ms Cunningham made the call during a visit to Silverburn Village Hall in Midlothian.

The hall was previously an old water tank building which was purchased and converted into a community space by local residents in 2006.