Building Briefs – May 9th

Commercial property developer Knight Property Group was awarded Deal of the Year for its landmark Edinburgh development 4 North at the 2018 Scottish Property Awards.

The decision was made after a top panel of industry experts assessed applications from a selection of developers across Scotland with Deal of the Year applicants also facing an additional public vote. The awards were announced at The Hilton in Glasgow where hundreds of property experts and personnel gathered for a night of celebration.

The award winning deal involves the pre-let of the entire property at 4 North, St Andrew Square to Computershare on a 20 year lease at rental levels which have set a new high for offices in Edinburgh. The offices extend to approximately 41,140 sq. ft. NIA internally.

Knight Property Group has had a successful year following the success of numerous deals including Oil and Gas giant Chrysaor at The Capitol in Aberdeen, as well as the speculative developments of units at Westhill and its 13 year pre-let to Power Jacks.

CGC hails new Ayrshire Women’s Hub centre as ‘inspiring step forward’

City Gate Construction (CGC) has welcomed the arrival of a vital new service for women in Ayrshire after lending a hand to get it up and running.

The Ayrshire Women’s Hub has opened in Ayr bringing a much-needed facility to the town.

The walk-in venue in Alloway Street will be a one stop shop for women offering sociable get-togethers, creative workshops, a café, counselling, beauty treatments, complementary therapies and more.

Those requiring assistance to find a job or seeking legal and financial advice will be among those welcomed.

Empowerment workshops, self defence, sexual health surgeries, support for gender-based violence will also be on the agenda.

CGC helped get it off the ground by providing the skills of its workforce on such things as plastering and tiling to make it ready for the opening.

The work was delivered under South Ayrshire Council’s ‘Community Benefits’ requirements. CGC is a supplier to the local authority.

It also fits perfectly with CGC’s long-established commitment to helping communities wherever it is working.

North east quarry plans rejected by councillors

Plans for an Aberdeenshire quarry have been rejected by councillors.

The Chap Group had submitted proposals to Aberdeenshire Council for a mineral extraction site at Muirtack, five miles north of Ellon.

Planning officials had recommended the application for approval at the Buchan area committee yesterday.

Chap Group said it will review the decision.

Barratt reaches 150 affordable homes milestone in Edinburgh

The UK’s largest housebuilder has delivered over 150 affordable homes in Edinburgh to social housing providers in the last 12 months.

Since April 2017 Barratt Homes has handed over 152 apartments across the capital. This includes units at the builder’s developments at Duddingston Gardens as well as Kilns Gait in the south west of the city, which were handed over to Places for People.

A total of 48 apartments were delivered at Duddingston Park Gardens including 16 homes for mid-market rent and 32 for social rent. While the 32 apartments at Kilns Gait included 28 homes for social rent and a further 6 for mid-market rent.

In 2018 Barratt is set to deliver a total of 168 affordable homes across the city including 58 units to Home Group at their development at The View, Alnwickhill. The properties are part of Barratt’s ongoing commitment to deliver social housing at each of its developments in the capital.

Work begins to deliver 40 new homes for social rent in Springburn

Construction work on a £5 million development of 40 new homes for social rent is underway in Springburn.

The two-bed apartments are being built by Glasgow-based AS Homes (Scotland) Ltd on behalf of Home Scotland, part of Home Group.

The development in Springburn Way features two four-storey blocks to reflect the scale of the neighbouring tenement properties. Timber frame construction will mean quicker build times and energy efficient homes. The homes should be ready for occupation by autumn 2019.

£36m to be invested in walking/cycling infrastructure

Tens of millions of pounds is to be invested towards boosting walking and cycling infrastructure throughout Scotland.

Transport minister Humza Yousaf has announced £36 million will be made available through the Community Links Fund in 2018/19, the highest amount since the scheme was launched eight years ago.

The initiative has helped develop projects like the cycling and walking path between Elgin and Lhanbryde, a cycle path linking Glasgow City Centre with its southern suburbs, and plans to redesign Stirling Road in Dunblane.

Luncarty carriageway resurfacing

Resurfacing works are to take place between Westfield and Marshall Road in Luncarty from Monday 28 May 2018 for a period of two weeks.

Working hours for the repairs to the carriageway will be 7.30am until 4.30pm Monday to Friday. Access to properties will be maintained throughout but due to the narrow road width, significant delays may result as construction progresses.