Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
Scotland Construction News Archive for January 2009
30/01/2009
Scotland's newest prison, HMP Addiewell in West Lothian, designed by HLM architects, has been completed. The prison houses 700 medium and high security male prisoners and employs some 350 people. To deliver the £70m facility, HLM worked closely with Interserve, which was responsible for the pris
30/01/2009
On the anniversary of the London 2012 Business Network launch, a group of Scottish companies met with Olympic Park contractors and London Organising Committee (LOCOG) representatives to discuss opportunities to help deliver the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The companies represented a cross-section
30/01/2009
Former Clyde shipyard chief executive, Vic Emery, has been appointed Chair of the New Glasgow Campus project. Mr Emery takes the lead role in the £300m plus project to create a supercampus for the 50,000 students and 2,000 staff of Central, Metropolitan, Nautical and Stow Colleges. He will lead th
30/01/2009
Projects key to Fife's long term economic success have been identified in Scotland's new planning blueprint. National Planning Framework 2 is currently progressing through the Scottish Parliament and sets out Scotland's main planning and land use issues and a vision for Scotland to 2030. It lists
30/01/2009
Over 150 representatives from Scotland's business, public and voluntary sectors came together on January 29 in Glasgow to help shape the future of health and safety in Scotland's workplaces. At the last of seven consultation events held across the UK, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) sought th
30/01/2009
New appointments have been made to Highlands & Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL). Stewart Stevenson, Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change today announced the appointment of Mr Grenville S Johnston as interim Chair of HIAL and the re-appointment of two of the company's Board members,
30/01/2009
The Tenant Services Authority (TSA), the new regulator for housing providers, are having a "National Conversation" where tenants and shared owners across the country have been invited to give their views on what they expect from their housing providers. The information gathered will be used to se
30/01/2009
J&E Shepherd Chartered Surveyors has been appointed to let a prominent mid-terraced office on the south side of Blythswood Square in Glasgow's central office district. The 2,100 sq ft third floor office at 19 Blythswood Square is located within close proximity to all city centre amenities and benef
30/01/2009
A firm working on the proposed Aberdeen offshore windfarm has welcomed consideration for €40m funding from the European Commission. Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group (AREG) working with Swedish utility company Vattenfall said the decision on funding might be influenced by the potential for the windfa
29/01/2009
A prominent rural expert has been appointed to undertake a review of the £1.6bn Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP). Peter Cook, an independent consultant and former head of rural business at the Scottish Agricultural College, will assist the Scottish Government and the SRDP Programme Moni
29/01/2009
A former high school and sports centre is to be demolished to make way for 100 affordable homes in Lochgilphead. Housing Association Fyne Homes purchased the Lochgilphead High school and Mid Argyll Sports Centre building at manse Brae from Argyll and Bute Council in 2007. The council built a scho
29/01/2009
Work will begin this weekend on a major project to eliminate congestion at one of Elgin's worst traffic bottlenecks. The £2.8m scheme will see a new two-lane road bridge built over the Aberdeen-Inverness railway line at Reiket Lane on the eastern edge of the town. Demolition of the existing narrow
29/01/2009
The Highland Council has agreed to accelerate its spending on the facelift of Thurso pedestrian precinct to complete the £300,000 project by Easter. The six-week first phase of the reconstruction of the pedestrian-friendly area was completed at the end of last year. It saw an upgrade of the area
29/01/2009
Carillion IT Services today announced it has been appointed by Motherwell College to install an integrated data, voice and video infrastructure as well as a wireless network. The £70m redevelopment programme will involve the relocation of the current campus in Motherwell to the brand new purpose bu
29/01/2009
Midlothian Council has warmly welcomed the award of a £250,000 landfill tax windfall to Loanhead Miners Youth Football Club. The club has been awarded the money from the Waste Recycling Group Challenge Fund which allocates funds raised from landfill taxes at various sites across the UK - including
29/01/2009
A Stirling Councillor has welcomed the Scottish government's news of a rural housing boost. Councillor Alasdair MacPherson, Portfolio Holder for Housing Strategy today showed gratitude over the announcement of £643,000 for eight new homes for rent in Callendar. He said: "As the Strategic Housing A
29/01/2009
J&E Shepherd Chartered Surveyors has been appointed to let refurbished office suites ranging in size from 2028 sq ft up to a total of 25,183 sq ft at 39 St Vincent Place, Glasgow available for immediate occupation. Jamie Savage, surveyor at J&E Shepherd said: "Situated in a strong central location
28/01/2009
The construction of Diageo Scotland's £65m bioenergy plant will help create a greener Scotland, provide a boost to our renewables sector and create up to 20 new long-term jobs, First Minister Alex Salmond said today. The First Minister officially marked the start of building works on the pioneering
28/01/2009
The EU's North Sea Grid Co-ordinator Georg Adamowitsch has asked Scotland to take part in a grid development group to build a European electricity supergrid. The Grid has previously been identified as a European infrastructure priority and will be a key building block in exporting Scotland's renewa
28/01/2009
Napier University has announced that a contractor has been appointed to begin work at its Sighthill Campus. With demolition work now completed at the campus, Balfour Beatty will begin construction work on-site on 23 January. As part of the University's £100m estates strategy, the redeveloped ca
28/01/2009
The massive economic potential of marine renewable energy in the North of Scotland will be mapped out for the first time, it has been announced today. The Scottish Government has commissioned a Marine Spatial Plan for the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters. The Plan will help harness Scotland's ren
28/01/2009
Opportunities exist for restaurant operators to serve up something really special at the new £60m Lomondgate development in Dumbarton, Scotland. Two plots of land have been put on the market by the developer Walker Group each covered by an outline planning consent for roadside services and associat
28/01/2009
Scottish Enterprise has launched a £525,000 campaign to attract 1,000 new workers to the shipbuilding industry. The three-year campaign seeks to recruit engineers and technicians to work on a £4bn Royal Navy contract to build two new aircraft carriers. The ships due for completion in 2014 and 2016
28/01/2009
Construction union UCATT have given a cautious welcome to the campaign launched by the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations to increase the number of homes being built for rent. The initiative titled the Year of the Home Coming Campaign is seeking funding to build 10,000 new homes to meet th
