Building Briefs - September 1st

• DJ Laing supports local sport in Arbroath

The locally recognised DJ Laing name and logo will be emblazoned across the new shirts when the under 19’s team launch their new kit at their first home game against Riverside West End.

The company has a keen interest in supporting local causes and is main sponsor of Carnoustie Panmure FC, the DJ Laing East Region Cup and many other community projects.

• Dundee nursery set for energy efficient heating system

A Dundee nursery school looks set to have a new energy efficient heating system installed at its premises.

The works would see an Air Source Heat Pump Unit system fitted at Craigiebarns Nursery School if councillors approve the almost £115,000 plans. 

Councillors are being asked to approve a bid by local contractors Scan Building Services Ltd, which if successful would see the works carried out in October this year. The total cost is expected to be £114,788.

The city development committee meets on September 6.

• North Lanarkshire Council breaks ground at new Airdrie development

Another new North Lanarkshire Council housing development is now underway in Airdrie.

A sod-cutting took place marking the progress that the council is making in delivering its ambitious new council house building programme.

The new homes are a mix of 1-3 bedrooms, including three suitable for wheelchair users, and are being built on the site of 28 flats which were recently demolished as part of our re-provisioning programme.

This latest project to get underway forms part of the council’s plans to deliver 5,000 new homes by 2035. The council is already making progress with 833 homes complete, 339 under construction and a further 125 due to get underway this coming year.

Cutting the sod was Councillor Heather Brannan-McVey, convener of housing and regeneration, who was joined by local members, Councillors Sophia Coyle, Alan Beveridge and Tommy Morgan; council officers and representatives from developer, Hadden Group.

• Protection of Tain and Wick Conservation areas approved

Members of the Highland Council’s economy and infrastructure committee have approved conservation area appraisals and management plans for both Tain and Wick Pulteneytown conservation areas to help safeguard their distinct architectural and historical features.

Following discussions with local councillors at the Caithness and the Easter Ross area committees and comments received as part of the public consultations, the boundaries of both conservation areas have been increased to incorporate additional areas of architectural prominence. 

Wick Pulteneytown conservation area covers a diverse built heritage which incorporates both domestic housing centred on Argyle Square, and an extensive area of warehousing between the harbour and Wick River.

Ranging from its origins as a place of pilgrimage and sanctuary, and its Royal Burgh status, Tain conservation area has a rich array of historic buildings with fine architectural features and detailing as well as an unusual number of mature trees.

Both plans will now be adopted as supplementary guidance for any future developments.

• New Kilwinning community hub nears completion

Ambitious plans for a new Kilwinning Rangers community hub have progressed this week as North Ayrshire Council granted a further £15k gap funding to finalise building works.

The project kicked off at the start of lockdown last year after the football club received £41,000 investment from the council’s Community Investment Fund (CIF).

Named The Claire Hub, the new community hub has been created to address capacity issues for youth activities in the main clubhouse of Kilwinning Sports Club.

The Claire community hub is named in remembrance of Claire Hodge who sadly passed away earlier this year. Claire worked at the sports club for many years and was a big part of its journey.

With the final stages of internal building works underway, council leader Joe Cullinane was given a tour by the visionary behind the project, Kilwinning Rangers chairman, Colin Boyd.

Digging the foundations himself to house the once-derelict accommodation, Boyd and his team of 100-strong volunteers have transformed the portable cabin building into a sprawling 433 square metre community space.

The extra funding will be used to complete internal building works and make sure the outer building is accessible for all.

In addition to the CIF funding and the football club’s own investment, the space has also benefited from the equivalent of £100k in labour and materials, donated by local businesses and club sponsors.

Dedicated to Kilwinning youth, The Claire Hub communal space was opened for the first time during the summer holidays, to support after-school care and give youngsters from some of the most deprived areas in the town the opportunity to take part in sports and confidence-building social activities.

The hub has been created alongside a welcoming community hall with catering facilities, neighbouring lounge room and a suite of ready-to-lease small business office space with internal toilets – one unit is already being operated by a local hairdresser and beauty salon.

