Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
Scotland Construction News Archive for February 2010
26/02/2010
The Scottish Building Federation has warned that, without the creation of a new state-run national infrastructure bank, the planned construction of the £2 billion new Forth Crossing by 2016 could be at risk. The SBF is this week giving its backing to a campaign by the Institute of Civil Engineers
26/02/2010
UK engineered timber producers, James Jones & Sons, Timber Systems Division Ltd, are supplying JJI-Joists and BJ-Beams to the world class Robert Burns Birthplace Museum project, currently underway at the Scottish bard’s birthplace in Alloway, Ayrshire. The UK manufactured, FSC certified, JJI-Joist
26/02/2010
The UK Government are being urged to finally act to end the discrimination against Scottish power generators. The Energy and Climate Change Committee of the House of Commons this week recommended that the UK Government commissions an independent review of transmission charging methodology. Energy
26/02/2010
Scotland's top apprentice is Dumfries and Galloway Council's Katie Redden. She has just won the APSE Scottish Apprentice of the Year award and is the first female apprentice to win the top honour. Joinery apprentice Katie said: "It was brilliant to get to the final and I'm really proud and happy
26/02/2010
Residents across Argyll and Bute are being encouraged to take part in a new energy efficiency scheme which offers a one-off Council Tax rebate to participants. Argyll and Bute Council has teamed up with Scottish Gas to offer the £65 rebate per household, in return for carrying out one or more appro
26/02/2010
The number of new Government funded affordable homes in Scotland soared to 7,701 last year, official figures confirmed today. It is the highest recorded annual figure since the Government's Affordable Housing Investment Programme (AHIP) began a decade ago. In addition, 411 new council houses were
26/02/2010
Archial Sustainable Futures, a research, development and advice consultancy, has been appointed to provide a range of advisory and assessment services to the £300m New Campus Glasgow project; the UK’s biggest and most ambitious educational building project – and possibly the biggest in the sector in
26/02/2010
The first phase of one of the biggest civil engineering operations in Scotland has now finished. The westbound launch of the Port Eglinton Viaduct is part of the work going on to complete the missing link between the end of the existing M74 at Fullarton Road and the M8 south of the Kingston Bridge.
25/02/2010
The demolition of the obsolete Balfour Stewart House office building in Murrayfield, Edinburgh, paves the way for a proposed new £35 million residential development on the site. The proposed Northern Trust development, designed by Archial Architects, will respect the characteristics of the conserva
25/02/2010
Work to install the huge steel beams which will make up the new Mollinsburn Overbridge is continuing this weekend due to mechanical problems with the 1200 tonne crane last weekend. A replacement crane has been arranged for this weekend. When completed the £320 million M80 Stepps to Haggs Completi
25/02/2010
The Duke of Edinburgh has visited a church in Edinburgh following its radical transformation into a multi-purpose venue for the community. His Royal Highness visited Broughton St Mary's Parish Church, on Bellevue Crescent, where he toured the new facilities and meet with local groups and schoolchi
25/02/2010
Visitors to Edinburgh's number one concert hall will see a whole new side to the venue as the Usher Hall unveils its magnificent new wing to the public. From today people will be able to explore the new addition to the grade A-listed building, which completes the second phase of a major refurbishme
25/02/2010
Design student Rebecca Groves was in the right place at the right time to win a prestige placement with top British design agency Keane Brands. Rebecca won the Satelliet-Browns Student Design Challenge and saw her futuristic design for the Matrix Bar take shape at the Bar 09 Exhibition in Earls Cou
25/02/2010
The City of Edinburgh Council has approved proposals for a much needed affordable housing development on the City's London Road. The proposal, put forward by Hillcrest Housing Association will create 36 social rented homes on the site, and includes a range of accommodation, from wheelchair accessib