28/01/2009
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has appointed Arlette Anderson to the newly created position of RICS Head of Sustainability. Anderson is developing a framework strategy which will coordinate sustainability activity and projects across the organisation. The aim is to create a sus
28/01/2009
Angus Provost Ruth Leslie Melville MBE will officially open the new facilities at Arbroath Sports Centre on Thursday 29 January. The £180,000 project included the refurbishment and upgrading of the Active gym, active studio and performance gym; installation of a life fitness resistance circuit, fou
28/01/2009
Venture capital group, Energy Ventures, have strengthened their board with the appointment of Jim Sledzik and Anoop Poddar as partners. Stavanger based Energy Ventures focuses on growth technology companies in the energy sector and has offices in Aberdeen and Houston. Last year the company made six
27/01/2009
The latest steps aimed at 'easing the challenges facing Scotland's house building industry' and increasing the supply of affordable housing have been unveiled by the Scottish Government. Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced today that £17m will be invested to speed up the delivery of aff
27/01/2009
Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, Richard Lochhead marked the start of an innovative new partnership project in Aberdeen on Monday with a naming ceremony for a new build at Old Torry. The name Inverdee (coming from the Gaelic "the meeting of the waters") was chosen as a simpl
27/01/2009
Dunn's, winner of the 2007 bar refurbishment of the year award, has been appointed to deliver an extensive £650,000 expansion and redesign of The Parkville Hotel in Blantyre for Lisini Pub Co. A popular community bar and wedding venue, Lisini took ownership of The Parkville in March this year with
27/01/2009
Plans to build a 5,000-home new town on the former Monckton Colliery site in Midlothian have been shelved due to the current economic climate. Miller Group, part of Shawfair Developments, a joint venture with City of Edinburgh and Midlothian councils were to build a £500m 350-acre mixed-use develop
27/01/2009
Around 20 of the residents of Mair Street Sheltered Housing Complex were given a Burns lunch in the residents' day centre to celebrate the bard's 250th anniversary. Refurbishment & maintenance specialist Connaught organised the lunch as a thank you to the residents in advance of a major improvemen
27/01/2009
The Highland Council will present a progress report to Nairn Academy School Parent Council on Thursday night of its proposals for a £1.8m development of the school accommodation in the form of a new Library and Science Faculty. Officials of the Education Culture and Sport Service have been in close
27/01/2009
East Dunbartonshire Council has submitted a Plan to the Scottish Government to help increase the supply and quality of affordable housing in the area. The Strategic Housing Investment Plan details how investment in affordable housing will be directed over a five-year period to meet the housing need
27/01/2009
UK law firm Shepherd and Wedderburn has closed a £320m deal to upgrade the road link between Stepps in North Lanarkshire and Haggs in Falkirk. The firm acted for a consortium led by international construction and services group Bilfinger Berger to deliver the Design Build Finance Operate (DBFO) pro
27/01/2009
An Associate with leading law firm, HBJ Gateley Wareing, has joined an exclusive group of solicitors to achieve the Signet Accreditation standard in Commercial Property and will pick up her award at the Signet Library, Edinburgh on Wednesday 28 January. Katy Erskine (30) scored in the highest bands
27/01/2009
Welcoming today's Scottish Government announcement on the £17m of accelerated funding to allow housing associations to purchase unsold private sector stock and land on which future affordable housing can be built, the home building industry remains concerned that this is insufficient to bridge the w
26/01/2009
The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations will today launch a major new campaign to create a lasting legacy to Robert Burns in his home country, by seeking to start work building 10,000 new affordable homes for rent this year - called the Year of the Home Coming Campaign. Building 10,000 new
26/01/2009
NHBC new house-building statistics show that the number of applications from house builders to start new homes in the UK fell by almost half during 2008 compared to the previous year. NHBC's year end figures show that they received just 106,894 applications to start new homes in the combined privat
26/01/2009
Faber Maunsell | AECOM has been appointed by the Clyde Gateway Urban Regeneration Company to develop a transport strategy for the East End of Glasgow and parts of South Lanarkshire. Clyde Gateway is a partnership between Glasgow and South Lanarkshire Councils, Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish G
26/01/2009
Edinburgh councilors have approved the masterplan for the redevelopment of Craigmillar town centre. Plans include a new town square, high school, library, a supermarket, offices and 600 homes. The scheme by PARC, a joint venture company comprising the EDI Group and the local authority, is part of
26/01/2009
McTavish Ramsay, the architectural door specialist, has begun delivery of 400 bespoke door sets for the West Lothian Civic Centre, being built in Livingston's town centre. McTavish Ramsay has made all of the veneered door sets on a bespoke basis. In total the contract is worth over £150k and is sch
26/01/2009
Projects in Orkney have benefited from a total of £300k Fairer Scotland funding this month. The Fairer Scotland Fund, established by the Scottish Government, is used to address the causes of poverty in the local community. Projects to improve transport links have been boosted with funding made ava
26/01/2009
Stirling Council's Planning Panel are seeking more information on a proposed application for an 18-hole golf course and 150-room hotel on the Park of Keir Estate between Dunblane and Bridge of Allan before it makes its decision. The scheme by K.W. Properties Ltd, on 270 acres of woods and farmland,
26/01/2009
The Leader of Argyll and Bute Council has this week spoken about the Isle of Gigha Heritage Trust's bid to try and attract a new business manager to the island. Six years after the community buy-out, the island of Gigha is thriving. Many of those who previously left have returned and, along with a
26/01/2009
Consultation has begun on proposals for the next phase in Glasgow City Council's strategy to improve primary and nursery school buildings. The aim is to reduce the number of children being taught in crumbling buildings by merging a number of primary schools and nurseries. The proposals would involv
26/01/2009
An award-winning design company which held a controversial "work for free" day last year is already reaping the benefits of the decision. NS Design decided that December 19th would be its Christmas present to other companies and worked the whole day for no fee at all. In the cold light of a gloomy
23/01/2009
Scotland's flagship life sciences project, Edinburgh BioQuarter, has been given a massive financial boost with the announcement of a multi million pound commercialisation initiative funded by Scottish Enterprise and the University of Edinburgh. Edinburgh BioQuarter, which will position Scotland as
23/01/2009
