Building Briefs – June 11th

A new website highlighting the benefits of Scotland’s onshore wind sector has launched alongside a document which celebrates some of the hidden faces of onshore wind.

Both the website and the report – titled Onshore Wind: Investing in Scotland’s Energy Future – are published at the start of Onshore Wind Week, which will be celebrated across the UK.

Onshore wind employs 8,000 people in Scotland and delivers around a quarter of all electricity generated in the country.

Scottish Renewables chief executive Claire Mack said: “Both the website and report show the enormous wealth of benefits provided by onshore wind in Scotland - but also the people who make the sector the success that it is.

“It can sometimes be hard for people to see the renewables workforce. Unlike in many industries, the people who work in the new energy sector are often out of sight, but it’s their contributions which are driving clean energy forward.

“Renewables are about more than just energy, and by drawing out their stories alongside new statistics on the low cost, increasing popularity and environmental benefits of onshore wind, both the website and the report paint a picture of an industry which is delivering for Scotland.”

Onshore Wind Week, which is being celebrated from June 11-15, aims to highlight those benefits – as well as the challenges currently faced by onshore wind.

Alongside solar PV, onshore wind – the cheapest form of new power generation available – is still locked out of the mechanism used by the UK Government to obtain the low-carbon electricity needed to meet the UK’s carbon targets.

Ms Mack added: “This situation flies in the face of the UK Government’s manifesto commitment to reduce energy bills for consumers. Instead of doing that, they are ruling out one of the most popular – and the cheapest – forms of energy generation available.

“We continue to urge the UK Government to recognise the enormous social, economic and environmental benefits of this technology, as demonstrated by this website and report, and remove the barrier to onshore wind competing in the market for long-term power contracts as a matter of urgency.”

Supermarket plans resubmitted for former Bishopbriggs school site

A supermarket has resubmitted plans to open in Bishopbriggs, five years after being rejected.

Morrisons has announced revised proposals for a new store in the town, which would create dozens of jobs for locals.

The store plans, on part of the former High School site, feature a new customer cafe and petrol station.

Luxury Edinburgh townhouses get green light

Gallo & Gallo Developments have been given the go-ahead to build four ‘luxury’ townhouses overlooking Edinburgh and Fife at Baberton Ave, Juniper Green in the capital.

The news follows a long and complex process to gain approval from Edinburgh Council planning for this Open Space plot.

Positioned on the boundary of the greenbelt and enjoying spectacular panoramic views of Edinburgh and Fife, the development has been designed by our architects LBA - Architecture + Design.

The location and design of the townhouses will set them apart, benefiting from a rural feel whilst being highly contemporary in design.

The well-proportioned houses will provide accommodation of 2400sq ft over 3 floors, comprising 4 bedrooms, panoramic lounge with terrace, private garden and a double secure internal garage.

The upper balconies will boast spectacular and unrestricted views.

Progress for Arbroath (Brothock Water) flood protection scheme

The protection of people, homes and businesses in Arbroath against the threat and harm of flooding has taken a significant step forward with the publication of the Arbroath (Brothock Water) Flood Protection Scheme.

The scheme, published on Friday 8 under powers contained in the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009, will reduce flood risk in the town and provide a one in 200-year standard of protection from flooding from the Brothock Water.

On completion, it will remove the risk of flooding to well-over 500 people and prevent average annual damages of £840,000 (£360,000 from residential properties and £480,000 from non-residential properties).

It will aim to control the volume of flood water entering the Brothock Burn during extreme flood conditions. The key elements of the proposed fluvial protection works are:

By publishing the scheme, we are seeking approval under statutory process to proceed with the works. This will be subject to a 28-day public consultation process. Notices have been sent to those people directly affected by the work and there has already been extensive and widespread consultation in the lead-up to this formal stage, as well as local presentations and public events.

Documents detailing the proposed works and its environmental impact can be inspected at the Council’s offices at Bruce House, Wellgate, Arbroath, DD11 3TP and at Arbroath Library, Hill Terrace, DD11 1AH. See our website for viewing times.

They can also be viewed online at www.angus.gov.uk/afps along with up to date project information. Enquiries and comments can also be made toArbroathflood@angus.gov.uk

Funding boost for Sir Walter Scott Courthouse works

An additional £131,000 has been provided to allow further renovations of Selkirk’s Sir Walter Scott Courthouse to take place.

The funding, made up of £71,000 from the Selkirk Common Good and £60,000 from Scottish Borders Council, will safeguard the Courthouse - where Sir Walter Scott dispensed justice to the people of Selkirkshire in the early 19th century – for many years to come.

The initial remit of the project – which is the centre piece of the £1million Selkirk CARS - focussed on the Courthouse’s steeple, including repairs to the weather vane, refurbishing the clock faces and repairing as much high level defective stonework as possible within the Selkirk CARS budget.

However, while the renovations were ongoing, it became apparent that further essential stonework repairs were also required to lower sections of the spire.

As a result, additional works will be carried out thanks to the extra funding, with the project expected to now run until August.

The Courthouse will be available for Selkirk Common Riding Day but due to the works, the back doors will operate as the main entrance.

Pedestrian access is being maintained throughout the works, which has been co-ordinated with the ongoing Selkirk Streetscape Scheme.

The £450,000 scheme has provided huge improvements to the town centre, which has already hosted a farmers market. There have also been additional community benefits, with contractor SBContracts donating a number of old pavement slabs to the Incorporation of Hammermen to use on a community project.

In a joint statement, Selkirkshire Councillors Gordon Edgar, Caroline Penman and Elaine Thornton-Nicol said: “We are delighted to provide additional funding through the Common Good Fund to help ensure the longevity of the iconic Sir Walter Scott Courthouse.”