25/02/2010
The Scottish Government has today called for cold weather payments to be increased for vulnerable households in Scotland. In a letter to the UK government, Housing and Communities Minister Alex Neil voiced concern that payments are uniform across the UK but heating costs are higher in Scotland. Se
25/02/2010
Lovell has contributed to a robust set of preliminary results for the year ended 31 December 2009, released on Tuesday, by parent construction and regeneration group Morgan Sindall plc. Against a backdrop of challenging trading conditions Morgan Sindall delivered a robust performance in 2009. Prof
24/02/2010
House purchase activity in Scotland continued to pick up in the final three months of 2009. That's according to new data released by the Council of Mortgage Lenders today. There were 14,200 loans for house purchase in the fourth quarter (worth £1.6 billion) – up 4% by number and 5% by value from t
24/02/2010
Transport Scotland projects, worth a combined value of £4 million, will bring significant improvements to A76 in Ayrshire this summer. Major road improvement works, designed and managed by Amey, will take place in New Cumnock and Mauchline during Spring and Summer this year. Benefits of this signi
24/02/2010
One of Scotland's leading providers of storage and interiors solutions, ESE, has expanded into the North-east of England and opened a new office in Newcastle. The company is predicting that the region will generate in excess of £500,000 of sales within the year resulting in several new jobs being c
24/02/2010
Aberdeen-based Knight Property Group, Scotland's Developer of the Year, has invested £3 million in a speculative industrial unit at the Minto Commercial Park, Altens. Construction of the two storey unit, which comprises 4,000sq.ft of offices, 10,000sq.ft of workshop and 15,470 sq.ft of concrete yar
24/02/2010
The Gannochy Trust and The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) are calling for entries to their 2010 Innovation Award, which carries one cash prize of £50,000 and a specially commissioned gold medal. The closing date for entries is 14th May 2010. Targeted at the next generation of Scottish innovator
24/02/2010
Belfast-based developer Deramore Property Group has been awarded the construction contract on a £35m hotel development on Edinburgh's iconic Princes Street. Deramore has signed-up Gilbert Ash contractors for the construction contract for the development which involves the partial demolition of exis
24/02/2010
Knight Frank's building consultancy team in Aberdeen has completed the project monitoring of a new office and workshop in Thainstone, Inverurie for Zenith Oilfield Technology Ltd. The new facility provides a total of 13,750 sq ft of office and workshop space, including a test pit, laboratory space,
24/02/2010
Track dumper hire and sale company KattraK will be exhibiting at ScotPlant 2010. The firm will be featuring both compaction equipment and excavators from their newest principal AMMANN -YANMAR. Compaction equipment on show will include vibratory plates from 54kg to tandem vibratory rollers of up
23/02/2010
Housing and Communities Minister Alex Neil has welcomed moves to deal sensitively with mortgage customers facing financial difficulty. NatWest and RBS have committed not to commence repossession proceedings for a full six months after a customer first falls into arrears. Alex Neil said: "It is enc
23/02/2010
A successful construction contract has been celebrated this week with Kingsland Primary School, at Neidpath Grazings in Peebles, opening its doors to pupils. One of three primary schools, designed by Archial Architects for Scottish Borders Council, the £8.5 million school accommodates more than 400
23/02/2010
Sir Ian Wood has won the Energy Institute's prestigious Cadman award, presented internationally for outstanding service to the petroleum industry, at a dinner in Aberdeen this week. Traditionally, the award has been gifted during Energy Institute events in London, but is being bestowed in his home
23/02/2010
The Apollo Group's Scotland office has been awarded a £½ million contract by The Highland Council for a major insulation and roofing programme to be carried out on houses in Milton, Easter Ross. The properties, built in the 1940s, are being improved to meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard.
