Building Briefs – June 24th

A bid to transform a disused Cold War bunker into a village heritage museum has reached a major milestone.

A detailed planning application for a new Gairloch Heritage Museum has been submitted to Highland Council.

The move comes just days after the Gairloch and District Heritage Company, which runs the museum, was given a £100,000 grant towards the project.

The company are planning to convert a former Cold War anti-aircraft operations room into a heritage centre for the community and visitors to the area.

The existing museum at Achtercairn is no longer fit for purpose and will be replaced by the new facility.

The currently derelict bunker was built in the 1950s and is one of only four such structures left in Scotland.

It is hoped that, subject to gaining planning permission and having funding entirely in place, the msueum could open in the bunker in 2018.

Weir Group announces sale of two renewables operations

Glasgow-based engineering firm Weir Group is selling two renewables operations as part of its on-going £100 million asset disposal programme.

The two businesses, American Hydro Corporation and Ynfiniti Engineering Services, are being sold for a combined total of £36.7m.

Both of the operations were part of the Flow Control division and generated revenues of £28m and £1.4m of operating profit last year. The sale is expected to be completed by the end of June.

The Group stated it expected to record a £5m loss due to the disposal. However, it added net debt at the end of June would be lower than previous guidance.

£294m Borders Railway wins accolade at transport awards

The £294 million Borders Railway project has received an accolade at the Scottish Transport Awards.

The scheme was presented with the Most Innovative Project prize by Transport Minister Humza Yousaf earlier this month in Glasgow.

The project involved installing 30 miles of new railway and seven new stations, including the upgrade/development of supporting infrastructure.

Judges remarked on how the scheme had received “phenomenal demand” since opening and its influence in boosting the south east economy.

Scottish Water reveals plans for Ardersier WWTW upgrade

Scottish Water has revealed plans to carry out upgrades to a waste water treatment works (WWTW) in the Scottish Highlands.

The company is planning to deliver improvements to Ardersier WWTW in order to protect and improve the Moray Firth environment, as well as to meet future housing and economic needs.

Works include installing Ultra Violet treatment equipment within the existing site and extending the existing outfall pipe near Fort George by 300 metres.

In addition, the sites capacity will be increased to cope with future housing growth in the area. A new underground pipeline will be laid to take the increased waste water from Tornagrain and the A96 Corridor to the existing Waste Water Treatment Works.

A series of drop-in events to provide residents with more information on the project will take place from 2pm – 6pm at Ardersier War Memorial Hall on 28, 29 and 30 June.

A further two exhibitions will be held at the same venue from 2pm – 6pm on 11 July and from 6pm – 9pm on 12 July.