Building Briefs – November 18th

Planning permission has been approved for almost 200 houses to be built on the former Hoover site in Cambuslang.

Hoover opened the factory in Cambuslang in 1946, where it operated until its closure in 2005. The buildings were demolished in 2008, at which point the site was cleared and regraded.

The development on the 15.6-hectare site will see the building of 195 two-storey houses, 95 of which will be detached, 64 semi-detached and 36 terraced. Access will be from Dale Avenue and a spine road is intended to link it through to Somervell Street.

As part of the development, it is proposed to created footpaths and open spaces, with the main open space being close to the River Clyde.

New Bleaton Hallet Bridge to open today

The new Bleaton Hallet Bridge in Perthshire will be opened today.

The construction of the new bridge was necessary following its predecessor’s east abutment being washed away causing the bridge deck to fall into the gorge below, during Storm Frank in December 2015.

Perth & Kinross Council partners Tayside Contracts worked using a crane to remove the damaged bridge deck from the gorge and subsequently contractors Morgan Sindall worked diligently to design and build a new abutment and concrete deck to replace the previous steel structure.

The major works needed to complete the replacement bridge included the design of the new abutment and deck; the full reconstruction of the east abutment; the landing of large steel beams and concrete deck units; the installation of the bridge parapets and also carry out improvements to localised drainage.

Ryden appointed to sell the Royal Hospital for Sick Children

Ryden has won a major contract with NHS Lothian and The Edinburgh and Lothian Health Foundation (the “Foundation”) to market and dispose of the current Royal Hospital for Sick Children at Sciennes Road in Edinburgh.

The site will soon become surplus to requirement as the clinical services will relocate to a new £150 million state-of-the-art facility at Little France.

Marketing of the site begins week commencing 21st November and includes the main, category B listed, George Washington Browne designed hospital building on Sciennes Road; 23 terraced villas and several flats located along Rillbank Terrace, Rillbank Crescent and Millerfield Place; together with land with potential for a new build development.

The entire site extends to approximately 4.01 acres.

New Dundee fire service facility now operational

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has officially opened a new state-of-the-art facility at Dundee to maintain its fleet of emergency vehicles.

It will join forces with an existing facility at Inverness to ensure communities across the North are protected in times of emergency.

The new Asset Resource Centre at Claverhouse was opened by Annabelle Ewing, minister for community safety and legal affairs.

It represents a £3.75 million investment that brings together 35 staff – including experienced mechanics, stores, ICT and property specialists. It includes a substantial garage for maintenance of fire engines, an IT hub and space for support staff.

The project to build the facility was led by hub East Central Scotland and constructed by Robertson Tayside with architectural services provided by Gauldie Wright & Partners Architects.

Banchory’s sports village plans gain ‘momentum’

Plans for a multi-million-pound sports facility in Aberdeenshire are gathering “momentum” towards determination next week.

The plans for the £8.5 million leisure and sports village include a six-lane swimming pool, a training pool, a three-court sports hall, fitness suite, squash courts, changing facilities, cafe and reception.

The application has been referred to Aberdeenshire Council’s Marr area committee as it represents a departure from the development plan.

The site at Hill of Banchory also includes plans for 90 houses by Bancon Homes and covers an area of 7.9 hectares.

If planning permission is granted, work could begin in summer 2017 with a completion date of December 2018.

Argyll Community Housing Association builds 10 new homes on Islay

Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA) has just completed 10new family homes next to the sea at Bowmore on the island of Islay.

The development has been called ‘Ceol a Chuain’ in Gaelic, which translates into Ocean Music in English.

The 10 new homes for affordable rent are a mixture of family homes of different sizes and adds to the 20 completed by ACHA on the same site in 2014.

The housing has been built by M & K MacLeod of Lochgilphead. The official opening was carried out by councillor Robin Currie, the housing convenor of Argyll and Bute Council and an Islay resident.

The new development cost £1,735,923 and funding contributions came from the Scottish Government, ACHA and Argyll and Bute Council.

During the construction between 40 and 50 tradesmen were employed on the site including apprentices.

Cohousing initiative planned to build community spirit in Maryhill

Plans are in the pipeline to develop an eco-friendly cohousing project in Maryhill.

The cohousing model involves a group of people building, developing and running their own community. Everyone has their own private home, but there is also a ‘common house’ where residents can come together to share activities and meals together as often as they want.

A group of activists called Clachan Cohousing has approached Glasgow City Council regarding the sale of land for a co-housing project in Collina Street in Maryhill.

The group aims to self build the project using energy efficient construction techniques, and use renewable energy sources to create homes with low carbon footprint and low energy bills.

The project will be accessible to people on different incomes, using a Mutual Home Ownership model for financing. Rather than taking on individual mortgages, residents will pay a 10 per cent deposit towards the build cost of their home and then pay 35 per cent of their income towards paying off the equity. If residents decide to leave, they will get some of this back.

A presentation and Q&A on the project will be held on November 26 at the Maryhill Hub followed by short tour of the proposed site.

Moray Council commits to upgrading harbour equipment

Plans have been approved to upgrade power and water facilities at four leisure harbours in Moray.

Improvements will be carried out, where practical, at Hopeman, Findochty, Cullen and Portknockie harbours.

To cover maintenance costs, the council’s Economic Development and Infrastructure committee has agreed to raise berthing charges at six harbours. Boat owners will now pay £60 a metre for a pontoon berth, up from £40.

Overall, the increases will raise an extra £33,831 a year, bringing harbour income from berths to £103,430 a year.

Robertson says YES to East Renfrewshire-based organisation

Infrastructure group Robertson has lent a hand to a charity which helps inspire and equip young people across Scotland to learn and succeed through enterprise.

Robertson Facilities Management dedicated several man hours to revitalise Young Enterprise Scotland’s headquarters at Rouken Glen in East Renfrewshire.

Numerous works were carried out, including installing a boiler as they had no hot running water, rewiring the building and painting it to add a splash of colour and also fixing broken equipment.

The project was supported by the DM Thomas Foundation for Young People, which purchased various pieces of equipment for the charity.