Early indications suggest 2008 was a record year for training, with £176m paid out in CITB-ConstructionSkills Grants to over 23,500 registered employers, to support training and development of existing staff, and offset the costs of taking on new entrants. This was up from £137m paid to 21,700 reg
23/01/2009
Plans for a £1m upgrade of Wick High School have been unveiled to staff and parent representatives. It is hoped that work can start during the summer following a competitive tendering process on a 25-week contract to extend the dining facilities and upgrade and extend the gymnasium changing facilit
23/01/2009
Peterhead's new Household Waste and Recycling Centre (HWRC) has officially opened its doors. The significantly larger facility occupies more than 6,100 square metres on Damhead Road, compared to around 1,300 metres at the old site. It is situated just around the corner from the old centre, also at
23/01/2009
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned businesses to identify high hazard activities and deal with them immediately and effectively. The warning follows a serious incident in which two men fell through a gap between the fourth floor and the lift shaft wall. One man fell over ten metres wh
23/01/2009
Communities Minister Stewart Maxwell today urged energy companies to follow Scottish Gas's suit and reduce prices now. Mr Maxwell said: "The news that Scottish Gas is reducing its prices is to be welcomed, and I would urge other energy companies to follow suit and reduce prices now. "It's a scanda
23/01/2009
Proposals totalling nearly £20m for four new primaries to further improve the school estate in Dundee are to be considered by the city council's education committee on Monday. The committee is being recommended to approve consultation on: a £9.42 million proposal to build two primary schools to rep
23/01/2009
Two high quality units built and owned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) are currently available for let in the Enterprise Park in Forres. The Highlands and Islands is already home to a number of innovative and successful businesses, enjoying a supportive business environment and enviable l
22/01/2009
An extra £10m will be invested in a Scottish Government scheme to help homeowners struggling with mortgage repayments. In Parliament, Communities Minister Stewart Maxwell said that the new money will mean the Home Owners' Support Fund is being backed by £35m over this year and next. The fund will
22/01/2009
One of the world's largest wave stations will be constructed off the Isle of Lewis in the Western Isles, creating up to 70 jobs and advancing Scotland's lead in renewable energy, First Minister Alex Salmond announced today. Ministers have granted consent for npower renewables application to opera
22/01/2009
Portlethen-based builder Steven Norman Johnson has become the first person in Aberdeenshire to have an Enforcement Order made against them under the Enterprise Act 2002. The Enforcement Order was granted at Stonehaven Sheriff Court. The Act enables Aberdeenshire Council to apply to the courts for a
22/01/2009
The new five-year repairs and maintenance contract valued at £200m was awarded to two companies - City Building (Contracts) LLP and Connaught Partnerships Limited - on 31 October 2008. City Building won the contract for two areas of the city - the north east and north west and Connaught for the sou
22/01/2009
Around 60 business owners and managers turned out on Thursday January 15 at the Mansefield Hotel, Elgin for the first in a series of masterclasses held by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and Moray Chamber of Commerce. Behavioural change expert, Philip Allen was on hand to encourage business
22/01/2009
DA Hall on Millport will re-open on Monday January 26 following major upgrading and access work totalling £185,000. This includes the installation of ramps at fire exits. A North Ayrshire Council spokesman said: "This project represents the Council's commitment to Millport. "Work on the stage ha
22/01/2009
Creating a magnificent new library spearheads the next phase of the University of Aberdeen's ambitious investment programme to develop the infrastructure to match their academic aspirations. As the flagship project of the second phase of the Sixth Century Campaign, this £57m ($114m) project will be
22/01/2009
Long before the current economic downturn, Kirkintilloch town centre was targeted by East Dunbartonshire Council as a priority for funding and action and now that the town is feeling the effects of the slowdown, efforts are being redoubled. An Action Plan has been agreed by the Council in close con
22/01/2009
Dundee's council house rents may be restricted to a rise of just over £3 a week on average this year following a major consultation exercise with tenants' representatives. An increase of 5.9% - £3.09 on an average weekly rent from April 6 - will be discussed by city councillors on Monday (January 2
22/01/2009
New legislation introduced in the Queen's Speech that will change how construction contracts operate in Scotland has been considered unfair to sub-contractors who have no control over the certification process according to Thorntons Solicitors. Recently main contractors have been able to avoid payi
21/01/2009
Culture Minister Linda Fabiani today launched a new masonry qualification to meet traditional building training needs in Edinburgh and Lothian. Details of the National Progression Award (NPA) in Conservation of Masonry was launched in the presence of HRH The Princess Royal during a visit to St Mary
21/01/2009
Construction union UCATT have demanded that the Scottish Parliament takes urgent action to reduce the number of homeless people in Scotland. Figures show that in excess of 40,000 people are officially recorded as homeless in Scotland. UCATT believes that the figure demonstrates the failure of hou
21/01/2009
Scottish Ministers have appointed Crawford Gillies as the new chairman of Scottish Enterprise. John Swinney, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth, said: "The appointment of Crawford Gillies is an excellent development for Scotland and the Scottish economy at a time when we all face
21/01/2009
A new £5m scheme to bring plastics recycling closer to home has been announced by Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead in his first keynote speech on waste in 2009. With most of the plastics collected here being processed south of the border or overseas in countries such as China, the capital gra
21/01/2009
Director of Special Projects at Miller Construction, Stephen Beadle, has made charity fundraising one of his very own 'special projects', raising around £20,000 in total for charitable causes after undertaking five marathons. The 56-year-old, originally from London, who now resides in Avonbridge in
21/01/2009
Aberdeen children have made their mark on history by burying a time capsule at their newly refurbished primary school. Chap Construction is due to hand over the newly refurbished and extended building to Hanover Street School next month. The pupils were asked to provide items reflecting the time t
21/01/2009
Work will start in the spring to provide Kirriemuir with an all weather sports facility. Angus Council has been working with the Kirriemuir Community Sports Association to provide the facility at Webster's High School for the benefit of the burgh and the surrounding communities for the past four ye
21/01/2009
Aberdeen Council tenants in the Hazlehead area will this week get the chance to preview new security doors and kitchen and shower units to be fitted in their homes as part of a modernisation programme. An open day is being held on Friday January 23, when the new doors, kitchen and shower units will
