Building Briefs – September 16th

Stewart Milne Group has launched a campaign to revitalise rundown community spaces such as back yards as part of its 40th or Ruby anniversary celebrations.

To mark the milestone of reaching four decades in business and to give back to the communities in which it operates, the company is today launching RUBY (Regenerating Urban Back Yards).

Members of the public, special interest groups, charities and community councils are being invited to nominate an outdoor space in need of improvement. Members of the public will be able to vote for the ones they feel deserve support through social media channels.

A judging panel comprising Stewart Milne Homes North-east Scotland managing director – John Low, Press & Journal editor – Damian Bates and Aberdeen Greenspace Trust chief officer - Michelle Herd will make the final decision on the winners.

The winning projects could include a memorial statue or park bench, a piece of outdoor art or sculpture, the upgrade of a children’s playpark, the creation of a new green space or outdoor place for elderly people to enjoy or the construction of sheds for allotments.

Stewart Milne Group may allocate direct funds towards the chosen projects or provide the materials and/or people to carry out the improvements.

The deadline for submission of nomination forms which are available at www.stewartmilne.com is 16th of October 2015. The winners will be announced in November and projects will get underway as soon as possible subject to weather and availability of materials and labour.

Sir Ian Wood to head Aberdeen City Region Deal board

Businessman Sir Ian Wood is to head a new body aimed at securing the Aberdeen City Region Deal.

Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire councils delivered a “statement of intent” earlier this month to the UK and Scottish governments in a bid to secure £2.9bn.

Sir Ian will lead a private sector economic leadership board to help make the case for the investment.

Housing and better connectivity are two of the main priorities.

A full bid submission is due to be drawn up by the end of the year.

Carnoustie homes approved

Long-awaited development of Carnoustie’s former Taymouth Works has been given the green light in a project which will deliver more than 80 new homes for the links town.

Angus development standards committee councillors unanimously followed the conditional approval recommendation for the Ogilvie Homes plan at 2.1 hectare the Anderson Street site to create 42 houses and 42 flats there.

The properties will be built in a range of detached, semi-detached and terraced configurations of two bedroom flats and three/four bed homes.

Planning officials said the homes would bring an improvement to the area and the loss of the industrial site would be compensated for by the recent allocation of 15 hectares of employment land to the north east of the town.

Final phase of Dumfries Bypass works

The final phase of a £6 million programme to upgrade the A75 Dumfries Bypass will begin on Friday 18 September 2015.

The work is the last instalment in a series of schemes to upgrade the road surface; improving journey time reliability and safety as well as ensuring the longevity of the route for years to come.

Scotland TranServ, on behalf of Transport Scotland, will undertake the works under a total weekend closure of the A75 from the A76 Glasgow Road roundabout to the A701 Edinburgh Road roundabout from 7.00pm on Friday 18 until 6.00am on Monday 21 September.

Project to transform West Dunbartonshire railway arches into business units

Disused railway arches are to be transformed into commercial units as part of a £1 million project to regenerate the gateway to a canal in West Dunbartonshire.

The development at Bowling Basin will also improve landscaping and access in the area.

Due for completion in early 2016, the scheme aims to create scenic viewpoints to make the most of the area’s views over the River Clyde.

Councillors reject Moray windfarm application

Plans for a 12-turbine wind farm on a hillside site in Moray were refused by the narrowest of margins yesterday.

The council’s planning and regulatory services committee rejected the application for Brown Muir, midway between Elgin and Rothes, on the casting vote of chairman Councillor Chris Tuke.

Planning officers had recommended refusal, primarily on the grounds of visual impact on the landscape.

The application also attracted more than 1300 objections – believed to be the largest number ever submitted for a planning application in Moray. In contrast there were 20 submissions in favour of the application.

The committee met following a visit to the site by members earlier in the day.