23/02/2010
Property maintenance firm One Call Home Assist has continued its expansion plans by signing up six major Scottish lettings firms as its official business partners. The firm, which provides fixed price maintenance contracts for landlords and property managers, has signed up the Lothian-based compani
23/02/2010
Football centre operator Soccerworld has instructed Shepherd Chartered Surveyors to market a 5-a-side football development opportunity on land at Wester Inshes, Inverness. Detailed planning has been granted for the development of a complex incorporating: seven outdoor 5-a-side pitches; a purpose-bu
23/02/2010
In an effort to reduce the high number of injuries in one of Britain’s most dangerous industries forestry workers from across the north east of Scotland are being encouraged to attend a free event next month. HSE has again teamed up with the Forestry Commission Learning and Development (previously
23/02/2010
Over 150 new members have joined Barrhead Action Zone gym since it reopened for business on Monday 25 January after a major £177,000 refurbishment. The upgrade was part of East Renfrewshire Council's capital replacement programme which introduces new equipment to the Action Zone gyms every five yea
22/02/2010
The Scottish Construction Centre has announced its support for the re-establishment of the Tayside Construction Forum (TCF). With the aim of promoting membership of the TCF, and to ensure that it reflects the needs of the industry in the region, three development events are to be held in Arbroath,
22/02/2010
The site of the original BBC Beechgrove Garden has a new owner after its investment interest was snapped up in an auction. The site is home to BBC Aberdeen's studios and is leased by the BBC on a 25 year term after it undertook a sale and leaseback in 2004. Property consultants FG Burnett secured
22/02/2010
A Dunfermline law firm has been awarded a pilot grant of £10,000 as part of a shop front scheme being run through Fife Council’s Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS) due to be launched in March. McIlroy, Hipwell & Dingwall received the grant from CARS Officer, Lorraine Bell. The funding wil
22/02/2010
Research, development and advice consultancy Archial Sustainable Futures has predicted that the carbon credit will replace the American dollar as the currency of international trading within five years. The forecast follows the publication by Finance Secretary John Swinney of a Carbon Assessment of
22/02/2010
Works are due to begin on a £100,000 project to enhance Fort Augustus village centre at the end of this month. Funding has been allocated in The Highland Council’s Planning and Development Service capital programme towards the project which will focus on enhancements to the frontage of the main car
22/02/2010
Tenants First Housing Co-operative is celebrating support from the National Lottery-funded 'Inspiring Communities' scheme for its award-winning Roanheads development in Peterhead. A £60,000 grant will used for the design and production of artwork to enhance the environment in Roanheads. The Inspir
22/02/2010
Initial work starts this week on an ambitious programme to redevelop the area around Falkirk Old parish Church as part of a £800k improvement project. The work, commissioned by Falkirk Council, will at first see tree and shrub clearance to allow a number of enhancements to be made including:
22/02/2010
The Lochgilphead's redeveloped library has been reopened. The library has been closed since the beginning of October to allow a comprehensive refurbishment to take place. Internal walls have been removed, new windows and doors installed, eight PCs wired up (one of which is for children only and an
19/02/2010
The public is being invited to have its say on the landmark which could greet visitors who have travelled the length of Britain to come to the mainland's most northerly tourist attraction. Following the unveiling last week of proposals for the development of five star accommodation at John o'Groats
19/02/2010
Developers and locals keen to secure the future of a landmark Ayrshire building can view the dizzying scale of work already carried out. Trinity Church in the centre of Irvine soars to more than 50m, and a video podcast of the inspection of the spire has been put online by Irvine Bay Regeneration C
19/02/2010
More than 60 local businesses looking for a toe-hold in Dundee's burgeoning renewables industry have signed up for a seminar focussing on the opportunities. Dundee Renewables has put together the event, which will feature speakers from major wind power player, Sea Energy Renewables, as well as the
19/02/2010
Argyll and Bute Council has agreed how it will take forward works on a stretch of road in Kintyre which is susceptible to landslides. The authority will formalise the roadside and field drainage on the B842 Conie Glen road between Campbeltown and Southend, and construct a new northbound lane uphill
19/02/2010
Scotland's leading independent property consultancy, CKD Galbraith, will host a discussion event in Ayr on 2 March on how to prosper during the property market recovery. CKD Galbraith is experiencing an improvement in the residential housing market and as the economy recovers from the worst of the