21/01/2009
Fyne Homes, the Argyll and Bute housing association, has received over £200,000 from the Scottish Government's Climate Challenge Fund. Fyne Homes intends to use the money to deliver its Towards Zero Carbon Bute project, aimed at reducing carbon emissions on the Isle of Bute. Towards Zero Carbon But
21/01/2009
Aberdeenshire Council's housing and homelessness services were praised in a report published today by the Scottish Housing Regulator. Aberdeenshire Council's housing and homelessness services were praised in a report published today by the Scottish Housing Regulator. The council received an 'excell
20/01/2009
The design for the Forth Replacement Crossing will be a world 'first' and is being worked on by the same firm responsible for the stunning 'Bird's Nest' stadium and Water Cube aquatics centre at last year's Beijing Olympics. Engineering firm Arup contracted by Transport Scotland to help develop the
20/01/2009
The completed Centre for Health Science (Ionad Eòlas Slàinte) in Inverness was officially opened on Monday, January 19, by Jim Mather MSP, Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism, at a ceremony attended by project partners as well as business leaders and academics. A public open day is also be
20/01/2009
Work is about to begin on strengthening the foundations of the sea wall near the Neolithic village of Skara Brae. The waves have undermined a section of the concrete toe on which the protective walling was built and could cause damage if left unrepaired. Historic Scotland has started a project whi
20/01/2009
Miller Developments has achieved a 'Very Good' BREEAM rating for its newest development, Alba Business Pavilions, in Livingston, which reached completion in October 2008. BREEAM (BRE Environmental Assessment Method) is the world's longest standing and most widely used environmental assessment metho
20/01/2009
Refurbishment and maintenance specialist, Connaught Partnerships Ltd is hosting an event with Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce to promote opportunities for local supply chain partners as it continues to increase its presence across the Scottish marketplace. The event takes place in the 1925 suite at M
20/01/2009
ScottishPower has reached a three year agreement with ATH Resources, for the supply of 800,000 tonnes of coal. The deal is estimated to be worth in excess of £40m over the life of the contract. The announcement comes as ScottishPower finalises the commissioning of Flue Gas Desulphisation (FGD) equi
20/01/2009
Midlothian Council has submitted a bid for over £12m as part of the Scottish Government and COSLA's kickstart of council house building initiative to encourage new council house building across Scotland. Midlothian Council was one of the first authorities in Scotland to embark on a 5-year new build
20/01/2009
J&E Shepherd Chartered Surveyors has delivered a series of successful rating appeals to a trio of Scottish Colleges resulting in a total gross saving of nearly £240,000 over the five year duration of the current revaluation. The three colleges to benefit from the rating appeals are Anniesland Colle
20/01/2009
A total of 27 community groups across Scotland from Shetland to the Borders have just received a massive boost with the announcement of over £1,494,000 from the Scottish Government's Climate Challenge Fund. This will result in the creation of 25 new jobs at community level dedicated to a wide range
20/01/2009
A training programme which aims to help landlords improve and maintain properties and their property management skills will launch at the end of the month. It will be run by Landlord Accreditation Scotland in partnership with Aberdeenshire Council. The aim of the partnership is to support private
20/01/2009
Scottish Gas has pledged to speed up delivery of central heating systems in remote island communities. All applicants in the Western Isles, Orkney, and Shetland who had been waiting four months or more as at November 30, 2008 will receive a central heating system by the end of March 2009. The Scot
19/01/2009
The Scottish home building industry has welcomed today's Government announcements aimed at increasing lending capacity but called for these to be followed through immediately. Jonathan Fair, Chief Executive of Homes for Scotland, the organisation which represents companies building 95% of the count
19/01/2009
Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson today announced a multi-million pound boost for Scotland's construction industry with the appointment of a contractor for the M80 Stepps to Haggs project. The national transport agency Transport Scotland has signed the contract that awards Highway Management (Sc
19/01/2009
Communities across Moray were today encouraged to take the lead and build a bright future with the help of a £4m fund. Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, announced the Scottish Government's allocation of £1.84m towards the local LEADER programme - a £4m initiative to empower c
19/01/2009
Angus Council is to release three of its early action development sites for affordable housing in a move to support the building industry and local registered social landlords (RSLs) at a difficult time whilst providing much-needed homes in Angus. At a meeting of the council's Neighbourhood Service
19/01/2009
The removal of a canopy at the Forth Road Bridge's south tower is expected to cause delays. The Canopy was in place to protect cars during painting works. The bridge will be closed between 12.30am and 3.30am from Tuesday January 27 to Friday January 30. A single lane in each direction will be ope
19/01/2009
RE Scotland has successfully secured a project to undertake Post Occupancy Evaluation (POE) of nine new educational facilities for the Scottish Funding Council (SFC). The driver behind the project is the SFC's need to demonstrate 'value for money' on their capital expenditure, ensuring that the bui
19/01/2009
J&E Shepherd Chartered Surveyors has been appointed to the Royal Mail Group Property - Professional Services Call Off Framework. The two year contract, with an option to extend to a further two years, deals with a variety of services across Scotland, including: acquisitions; disposals; site searche
19/01/2009
Aberdeen office design and fit-out specialist ASM is always prepared to go that extra mile to win a contract - and its managing director Frank Maughan has just clocked up a 22,000 round-mile trip to do just that. Maughan flew at 24 hours notice to Australia to discuss the design of new offices for
19/01/2009
Dunn Interiors, winner of the 2007 bar refurbishment of the year award, has pulled off a major coup with the appointment of high profile hospitality sector specialist Angus Alston from Belhaven to spearhead its expansion drive throughout the UK pub trade. Mr Alston was approached to join Belhaven a
19/01/2009
Plans for a £9m sexual health centre in Edinburgh have been approved by city councillors. The new facility which will be the first of its kind in the UK will be constructed at the Chalmers Hospital in Lauriston. Due for completion in 2010 the unique facility will combine family planning with genit
16/01/2009
The planning application for a new town at Tornagrain, between Inverness and Nairn, have been submitted to the Highland Council following more than two years of community consultation. Developers Moray Estates appointed leading US planner Andres Duany to design the new town of around 5,000 homes.