The extra community space will make Kilwinning Rangers known for more than its on-the-pitch activities as the increased capacity will enhance their ability to offer a range of community development activities for all ages.

There will also be a focus on community food provision, employability skills and signposting for health and wellbeing support.

Set to generate a steady income for the club, the main community hall is already being booked up for local functions and yoga classes, relaxation and wellness workshops, mother and toddler groups and after-school clubs are now starting to use the multi-functional community space.

• Dundas Estates hands over war memorial following maintenance contribution

A housing developer has worked alongside the local community to ensure the protection of a treasured war memorial by sympathetically enhancing the surrounding landscape.

Dundas Estates has donated an additional £500 for the upkeep of the cairn memorial on Gilbertfield Road in Cambuslang.

With Dundas’ donation, the cairn was cleaned up using a pressure washer and was then re-turfed following the completion of works to Gilbertfield Road.

Councillor Walter Brogan and members of the Halfway Community Council and local charity Particip8 Overton were in attendance as Dundas Estates’ construction director, David Cummings, and Gilbertfield Woods site manager, George Whelehan, presented the memorial back to the local authorities.

The cairn was unveiled in 2013 to commemorate the soldiers who marched down Gilbertfield Road toward Newton Train Station before they headed for war.

The inscription on the memorial reads: ‘This Cairn is to commemorate all the soldiers who walked this path to Newton Station to go to the 1st and 2nd World Wars. And all those who did not return. We will remember them.’

Dundas is currently constructing its brand new housing development, Gilbertfield Woods, which will provide 128 new homes.

Gilbertfield Woods will be the second development Dundas Estates have taken on in the town after selling all 61 homes at its popular Gilbertfields View, which is adjacent to the new site.

• 14 play parks in Renfrewshire set for ‘complete transformation’

Families and young people across Renfrewshire can look forward to 14 fully renewed play parks thanks to a £1.25 million investment from the local authority.

Councillors approved the two-year investment this week which will see a play park in each ward area completely overhauled, with all current assets removed and replaced with brand-new play equipment.

The play parks in each area identified as being most in need and will be replaced are:

Lochwinnoch Park, Lochwinnoch

Ardgryffe Park, Houston

Churchill Drive, Bishopton

Park Mains, Erskine

Campbell Street, Renfrew

Tinto Square, Renfrew

East End Park, Paisley

Maxwellton Park, Paisley

Ben Lawers (Hawkhead Park), Paisley

Crags Road, Paisley

Durrockstock Park, Paisley

Morar Drive, Paisley

Elm Drive/Sycamore Ave, Johnstone

Ellerslie Street, Johnstone.

Council officers will engage with local community groups and schools in each area to ensure the equipment meets the needs of the local families and young people.

The plans also include the refurbishment of equipment in seven other play parks.

• Community asset transfers approved for Raasay Ferry Terminal

The Highland Council’s Skye and Raasay area committee has approved a Community Asset Transfer (CAT) request from the Raasay Development Trust to lease Raasay Ferry Terminal.

The agreed community asset transfer to the Raasay Development Trust, for a 99-year lease, will allow the group to continue to develop their plans as part of a wider community venture to develop pontoon facilities in order to boost marine tourism, increase visitor numbers, employment and income to local businesses. 

The transfer focuses on the transfer of the ferry terminal building including waiting rooms and toilets. The trust aims to redevelop the terminal building, providing disabled facilities, redevelop the toilets and shows, a renewed waiting room with provision of a laundrette, electrical hook-ups and waste disposal. 

• Proposal for Stirling music store and studio unveiled

A retail unit in Stirling looks set to be turned into a music store and recording studio.

Stirling Council planners have granted conditional approval to Music Spot Ltd for a change of use to the premises at unit 4, 35 Burghmuir Road.

The move would create a music store plus allow lessons, exams, servicing and repair of instruments and studio practice and performance.

It would also provide a recording studio at the small retail park.