Building Briefs - October 12th

• First look at Helensburgh Waterfront progress

In only a month, the Waterfront Development is taking shape with rock armour in place for the sea defences, foundation piles and ground beams prepared for steelworks arriving in November.

Key partners involved in the project including local councillors and LIVE Argyll joined contractor Heron Bros Ltd for a tour of the site and to officially break the ground.

Cathal Heron, regional director of Heron Bros, said: “We had the pleasure of inviting the local council and LIVE Argyll to the sod cutting at the Helensburgh Waterfront Development. Being in the midst of a global pandemic has brought with it many challenges which our staff and sub-contractors have worked tirelessly to overcome and adapt. We have efficient working practices in place to allow work to carry on whilst also following the guidelines in place.

Heron Bros are very happy to be working closely with the Argyll & Bute Council to ensure this great project achieves its full potential for the people of Helensburgh.”

• Revamp work set to begin on-site at the Inverness Victorian Market

The £1.6 million project to revamp Inverness’ historic Victorian Market is expected to start on site in January next year.

The work is expected to be completed within a year, by January 2022. WGC Scotland has been chosen as the preferred contractor following the competitive tendering process for the works.

The project is being funded by Inverness Common Good Fund & Town Centre Funding, with an approved budget of £1,750,000.

A full refurbishment of the market hall and former fish hall will involve an internal strip out, including all existing shop units and services with the installation of new units, public toilets and central seating area as per the agreed new layout.

Works are being managed and delivered by the council’s property team. The works solely involve the Market Hall and Fish Hall and not the Arcade and Queensgate and will remain open throughout the period of development.

The Victorian Market celebrated its 150th anniversary in May this year and has been the central focus for the Inverness community and tourists alike during that century and a half.

A Business Plan for the transformation of the Market Hall (including the former Fish Hall) at the Inverness Victorian Market was approved by Members of Highland Council’s City of Inverness Area Committee on 21 November 2019.

The Business Plan, which was developed at the request of the City of Inverness Area Committee, follows on from the Victorian Market Action Plan which aims to improve trading conditions for the market and the city centre.

The overall aim of the plan is to create a viable future for an asset that is not delivering its potential revenue for the Inverness Common Good Fund and to increase footfall in the city centre, to the benefit of the 800 businesses located there.

Officers were tasked to take the business plan forward and prepare a project tender to deliver the agreed plan, which has now been done and the successful contractor appointed.

• £3.5m to help deliver climate-friendly community projects

Fast-tracked funding to help local communities drive their green recovery from the coronavirus pandemic has been announced.

The Community Climate Asset Fund will provide grants of up to £100,000 for projects supporting community climate action including those that boost energy efficiency in community buildings, and that enable the purchase of electric bikes and vehicles.

Smaller grants of up to £10,000 will support active travel and waste reduction projects, and enable community groups and schools to purchase tools and equipment for food growing projects.

Applications for the fund are open now, with projects to be completed by the end of March 2021.

The Community Climate Asset Fund will be administered by Keep Scotland Beautiful as part of the Climate Challenge Fund initiative. 

• Housebuilder helps capital charities with £2,000 donation

Love Gorgie Farm and the Marie Curie Hospice have received £1,000 each as part of the Barratt Homes East Scotland Community Fund.

The former will be using its £1,000 boost from the housebuilder on improving storage in the foodbank, with a new fridge freezer to contain fresh produce and food packages. For Marie Curie Hospice, the money will help towards essential running costs, as they aim to raise over £250,000 a week to continue delivering their Scottish services.

On the site of the former Gorgie City Farm, Love Gorgie Farm, supports vulnerable children, young people and adults, using innovative ways to engage them in learning. On the day of lockdown, March 22nd 2020, Love Gorgie Farm opened its doors as a foodbank giving out hundreds of parcels to vulnerable people and families in Edinburgh, East Lothian and West Lothian every month.

Marie Curie Hospice aims to give those with critical illnesses the best quality of life, and support them to keep them independence and dignity for as long as possible. This includes treating or managing pain with medicines, therapies and other specialist approaches while also giving emotional support to the patient and their family.

Alison Condie, managing director at Barratt East Scotland, said: “Love Gorgie Farm and Marie Curie Hospice do a fantastic job at supporting the communities around them with food packages and care. We’re thrilled to be able to help them and we hope that our donation will allow them continue to provide their crucial services.”

Now in its second year, the Barratt Homes Community Fund has pledged to donate £1,000 each month to a charity or organisation in the East of Scotland. Charities are nominated by and voted for by employees of Barratt Homes and the focus for the fund continues to be on organisations that improve the quality of life for those living in the area.

