Building Briefs – May 25th

Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) has picked up an award for the extensive upgrade of Brodick Ferry Terminal.

CMAL received the industry accolade at the UK Port Awards 2018 for the completion of the £30 million redevelopment project.

The redevelopment project has completely transformed the terminal, delivering a new pier, an increased marshalling area through reclaimed land and a modern terminal building, with bus stances and parking facilities. It is the single biggest port infrastructure construction project delivered by CMAL.

The redevelopment project at Brodick Ferry Terminal was led by CMAL, with support from Transport Scotland, North Ayrshire Council, Strathclyde Partnership for Transport and Coastal Communities Fund.

The awards were introduced at the 10th Annual UK Ports Conference held in London.

Whisky distillery planned for South Uist

Plans have been announced for a whisky distillery in South Uist that will be owned and run by the local community.

Stòras Uibhist, the community company that runs the island’s estate, said the estimated cost of building it in Lochboisdale would be £10 million.

The site is expected to initially produce about 300,000 litres of whisky each year, with potential for up to a million litres.

A visitor centre and shop have also been proposed.

Approval for homes at Dundee rope factory site

Approval has been granted to develop housing on the site of a derelict Dundee factory.

Members of Dundee City Council’s planning committee have granted permission for the development on the site of the former Tay Rope Works in the West End Lanes conservation area of Dundee.

F & H Developments, of Crieff, had applied to the city council for permission to build the houses at Magdalen Yard Road.

The developer plans to build a range of five three-bedroomed houses and two three-bedroomed flats with parking, amenity space, a new access and environmental improvements at the site.

The land, at 51 Magdalen Yard Road, was originally occupied by the Tay Rope Works which dated from the mid-19th Century.

Track renewal works to begin in Scotland

Network Rail is to carry work on a railway track renewal programme in Scotland over the late May bank holiday.

From 26 – 28 May, engineers will deliver track renewals, alongside bridge demolition and renewals, as well as signalling enabling work and telecom installation, between Aberdeen, Dyce and the Kittybrewster area. The works form part of the Aberdeen to Inverness improvement project.

Elsewhere, work featuring signalling installations and track and overhead line work, as part of the Polmadie and Rutherglen renewals project, will take place in the Rutherglen and Polmadie area from Sunday, 27 May until Monday, 28 May.

In addition, plain track renewals will be carried out in the Carstairs/Midcalder area from Saturday, 26 May until Monday, 28 May.

Nursery plans for former Aberdeen office

A planning application has been lodged to turn an Aberdeen office into a nursery.

MAC Architects submitted the proposals on behalf of Bananamoon for the Old Stoneywood Church on Bankhead Road.

Drawings presented to Aberdeen City Council show separate rooms for pre-school, toddler, baby, cot and nappy changing.

If the application is approved, there will also be a kitchen and staff area, reception and waiting area, washing area and toilets for adults and children.

Aberdeen City Council is expected to make a decision by July 20.

Clancy Docwrais to start £81,000 Greenock water pipe upgrade

Contractor Clancy Docwrais to begin a £81,000 water network upgrade project in Greenock, Inverclyde.

Work to improve pipework in Patrick Street will get underway from Monday, 04 June.

To carry out the scheme safely, Patrick Street will be closed between its junctions with Ardgowan Street and Brisbane Street, and also between Brisbane Street and Finnart Street. Diversions will be in place.

Aberdeen public realm project for city centre moves forward

A plan to create new public realm space in Aberdeen city centre at Schoolhill has taken a step forward after the business case was presented to councillors.

Aberdeen City Council’s capital programme committee agreed to go forward with the first stage of approval for funding up to £550,000 for an urban realm improvement project, and to seek external partner funding, for the area outside the Art Gallery and Cowdray Hall.

The project principles would see the existing footway widened to improve the setting for both the Art Gallery and Cowdray Hall by reducing the carriageway width at Schoolhill whilst maintaining two-way traffic.

On June 7 the report will go to the strategic commissioning committee, which is being asked to approve the business case for a comprehensive urban realm project for the entire Schoolhill area for which this project could be Stage 1.

The project would then go forward to the council’s city growth and resources committee on June 19 with a recommendation to approve the Stage 1 budget.

Sutherland road structural maintenance programme approved

A Road Structural Maintenance Programme for Sutherland has been approved by the Highland Council’s Sutherland County Committee.

Up to £2.2 million is available for road maintenance activities in the county in 2018/19, £1m of which is allocated for winter maintenance with a further £1m as a capital budget for the same period.

Prioritised schemes include:

The schemes included have been selected on the basis of need follow safety and service inspections, input from Ward Members and data from the Scottish Road Maintenance Condition Survey.