Building Briefs - November 2nd

• CALA Homes sows seeds of new garden partnership

The housebuilder has joined forces with East Renfrewshire-based Goody Foody Gardens to give clients the opportunity to have their very own raised bed vegetable patch added to their garden as part of their new home purchase.

Buyers who select the option will be given everything they need to get growing, including a raised bed which will be installed by an experienced Goody Foody Gardener, who will show homebuyers how to get the best from the fresh produce grown, literally, on their own doorstep.

Green-fingered homebuyers, and novices with an interest in growing their own alike, can see exactly what’s on offer from Goody Foody Gardens at two of CALA’s west of Scotland developments, with the showhomes at Florence Gardens in Ayr and Jocelin Gardens in Bishopbriggs both now boasting their own veg patches.

• Dundas Estates releases final block of flats at Coatbridge development

The final of four £1.3 million blocks of modern apartments at Dundas Estates’ Calderwood Village development in Coatbridge are to be released.

The Livingston-based developer has previously released three other blocks of flats on site, which both sold out in a matter of weeks and ahead of the developers’ expectations, making this the last chance for prospective buyers to acquire one of the 12 one and two-bedroom apartments, with some of the flats boasting en-suite bathrooms and large balconies.

Dundas Estates intends to build a new cycle path from the development to Whifflet Park

• First phase of commercial units snapped up at Waterfront Plaza in Edinburgh 

Acting on behalf of CALA Homes East, Ryden has announced the sale of all commercial units within the first of the newly completed blocks at Waterfront Plaza, in the sought after shore area of Leith. 

The ground floor commercial units have been sold for a mix of retail, office and studio uses all benefitting from a prominent location near the entrance to Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre. 

Waterfront Plaza is a major re-development of Leith’s shore comprising 422 residential units and 14 self contained ground floor premises benefitting from retail, office and studio planning content. 

Block B is currently under construction and due to complete in phases from March onwards when the next batch of commercial units will be offered for sale.

• Clear path ahead for park users thanks to Bellway

Housebuilder Bellway Homes Ltd (Scotland West) has come to the rescue of local park users in Mansewood.

The housebuilder was contacted by a group of allotment owners who were fed up trying to navigate the path which ran parallel to their plots and was making it difficult for dog walkers and local children to access Mansewood High Park.

They got in touch with Bellway which is working on its first development Storey Grove in nearby Thornliebank and asked if they could help clear the area.

Iain Sutherland, chair of Mansewood allotments, said: “The path to the park was so overgrown it had shrunk from 8 feet wide to just 18 inches which was a nightmare for everyone – it meant that people with prams couldn’t use the park at all and it was impossible to socially distance on it.

“It was also a real hazard for children and the elderly, with one person ending up with a thorn in their face from all the overhanging branches.”

Iain heard that Bellway was due to start work nearby and asked if they could help.

He said: “Bellway and their contractors Akela Construction agreed and sent two workers and a five ton machine and cleared the whole path from Beresyde Avenue to the centre of the park in just one day.

“This is already making a huge difference to everyone who uses the park and we have had so many comments from people on the local facebook saying how grateful they are to Bellway for all their help.

“The park is a real oasis in the centre of a housing estate and it would have been an absolute tragedy if it had fallen out of use as a result of lack of access.”

• Expansion plans reignited at Perth Food and Drink Park

Plans have been lodged to significantly increase the footprint of Perth Food and Drink Park.

Planners hope to add another three or four plots at the North Muirton site, complete with a new roundabout, parking and landscaping on the remaining 10 acres of land at the end of Arran Road.

Project developer Sweco said it is getting the process under way and designing the preliminary layout it hopes to see become reality.

These initial sketches will be available for neighbours to view at a mandatory consultation which is scheduled for next month.

Sweco said it anticipates the plans to closely resemble the existing units and infrastructure.

• Work commences on surfacing improvement to popular Deeside Way route

Work has commenced on the resurfacing of sections of the Deeside Way.

Nestrans was successful in applying for 100% of the £250,000 project cost from Sustrans Scotland to enable substantial improvements to be made to one of the region’s favourite walking and cycling routes.

The Deeside Way is a well-used cycling and walking route constructed on sections of the old Deeside railway line running from the centre of Aberdeen to Ballater in the Cairngorms National Park.

However, a significant increase in use and erosion caused by drainage issues – together with the impact felt by Storm Frank in 2016 - has seen a distinct deterioration of the path surface over the years.

The width of the path has also decreased significantly due to encroaching vegetation.

Aberdeenshire Council is now undertaking the improvements in three sections - from Cambus O’May to Ballater, Aboyne to Cambus O’May and from Milton of Crathes to Banchory.

The proposed works include removal of vegetation encroaching on the sides of the path, laying of crushed stone aggregate, stabilisation of path edges and some minor fencing works.

During the programme of improvements the path will remain open but there will be safety measures in place and the public is asked to adhere to all signage and guidance from on-site staff.