16/01/2009
David Middleton, Head of Scotland Office, has been appointed as the new Transport Scotland Chief Executive, succeeding Dr Malcolm Reed when he retires in February. Mr Middleton, 52, has a long and established career within the civil service, having joined the then Scottish Office from Glasgow Unive
16/01/2009
The Scottish Resource Centre for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology (SET), based at Napier University, reaches a landmark this week with the signing of the first CEO Charter for Women in SET in Scotland, and the publication of its Research Report: Getting In, Getting On in Construction. T
16/01/2009
Developing new nuclear power stations requires a substantial investment, and RWE and E.ON will together contribute the financial stability and balance sheet strength required to support a programme of this scale. The companies have stakes in 20 nuclear power stations around the world. In addition,
16/01/2009
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar's efforts to mitigate the downturn in the economy of the Outer Hebrides are continuing this week with seminars to assess the present and future outlook for local business. They will also seek to identify actions that can be taken collectively to minimise further negative im
16/01/2009
West Lothian Council is set to start work on major road improvement schemes at four locations in Livingston. Removal of Braehead Roundabout is to commence and installation of a new signalised crossroads junction at Howden. A new link road from Howden East Road at Almond Interchange to the B7015 at
16/01/2009
All of the alternative proposals for development put forward for consideration in Aberdeenshire's next local plan have been made public. In an unprecedented step, Aberdeenshire Council has published the details of hundreds of proposals made to its planning policy team on its website. The submissi
16/01/2009
May Gurney, the integrated support and construction services company, has installed the Fleestar-Online solution - from leading Telematics Service Provider Cybit - into the maintenance fleet of its Highway Services sector. The implementation has shown a saving of almost 10% in fuel costs alone wit
16/01/2009
A new primary school in the remote community of Lochaline, Morvern, is to incorporate accommodation for local fire and coastguard staff. Members of The Highland Council's Education Culture and Sport Committee were told yesterday that positive and co-operative discussions have been taking place with
16/01/2009
AIM-listed SMC Group Plc, one of the largest architecture practices in Scotland and the UK, has changed its name to Archial Group Plc, following approval by shareholders at a General Meeting at the start of the New Year. The new corporate identity is part of a larger consolidation process which is
15/01/2009
Savills has issued its first Residential Property Focus of the year, which looks beyond the current oppressive gloom hanging over the residential property markets. Its latest report highlights the potential for equity rich buyers to take advantage of falling prices to regenerate the market in the
15/01/2009
Highland Councillors have stressed their wish to build council houses again. However, they say that it does not make financial sense at this time to take part in the Scottish Government's initiative to encourage new council house building. Meeting in Inverness yesterday, the Housing and Social Work
15/01/2009
Communities across Scotland have been awarded over £4m from the Climate Challenge Fund to help reduce their carbon footprint and save residents cash. Successful projects include using wool to insulate homes, a local food network in Fife and Community Power Down, the first cross-community project aw
15/01/2009
A multi-million pound care home for dementia sufferers in Aberdeen is being built by the social care arm of the Church of Scotland, CrossReach. Building work on the £6m state-of-the-art Rubislaw Park House care home, on Rubislaw Park Road, includes rooms for 64 residents and is due to be completed
15/01/2009
Miller Cromdale, the joint venture between Miller Developments and Cromdale Ltd, has begun work on 51,400 square feet of premium office space in Aberdeen city centre. The group is aiming to capitalise on the continuing demand in the Aberdeen office market where grade-A office supply is hovering aro
15/01/2009
BAM has won the £120m contract to redevelop Dumfries Royal Infirmary Hospital for NHS Dumfries and Galloway. The scheme will include the construction of a new 200-bed wing building. Architects Nightingale Associates will design the first 100% single bedroom hospital accommodation in Scotland. Heal
15/01/2009
The latest statistics for manufactured exports from Scotland has emphasised the importance of the Scottish Government's budget and economic recovery plan to protect the Scottish economy during difficult times, Finance Secretary John Swinney said. Yesterday he commented on statistics that show sales
15/01/2009
Islanders on Rum have voted in a local ballot for the phased transfer of the island's assets to community control. Environment Minister Michael Russell said: "This is an historic day for the Isle of Rum - the day residents took control of their community's destiny. This will provide a platform for
15/01/2009
Scotland's environment watchdog is reminding people that failing to comply with legislation can be a costly mistake. The warning comes after local businessman Charles MacLennan was fined £600 for failing to clean up two sites where he was storing waste vehicles (end of life), vehicle parts and tyre
15/01/2009
With much residential development across the country now effectively on hold as a result of the credit crunch, the home building industry has called for the planning system to be more responsive to the new economic reality and for local authorities to be adequately resourced to unlock investment in
14/01/2009
A £2.6m refurbishment of the James Watt College campus in Greenock is set to be completed next month as a result of the Scottish Government's accelerated capital investment in Scotland's Further and Higher Education sectors, Education Secreatary Fiona Hyslop said today. The scheme, which includes r
14/01/2009
ConstructionSkills, the Sector Skills Council for the construction industry, has recently presented the National Demolition Training Group (Scotland) with £7,000 to mark its establishment as Scotland’s first independently operated industry training group. The first instalment of the £28,000 grant g
14/01/2009
Whilst many companies are cutting back in the current economic downturn, Pearson Donaldson Properties are looking to the future and are currently developing new office accommodation at Cavalry Park in Peebles. Pearson Donaldson Properties has already developed 12 business units on site providing 20
14/01/2009
Fife Council has bid for £2.3m of Scottish Government funding to help build an initial phase of 95 new Council houses which could be started on site by April 2010. Members of the Housing and Communities Committee heard how a bid for the money had been submitted yesterday in order to meet the necess