19/02/2010
Climate Change Minister Stewart Stevenson last night called on world leaders to up their ambition on climate change. Speaking at the Northern Regions Climate Change Summit, the Minister said that if all countries showed greater ambition then the promised cuts in emissions would help the world avert
18/02/2010
Plans to redevelop one of Paisley's most iconic retail sites have been given a major boost. Renfrewshire Council's planning and economic development policy board has granted "planning permission in principle" for the former Arnott's site in the town centre. The decision means that the site could p
18/02/2010
Plans for Transport Scotland's £9 million A77 Burnside scheme will go on show in early March, giving the public an opportunity to express their views on the proposals. The national transport agency and its operating company Amey are inviting members of the public to attend the exhibition which will
18/02/2010
Aberdeenshire Council has announced that its planning service will not be able to support any new planning applications for residential development in the catchment area of Kintore Primary School for the foreseeable future. The unusual step has been taken as Kintore Primary School is at capacity an
18/02/2010
Smart technology is helping North Lanarkshire Council save money on their energy bills and reduce carbon emissions. Automatic meter reading (AMR) equipment is being installed in 150 properties, including primary schools, day centres and libraries. The AMR equipment accurately monitors energy consu
18/02/2010
The City of Edinburgh Council is to take samples at three sites in Edinburgh as part of a long-running inspection programme in former industrial areas. The sites are; the old Portobello power station, the former Northfield chemical works and a former chemical works at Abbeyhill. Legislation requi
18/02/2010
Commercial property consultancy Ryden has been appointed by Clyde Gateway URC as a property advisor to their framework. The framework is set out to deliver property services for Clyde Gateway’s nationally significant regeneration project for Glasgow’s East End and parts of South Lanarkshire. Ryde
18/02/2010
Housing applicants who unreasonably refuse two offers of a new home are to have their applications deferred for a year, councillors have ruled. Aberdeen City Council's Housing and Environment committee voted 10 – 4 to double the deferment period for those who make two inappropriate or unreasonable
18/02/2010
Moray-based asbestos remediation and industrial cleaning company, Northern Asbestos Services, have appointed a Health and Safety Manager as they continue to expand. NAS have been carrying out remedial work for Dounreay Site Remediation Ltd for the past year-and-a-half and expect to continune workin
17/02/2010
One of Scotland’s largest house builders, Stewart Milne Group, has reported a turnover of £276m and a net loss before tax and exceptionals of £2m for the year to June 2009. Overall, the Group reported a pre-tax loss of £27m, which included exceptional items related to restructuring costs, and land
17/02/2010
For the first time in over 40 years, the City of Edinburgh Council is making a comprehensive plan for open space in the city. A draft open space strategy had been drawn up and is open to public consultation from the end of March until May. It is the first strategy of its kind for Edinburgh, and wi
17/02/2010
Inverclyde's two new multi-million pound primary schools opened for pupils for the first time this week. On Tuesday 16th February, Aileymill Primary in Norfolk Road in Greenock was formed by the merger of the former Ravenscraig and Earnhill Primary Schools and also includes Aileymill Nursery. It ca
17/02/2010
A plan to use a biomass plant to heat Aberdeen's David Welch Winter Gardens has been unanimously backed by the council's Housing and Environment Committee. The Winter Gardens is heated by an oil boiler and a gas boiler, which costs approximately £131,200 per year. The estimated cost of heating the
17/02/2010
a Draft Local Development Strategy for Pollokshaws has been published by Glasgow City Council. The council wishes to hear what residents, readers and stakeholders in the area think. The strategy proposes a new City Quarter which builds on the area's rich heritage and rekindles the ‘village' atmosp
17/02/2010
Transport Scotland roads' engineers will assess with Aberdeenshire Council's technical experts the current conditions of, and options to stabilise land at Bervie Braes. The work was agreed following a meeting between Finance Secretary John Swinney and representatives of Aberdeenshire Council. Mr
17/02/2010
A wide-ranging consultation plan that could help shape the future of land use in four local authority areas has been given the green light. A report detailing the exercise, which will consult politicians, planners, academics, business, young people and communities has been agreed at the TAYplan joi
17/02/2010