• Bids welcome for £430k fund to revive Moray town centres

Bids are being welcomed for over £430k available in Moray to revive town centres.

Funded by the Scottish Government, the Moray Town Centre Capital Fund is available to business to help with the costs of transforming large retail spaces in the region into smaller units within the town centres of Elgin, Forres, Buckie, Lossiemouth and Keith.

Moray Council is administering the fund, and could award grants of up to 50% of eligible costs, capped at £50k.

Grants are also available to support projects turning empty properties into residential or student accommodation.

This scheme is open to applicants looking to undertake projects in Lhanbryde, Burghead, Hopeman, Dufftown, Kinloss, Cullen, Aberlour, Rothes, Portknockie, Findochty and Mosstodloch. Up to 25% of eligible costs could be funded, capped at £50k, to cover structural works, replacing windows, re-wiring and creating new entrances to properties.

The deadline for applications is 14 November 2020, and more information is available on Moray Council’s website.

• Resurfacing work on two Glasgow city centre roads

Work to repair two Glasgow city centre streets is scheduled to take place over the course of next week.

Resurfacing work along sections of Renfield St and West George St is due to begin today and will conclude on October 16 at 6pm.

The improvements will require road closures in the area between 8am and 6pm each day and will lead to traffic disruption over the course of the five-day programme of work. Diversions will be in place but drivers are advised to plan ahead and find an alternative route where ever possible.

A spokesman for the council: “Planned programmes of resurfacing work are essential for making long term improvements to the city’s road network. These repairs will deal with a number of road defects in the area and will provide a permanent alternative to on-going pothole patching.

“While the work is underway there will unfortunately be disruption to the road network in the area, but we have aimed to minimise that as much as possible. We are always grateful for the cooperation and patience of the public while work is underway to improve Glasgow’s roads.”

• Council house repairs to restart in Dundee

Routine reactive repairs to council houses in Dundee which were suspended earlier this year due to COVID-19, will restart this week.

From today, Dundee City Council will start repair work that was not possible over the spring and summer months.

Anne Rendall, convener of the council’s neighbourhood services committee, said: “During the difficult days of complete lockdown we were presented with a unique set of circumstances which meant that we couldn’t do the routine repairs we would usually make to our tenants’ homes.

“So the fact that we are now able to bring back this service is a positive part of our overall recovery plan that I am sure will be welcomed by tenants across the city.”

Since the outbreak of COVID-19 and the subsequent lockdown, it has only been possible to undertake emergency and urgent repairs in tenants’ homes.

The re-introduction of the non-urgent aspects of the repairs service will continue to be monitored.

• Miller Homes launches new showhome at Lapwing Brae development

Buyers can get a feel for life at Miller Homes’ development at Lapwing Brae in Dunfermline with the brand new showhome now open for viewings by pre-booked appointment.

The four-bedroom Fletcher has been brought to life by interior designer Graeme Fuller.

As well as the Fletcher showhome, Lapwing Brae is home to a number of other home style to cater to a wide spectrum of buyers. 

Located on the southern edge of Dunfermline, just a short drive from The Queensferry Crossing, Lapwing Brae is ideally situated for those commuting to Edinburgh, Dundee and Scotland’s central belt and is the perfect place for buyers who want to make the most of both town and country living.

• David Wilson Homes development sells-out with last home purchased

Barratt Developments has confirmed that Dovecot Mill, a development from David Wilson Homes, has sold-out.

Launched in 2016, Dovecot Mill – a 101 home community in East Lothian – sold-out after its final four-bedroom Ballater home was purchased in September.

Dovecot Mill has proven to be incredibly popular with families and upsizers, who have taken advantage of the many incentives and offers available to make the move to a luxurious five-star home.

Fortunately, for those who have missed out, Barratt Developments continues to expand its David Wilson Homes offering across the region. A range of three and four-bedroom homes are still available at the nearby DWH @ Heritage Grange and St Clair Mews developments in Edinburgh and Midlothian.

• Exclusive new housetype unveiled at Merchant Homes’ development in Inverclyde

Merchant Homes has unveiled an exclusive new housetype within its Langhouse Gardens development in Inverkip.

The new four-bedroom detached Skye housestyle will form part of the development’s final phase of homes within the vibrant new community.

Available to purchase now with a move-in date from November 2020, the newly introduced design features 1,445 sq.ft. of spacious family living including a master en-suite, a second Jack and Jill en-suite, integral garage and a fully integrated kitchen designed to Merchant Homes’ exacting standards and exceptional style.