14/01/2009
A Falkirk councillor has described the new £120m Clackmannanshire Bridge as a "wasted opportunity". Craig Martin spoke of the bridge, which opened in November, raising safety concerns as both approaches to the crossing are lit, but the bridge itself has no lighting. He said: "The actual bridge has
14/01/2009
Two new advisors will help more housing organisations throughout the UK support their tenants through financial difficulties thanks to a new injection of funding from Barclays and the Financial Services Authority (FSA). The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) has recruited two new Financial Incl
14/01/2009
East Lothian Council has agreed to sell on completion a development of 42 new affordable housing units to East Lothian Housing Association. The houses, situated at Baxter's Gate, Windygoul, Tranent, are due to be completed in June 2009. The decision was taken at a meeting of its Cabinet on 13 Janu
14/01/2009
A unique course that has trained thousands of the country's building professionals in the repair and renovation of old buildings will run twice in 2009. With the downturn in the construction of new buildings many architects and other professionals are increasingly turning to work on existing build
14/01/2009
A new Edinburgh primary school has won a prestigious design award from Glasgow Institute of Architects (GIA). The new Niddrie Mill and St Francis Primary School in Craigmillar, won in the Education category of the 2008 GIA Annual Design Awards. Completed in July 2008, the school provides accommoda
14/01/2009
Fife councillors have agreed to plans which will see a new primary school for Dunfermline East up and running at the start of the next school year. The school will not at that point have its own building but will be established and run within existing rooms at Inverkeithing Primary school. The ch
13/01/2009
Lovell is set to carry out a £3.5m programme of modernisation work at two Motherwell tower blocks for North Lanarkshire Council. Work is due to start in late January 2009 on the 14-month improvement scheme for Airbles and Whamond Towers close to Airbles Road, Motherwell. Lovell will install over-c
13/01/2009
Leading UK law firm Shepherd and Wedderburn acted for Wind Energy (North Rhins) Limited to secure four leases, complete the Section 75 Agreement, negotiate the construction contract, and to enable financing for the 22 MW North Rhins wind farm in Dumfries and Galloway near Portpatrick. The leases wil
13/01/2009
An Aberdeen landfill site will soon be generating enough green energy to power 1,700 city homes for at least the next 10 years. Aberdeen City Council and recycling and waste management company, SITA UK, have reached an agreement to convert methane gas generated at the Hill of Tramaud landfill site
13/01/2009
Culture Minister Linda Fabiani has urged Scots to get involved in the latest consultation on World Heritage Sites. The Department of Culture, Media and Sport is reviewing how the UK protects and promotes its sites of outstanding universal value, and whether to continue nominating new sites. Ms Fab
13/01/2009
Galliford Try plc in a joint venture with Black & Veatch, has been appointed by Scottish Water as preferred contractor on the Meadowhead Stevenson Work Package 6. This work package collects storm overflows from Irvine and Kilmarnock town centres and transfers these flows to Meadowhead Waste Water
13/01/2009
Scotland's cool climate could hold the key to cutting the internet's carbon footprint according to the company behind plans for the world's largest data centre near Lockerbie. David King, Project Director of Lockerbie Data Centre's Limited, is calling on the Scottish Government to market Scotland a
13/01/2009
Industrial units at Peffermill Parc, Edinburgh are proving popular with city businesses. Since completion in mid-November, nine out of 13 new industrial nest units built for Parc Craigmillar Limited have been let or are under offer. Designed to accommodate both existing businesses and start-ups re
13/01/2009
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is launching an extended programme of international trade development events for 2009. One of the aims of the programme will be to maximise the benefits to local businesses of the new direct flights between Inverness and Dusseldorf in Germany. The flights, whi
13/01/2009
A Scottish company is pushing the boundaries in the fast-moving battle to reduce CO2 emissions in the new build housing market. Scotframe Timber Engineering, one of the country's most successful timber frame manufacturers, has introduced to the market a new closed panel timber frame system which w
13/01/2009
Around 1,100 pupils will take up residence in their new purpose built school this week as the new Grangemouth High School opens its doors for the first time. The school is the first in a series of four new replacement schools at a cost of £115m being built across the Falkirk Council area funded thr
12/01/2009
Sustainable energy solutions firm Active has awarded the contract for the construction of its new corporate headquarters to Stewart Milne Construction (SMC). The £3m Active Renewable Energy Centre, located in the Minto Commercial Park, Altens, Aberdeen, is expected to be one of the most energy-effi
12/01/2009
On Friday the Scottish Government published its Budget Bill for 2009-10. Finance Secretary John Swinney said the budget will help the country weather the economic storm, protect jobs and boost prospects for a strong recovery. He said the spending plans support the Government's six point economic r
12/01/2009
A record number of public sector houses were started in the first year of the Scottish Government, according to the latest figures. Almost 5,700 public sector houses were started in 2007-08, more than any year since the early 1990s. Local authorities across Scotland started 432 council houses in 2
12/01/2009
A ceremony of dedication has been held to mark completion of work at Edinburgh's new principal cemetery. The event followed eight months of construction work at the 15-acre site on Old Dalkeith Road, which was selected after an exhaustive search for a suitable location. This new cemetery has a capa
12/01/2009
Edinburgh Quay Limited, a Joint Venture between Miller Developments and British Waterways Scotland, has secured a tenant for Edinburgh Quay 2's fourth floor, bringing the development closer to capacity. The deal sees Companies House take an eleven-year lease on 7,810 sq ft of space at a rental of £
12/01/2009
Pupils entered the new St Paul's RC Academy for the first time on Friday as the latest school constructed under Dundee City Council's £90m PPP programme opened its doors for business. Dundee City Council administration leader Cllr Kevin Keenan, education convener Cllr Laurie Bidwell, depute educati
12/01/2009
Ground investigation works will shortly commence to determine conditions both above and below the A83 at Rest and Be Thankful, which was affected by a landslip in October 2007. Transport Scotland and its operating company Scotland Transerv are making good progress with the installation of a state-o
12/01/2009