Transport Scotland is urging football fans and other motorists to leave extra time for their journeys as work on the M80 Stepps to Haggs upgrade reaches a milestone this weekend. Four huge beams are being lifted into place to form the Mollinsburn Overbridge and this work requires careful traffic ma
16/02/2010
The Scottish housing market has continued to recover, according to The latest Scottish House Price Monitor from Lloyds TSB. Most areas showed home price increases over the past quarter with the average price of a house rising to £160,074 in the three months to 31 January 2010. The greatest house p
16/02/2010
Energy Minister Jim Mather has welcomed news that views from the Scottish construction industry will be heard by the UK Government as part of its Low Carbon Construction Review. Tim Clarke, Balfour Beatty Construction's Divisional Managing Director for Scotland, has been selected to join specialis
16/02/2010
The former Marchburn Infant School in Abeerdeen is being demolished to make way for new council homes. The demolition of the old school site, which was built circa 1950 and officially opened in 1952, paves the way for the council to continue with phase two of its new-build housing programme. The M
16/02/2010
Angus Council is consulting on proposals for a new multi-million pound business park for Arbroath which could eventually accommodate around 1,000 jobs. The submission of the pre-planning application notice for the site to the west of Elliot Industrial Estate is the council’s first step in the proje
16/02/2010
Stewart Milne Developments has completed the sale of its Acergy Development in Westhill, Aberdeen to a commercial property fund managed by real estate investment managers, PRUPIM, for £36m. Reflecting a net initial yield of 7.1 per cent, the transaction represents the biggest commercial developmen
16/02/2010
An investment of just under £6m for a package of improvement works on the A9 has been announced by Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson today. The package includes a £2.6m contract for an overtaking lane at Moy, a £2.6m road surface upgrade scheme at Ralia and £600,000 dualling design works between
16/02/2010
A Scottish property design specialist, Space Solutions, has continued its expansion into the voluntary sector by securing a place at a major industry conference. The firm will appear at The Gathering in Edinburgh this month, where it will be one of the companies exhibiting to major figures within S
16/02/2010
Scottish wave energy company, AWS Ocean Energy, has secured a £2 million investment from Scottish Enterprise’s Scottish Co-investment Fund and the Shell Technology Ventures Fund 1 B.V. ("STVF1"), an affiliate of Royal Dutch Shell. This is the first-ever investment in AWS Ocean Energy made by Scotti
15/02/2010
Low Moss prison proves the Scottish Government is investing in a prison estate fit for the 21st century, Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said today. Mr MacAskill was speaking as work began on the site of the new prison at Bishopbriggs. When completed in early 2012, the new publicly funded prison
15/02/2010
Young Scots in vocational education, training or work are being urged to sign up for WorldSkills UK competitions for the chance to represent the UK on the global stage. The Scottish Government is encouraging young people aged 16-23 to sign up for WorldSkills UK competitions, which see talented youn
15/02/2010
A chartered surveyor has saved a client £189,000 in vacant property rates relief. An ongoing two year long series of negotiations by Shepherd Chartered Surveyors has to date resulted in the refund in rates relief from a city council finance department in relation to a client's property portfolio co
15/02/2010
The Association of Building Engineers (ABE) has announced that David Michael Lush OBE has been presented the 2010 Peter Stone Award. At a ceremony, held at the House of Lords on 12 February, Mr Lush formally received his award from Beryl Menzies, President of the ABE. David has over fifty years ex
15/02/2010
A former cotton mill, which played a key role in Scotland's Industrial Revolution, has been recognised for educational excellence in its first year of opening as a visitor attraction. Stanley Mills in Perthshire has been awarded a Sandford Award for Heritage Education- the only independent benchmar
15/02/2010
A decision to grant planning permission for a 15 kw wind turbine erected on a 15 metre tower on a site at the Heights of Achterneed, Strathpeffer, has been overturned. The Highland Council's Planning, Environment and Development Committee members made the decision at a meeting on Thursday. On 19 J
15/02/2010
A new care home for older people will be built on the former site of Drum Brae Primary School in Edinburgh. This will be the fifth new care home that the Council has developed as part of its strategy for providing a high quality care environment. All the Council's new care homes have been designe
15/02/2010
Scottish architectural practices, 3DReid, has formed a joint venture partnership (JVP) with international healthcare design specialist, Devereux Architects, in order to meet the challenges and demands of healthcare development in Scotland. The JVP between the two practices combines local knowledge
