Building Briefs – October 18th

Forster-REI partnership offers fully funded solar option

Scottish solar PV installers Forster Energy has partnered with solar investment experts Renewable Energy Investments (REI) to offer Scottish businesses, public sector, commercial landlords and community groups an alternative way to fund clean energy generation projects, secure a reduced electricity tariff and reduce carbon emissions.

The partnership provides access to 100 per cent funding for solar PV projects through a power purchase agreement (PPA).

In return for the leasing of the airspace above their roof, organisations, individuals and community groups will receive a discounted rate on the electricity produced by the solar PV system for 25 years, guaranteed only to rise by RPI.

Pupils return to improved Stirling schools

Stirling pupils are enjoying improvements to their school buildings this Autumn thanks to ten improvement projects completed during the Summer break.

A large open playroom and improved toilet facilities including nappy changing have allowed Bannockburn Primary School Nursery to provide services to be provided to two to five year olds, while remodelling works have been carried out at both Fallin Nursery and Family Centre and Borestone Primary School Nursery.

New boiler plant, pipework and heaters have been installed at Strathblane Primary School, while Fintry Primary has received asbestos removal, new ceilings, new lighting and redecoration works.

Refurbishment works in classrooms and corridors have been carried out in St Mary’s Primary School in Bannockburn, a quiet room to support pupils with additional support needs has been created in Killin Primary School and Dunblane Primary has a new fire alarm system installed.

Arnprior Nursery’s toilets have been refurbished to incorporate a new nappy changing facility, while Buchanan Primary School’s kitchen has been refurbished.

New era for former Dundee training-for-work building

The former building of the Claverhouse Group in Dundee is being given a new lease of life as a community hub for charities, social enterprises and businesses.

Dewar House on Staffa Place is to become known as The Circle as it is transformed into office, co-working and event space.

The new venture will be launched in late November and the building will be developed in phases.

Council to discuss next stage of Aberdeen energy from waste project

A report on the next steps for a proposed energy from waste facility will be discussed at a special meeting of Aberdeen City Council next week.

The report details the progress of the Joint Authority Energy from Waste Project with Aberdeenshire and the Moray Councils. Aberdeen City councillors’ approval will be sought in the meeting on October 24 to enter into a second stage Inter-Authority Agreement relating to initial project and procurement development work.

A similar paper is being put to Aberdeenshire Council’s Full Council Committee on October 26 and the Moray Council’s Policy and Resources Committee on October 25.

Construction on the site is scheduled to begin in January 2019 and to go live in 2021.

Average Scottish house prices increase 4.3 per cent in 12 months

The average price of a property in Scotland reached £144,561 in August, 4.3 per cent higher than the previous year and 1.3 per cent higher when compared to the previous month, according to official figures.

The latest UK House Price Index (UK HPI) found that the biggest price increase over the last year was in East Renfrewshire where the average price increased by 12.7 per cent to £219,511.

The biggest decrease was again in the City of Aberdeen, where prices fell by 8.7 per cent to £175,922.

In the UK as a whole, the average of £218,964 was an increase of 8.4 per cent over the year and an increase of 1.3 per cent when compared to the previous month.

Across Scotland, all property types showed an increase in average price when compared with the previous year, with semi-detached properties showing the biggest increase of 5.6 per cent to £151,917.

The average price for a property purchased by a former owner occupier was £173,859 – an increase of 4.7 per cent on the previous year. The average price for property purchased by a first time buyer was £116,383 – an increase of 3.9 per cent on the previous year.

The average price for a cash sale was £132,784 – an increase of 3.8 per cent on the previous year, while the average price for property purchased with a mortgage was £150,020 – an increase of 4.6 per cent on the previous year.

The top five local authorities in terms of sales volumes were the City of Edinburgh (1,053 sales), Glasgow City (1,003 sales), South Lanarkshire (568 sales) Fife (515 sales), and North Lanarkshire (448 sales).

South Ayrshire Council confirms sale of Holmston House

The Category B listed Holmston House has been sold to a private buyer for a seven figure sum.

The development is part of South Ayrshire Council’s programme to streamline its property portfolio and reduce costs.

The 3.3 acre site was purchased by James Aitken Associates Ltd on behalf of Holmston House Ltd for £1.575m. Built in 1857, the 70-room Category B listed Holmston House is a modernised part one storey, part two storey property. It was originally constructed as the Ayr Welfare Home and Hospital for the Chronically Sick and converted in more recent years for use as an adult training centre.

The sale forms part of South Ayrshire Council’s commitment to review the use of its property portfolio, which includes the sale of buildings that are surplus to requirements, with the proceeds helping to safeguard public services and reducing day-to-day management costs for buildings that are no longer in use.

Any future use of Holmston House will be subject to suitable permissions being secured through the formal planning process.

M8 gantry upgrade project to continue

Scotland TranServ is to begin the next stage of a £6 million gantry improvement project on the M8 motorway.

The third phase of refurbishment works will begin on four gantries between Junctions 10 and 11 (westbound), 11 and 12 (westbound), 14 and 15 (eastbound) and 24 and 25 (westbound) on Monday, 24 October.

The scheme will take place between 8pm – 6am until Monday, 31 October. Workers will carry out maintenance to the structural steelwork and as well as upgrades of the lighting technology within the gantries.

The improved structures will provide a number of long term benefits including energy savings and helping to reduce the increasing demands of routine maintenance.

CWA JV continues £120m water network upgrade

A joint venture between Morrison Utility Services and AECOM is continuing work on a £120 million project to upgrade the water network in parts of Ayrshire and East Renfrewshire.

The Caledonia Water Alliance (CWA) has started installing a new stretch of water main from Waulkmill Glen reservoir near Newton Mearns to Amlaird Water Treatment Works near Fenwick.

Works include laying a new water main and building a new pumping station at the Gorbals Water Treatment Works in Darnley. In addition, the JV will install a new underground power supply cable to follow a four-mile route from Crookston to Darnley.

In order to carry out the project, traffic management will be required on the A736 at the junction of Hurlet Road, Barrhead Road, Nitshill Road and Glasgow Road for about three weeks from Monday, 24 October.

New Inverclyde play park opens

A new £260,000 play park has opened in Inverclyde.

The Sir Michael Street development was jointly funded by Big Lottery Fund (£187,000) and Inverclyde Council (£75,000).

The scheme was led by the local authority’s Environmental Services and features pastoral play surfaces, undulating play mounds and chalkboard pathways.

The development has taken around five years to complete due to land ownership issues, as well as engineering challenges due to the main Gourock to Glasgow rail line runs directly underneath the site.