Plans have been lodged for a new community centre in Kilmacolm. Funding for the project has been secured thanks to £1m from Inverclyde Council, £1m from the Cargill Fund and local donations. The project will see the village's two old primary school buildings refurbished to provide accommodation fo
12/01/2009
Reid Kerr College is launching a brand new course this month and becomes the first college in Scotland to offer training in solar panel systems. Open to professional electricians and electrical personnel, this course provides candidates with the skills and introductory qualifications to become an
09/01/2009
Lifeline air services between Glasgow and Campbeltown, Barra and Tiree have been secured until March 2013. Yesterday Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson announced the results of a tender process for the three vital routes, which sees the contract being awarded to Loganair. Mr Stevenson said: "Th
09/01/2009
A new Edinburgh primary school has won a prestigious design award from Glasgow Institute of Architects (GIA). The new Niddrie Mill and St Francis Primary School in Craigmillar, won in the Education category of the 2008 GIA Annual Design Awards. Completed in July 2008, the school provides accommoda
09/01/2009
Savills Scotland has issued its Residential Development Focus (Winter 2008/09) reviewing activity for new home developments and land values over recent months and focusing on the road to recovery. According to the property specialists, the price of new homes fell faster and further than the mainstr
09/01/2009
It will now be easier for locals over the age of 16 to apply for social rented housing, with the launch of an East Renfrewshire housing register. The register means people can apply to three landlords at the same time, to give them a wider choice of 4,000 properties. East Renfrewshire Council, Ark
09/01/2009
Edinburgh landlords and tenants look set to benefit from the latest cut in the Bank of England base rate. With the base rate now at an all-time low of 1.5% and retail banks being urged to pass on the rate cuts, landlords with tracker mortgages are likely to see their monthly payments falling accord
09/01/2009
Aberdeenshire Councillor Paul Johnston has been cleared by the Standards Commission after he highlighted in a newspaper article his concerns about a land deal between Donald Trump and the local authority as part of the tycoon's planning application to build a housing and golf course development at M
09/01/2009
Two consultations seeking views on how to ensure long term improvements to water environments have been launched. The consultations 'Scotland's Water: Future Directions' and 'Restoration of the Water Environment' follow the publication of the first draft river basin management plans for Scotland on
09/01/2009
North Lanarkshire Council has outlined its affordable housing investment priorities in its Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP). The five-year plan has now been submitted to the Scottish Government and helps them effectively target resources for the Affordable Housing Investment Programme (AHIP
09/01/2009
Scottish Borders Council Leader David Parker has welcomed the announcement by Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson that work is to begin early on the Borders Railway. David Parker said: "Obviously the Council welcomes the news that advance works are going to begin early on the Borders railway. "W
09/01/2009
Work on the multi-million pound M74 Completion project is moving forward as preparation for new viaducts gets underway on Monday 12 January. The work involves re-aligning the existing off-ramp to tie-in with the new eastbound M8 to M74 Viaduct and approach. In order to allow these works to go ahea
08/01/2009
House prices across Scotland are likely to level out in 2009 as falling interest rates and better mortgage deals create the ideal conditions for first-time buyers, according to a group of the country’s leading property solicitors. The ELPG group, which is made up of Warners, Neilsons, Leslie Deans
08/01/2009
A new hotel and retail development proposal by C&L Properties on the former site of Esslemont and Macintosh department store in Aberdeen's Union Street has been granted planning permission from Aberdeen City Council. The redevelopment designed by architect Holmes Partnership will transform the six-
08/01/2009
Public exhibitions setting out proposals for the Forth Replacement Crossing will take place from the 20th January 2009 at locations in Edinburgh, Fife and the Lothians. Transport Scotland is taking the Forth Replacement Crossing exhibition to 12 different venues over two weeks to allow members of t
08/01/2009
Scottish water cleaning specialist Panton McLeod has been celebrating after carrying out its first-ever contract with Folkestone & Dover Water Services. The Borders-based company, who are the UK's leading drinking water cleaning engineer, carried out an inspection at a facility in Kent earlier this
08/01/2009
Robinson Low Francis's Scottish practice has recently been appointed by six of Scotland's public sector organisations to provide a range of construction and property-related services after winning a series of competitive tenders. Three local authorities have chosen Robinson Low Francis to provide q
08/01/2009
The Meffan Museum and Art Gallery closed to the public yesterday for a £126,000 refit to improve access. The work will include the installation of a ramp and lift and is scheduled to be completed by April. While the refurbishment is taking place, tourist information services will be provided from
08/01/2009
A pair of historic Dundee street names could re-appear on the city's official lists after an absence of more than 40 years. Mid Kirk Style and Tally Street disappeared from the map in the 1960s to make way for the first clearance and redevelopment of the Overgate. Now, as the street register is co
08/01/2009
Clackmannanshire Council has become one of the first local authorities in Scotland to survey the energy efficiency of its large public buildings. The surveys - of all public buildings over 1000 square metres - are required by January 2009 to comply with an EU directive and the Council has completed
08/01/2009
Orkney Islands Council has secured £1.2m from sportscotland for a new swimming pool and squash courts at the Picky Centre. The project will see a new pool built at Picky which will be 25m long, contain six lanes and will have a moving floor and an adjacent area of leisure waters which includes a sh
08/01/2009
Landlords across Scotland could end up with heavy fines because they have not been given enough information about the need to provide Energy Performance Certificates on their properties, according to one of the country's leading letting agents. Braemore Property Management has said that many privat
07/01/2009
Ferry Operator Stena Line have tabled plans for the first phase of a new £70m port in south west Scotland. The company want to move the Irish Sea services out of Stranraer into a new terminal to Old House Point near Cairnryan. Stena Line said the creation of the terminal further up the coast to Lo
07/01/2009
A workshop to draw attention to the dangers of handling tyres is to be held in Stepps, North Lanarkshire next month. The workshop is one of six being organised by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) working with the National Tyre Distributors Association (NTDA) and the British Tyre Manufacturers
07/01/2009
Glasgow 2014 Limited, the Organising Committee (OC) for the XXth Commonwealth Games to be held in Glasgow in 2014, has announced the appointments of Sir Bill Gammell and Alan Mitchelson to its Board as Non-Executive Directors. Sir Bill Gammell is Chief Executive of Cairn Energy and among a number o
07/01/2009
Orkney Islands Council is currently looking at a variety of options to support the local building trade through the current credit crunch. This includes a massive £13m investment over the next 3 years in Council house building. The Council has committed to providing an additional 100 social rented
07/01/2009
A ten-year strategy aims to invest close to £250m in council housing in West Lothian. The ambitious proposals will see over 700 new affordable council houses for rent built, and all council housing brought up to the Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SQHS) by 2015. Investment will also be made in
07/01/2009
Dollan Aqua Centre in East Kilbride has received a massive £500,000 boost from sportscotland to help fund its repair and refurbishment. The centre, which is used by almost 7000 customers every week, is one of only five 50m competition pools in Scotland. It is currently closed for specialist survey
07/01/2009
McTavish Ramsay, the leading UK door specialist, has just signed off on a £300,000 contract at one of Manchester’s most stylish residential developments. Working alongside privately owned developer Dandara, McTavish Ramsay supplied door sets for its award winning Spectrum project, based in the hear
07/01/2009
The Scottish home building industry yesterday welcomed Nationwide's latest house price index which shows that Scotland remains the best performing part of the UK – even recording a slight seasonally adjusted increase in the last quarter of 2008 (the only part of the UK to have experienced any rise i
06/01/2009
Expectations for future house price movements are the most optimistic in Scotland and had been so consistently throughout 2008, according to the Nationwide Building Society's final quarter survey. The reports shows that the UK's annual house values fell by 15.9% in 2008 however, in Scotland prices
06/01/2009
School pupils from Dundee, Forfar and Carnoustie took part in a poster competition designed to raise awareness of health and safety. The competition was set by Robertson which is the main contractor in the £90m Dundee Schools project and the £50m Angus Schools rebuilding programme. Now in it secon
06/01/2009
Aberdeen Harbour Board Chairman, David Paton OBE, is to retire at the end of December after 24 years as a board member. Having joined the board in 1984, Mr Paton became Vice Chairman in 1991 and Chairman three years later. Colin Parker, the Board’s Chief Executive, said: "David has given invaluabl
06/01/2009
Inverclyde Council has launched a new free service for private homeowners that will provide information, advice and an inspection service that could help spot common problems such as poorly maintained roof coverings, rising dampness or even timber defects. The Property Inspection Service aims to he
06/01/2009
Building Contractors William Skinner & Son have announced the latest winner of their Outstanding Company Driver Award. The winner is Jim Graham, 39, who has worked as a Roofer with William Skinner & Son's Roofing Division since February 2004. Jim received a cheque for £100 from managing director S
06/01/2009
Members of the public are being reminded that there is still time to voice their opinion on various options for Dingwall High Street improvements. A successful one day public consultation 'drop in' session was held by Highland Council Planning and Development Service on December 13th at the Royal B
06/01/2009
The reception area of Perth and Kinross Council's Pullar House is being refurbished this month. The work will improve the customer service experience for members of the public who come into Pullar House to use Council services. The reception desk will be in the form of individual booths to increa
06/01/2009
Argyll and Bute Council, in partnership with a number of key transport providers, is keen to ensure that Oban is developed as an integrated transport hub. Along with its partners, including Caledonian MacBrayne, Scottish Citylink and HITRANS, the Council has commissioned an engineering appraisal wh
05/01/2009
There has been a sharp rise in the number of planning appeals processed by the Scottish Government within 12 weeks. In November, 37% of all appeals considered by written submissions were decided within 12 weeks - compared with 4% in April. This fulfils the Scottish Government's intention to remove
05/01/2009
A Victorian hunting lodge in Sutherland is to get a £1.5m facelift to allow a variety of uses including use as luxury accommodation and use for corporate events, thanks to a funding package including Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) together with the Big Lottery Fund. Community group The Assy
05/01/2009
Scotland's schools are to become greener under a new Government initiative to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency. Education Secretary Fiona Hyslop has announced a package of measures which will work towards a lower carbon school estate and meet the Government's commitments to have renew
05/01/2009
Scottish ministers are to continue their call for cash in advance to spread the cost of the £2bn new Forth Road Bridge, despite the Treasury rejecting the request. Scotland's Finance Secretary, John Swinney, told BBC Radio’s Good Morning Scotland programme his approach was the responsible way to gu
05/01/2009
Ross-shire residents have made the 100th registration to buy local land under the community right to buy legislation. Evanton Wood Community Company, near Dingwall, have registered to buy 64 acres of mature, mixed woodland on the Novar Estate in Ross-shire. The company proposes to maintain Evanton
05/01/2009
Refurbishment and maintenance firm, Connaught Partnerships Ltd, has secured a repairs and maintenance partnership with Link Housing worth £2.5m. The contract will see Connaught deliver a repairs service to over 4,000 tenants and owners across the West of Scotland including Glasgow, Paisley and Renf
05/01/2009
Sanctuary Scotland Housing Association, a subsidiary of leading UK housing provider Sanctuary Group, recently launched a homeless accommodation and housing advice project with Renfrewshire Council. The event followed the completion of the refurbishment of a listed building at 15/19 Abercorn Street
05/01/2009
The business support project, Forth Construction, continues to expand and grow with the Sharkey Group becoming its 300th member company. Forth Construction has been set up to support companies working in the construction sector across East Central Scotland by providing with help getting on local su