12/02/2010
A new chairman has been appointed to the Construction Industry’' Training Board (CITB-ConstructionSkills). James Wates, who has been a CITB-ConstructionSkills board member for seven years and will take over the role from the current chair, Sir Michael Latham at the end of March, the Department for
12/02/2010
Two prominent UK tourism businesses are joining forces to lead the way with a multi-million pound plan to revitalise one of Scotland's best known destinations, John O'Groats. Following public consultation and the production of a Masterplan, commissioned by Highlands and Island Enterprise (HIE), Her
12/02/2010
Proposals for public paths across East Lothian have been approved Over the last few years East Lothian Council has been asking people where they walk, cycle or horse-ride in the county, and asking land owners and land managers where they prefer people to go on their land. From all the information
12/02/2010
It's smiles all round as dentist Norbert Neubauer gets ready to welcome the first patients at his new Aberdeen practice. Abercrombie Dental Practice is the latest tenant to move in to Gladman Developments' Abercrombie Court in Westhill. The dental business has taken possession of Unit 8 on a lea
12/02/2010
Homeowners faced with repossession will be given greater protection under the Home Owner and Debtor Protection (Scotland) Bill was today approved unanimously by MSPs in the Parliament. Housing and Communities Minister Alex Neil said: "One of the most significant consequences of the economic recessi
12/02/2010
A unique Homecoming Scotland event supported by Irvine Bay Regeneration Company has won praise from Scotland’s First Minister. Together with Homecoming Scotland and North Ayrshire Council, Irvine Bay backed the Dear Mister Burns event staged by Irvine Burns Club in November lat year. The event for
12/02/2010
Shepherd Chartered Surveyors is seeking a buyer for a long-established Forfar gunsmiths business. WR Hardy Gunsmiths, which is renowned within the shooting community, is being sold due to the imminent retirement of the current owners. Located in East High Street in the Royal Burgh of Forfar, a th
12/02/2010
Archial Architects has been appointed to conduct a feasibility study for North Highland Curling Trust to assess suitable sites for a new curling rink. An earlier feasibility study identified two sites as matching the required criteria. The first of these is adjacent to Tain Golf Club, where facilit
11/02/2010
It has just been announced that a new £200 million port is to be built on Scotland's Loch Ryan. The facility will service the Stena Line operations between Belfast and Scotland and will replace the existing facility at nearby Stranraer. The port will safeguard 500 jobs and deliver significant inve
11/02/2010
Mortgage lenders took 10,200 properties into possession in the fourth quarter of 2009 - 13% lower than in the third quarter, and 2% down on the fourth quarter of 2008, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders. This figure reflects the number of possessions taken by first charge lenders on both
11/02/2010
The National Construction College Scotland today backed a major Health and Safety Executive (HSE) campaign to reduce the number of deaths and injuries caused by slips, trips and falls in the workplace. HSE figures show that three out of five fatalities in Scotland last year caused by slips, trips a
11/02/2010
One of the largest architecture practices in the UK has been appointed to the £160 million Five Housing Associations Framework. As one of six architectural practices appointed to the four year Framework Agreement, Archial Architects, will now be eligible to bid for a series of projects. The first
11/02/2010
Thousands of households have been signing up for greener, lower-carbon homes, with the help of the Scottish Government's £15 million Home Insulation Scheme. In the opening weeks of the scheme, nearly 20,000 households have received personalised energy saving advice and greener home energy reports.
11/02/2010
A high level of activity in the Aberdeen office market with an upsurge in recent office requirements has been reported by commercial property consultants, FG Burnett. The Albyn Place consultancy say the increased activity points to greater optimism in the business community and signals a potential
11/02/2010
A £3.7m contract for the creation of a new archive, library, museum and heritage centre for East Lothian has been approved. The facility, to be called the John Gray Centre, will be created in converted listed buildings on Lodge Street, Haddington. The John Gray Centre will house the Haddington bra
11/02/2010
A scheme to free up family-sized council homes by offering council tenants financial incentives to move to smaller properties is to be considered by Aberdeen City Councillors next week. Members of Aberdeen City Council's Housing and Environment Committee are being asked to approve the introduction
10/02/2010
A proposed new Ryanair hangar at Prestwick Airport will create 200 new jobs, cost £8 million and deliver significant investment to Scotland's economy, First Minister Alex Salmond said today. The First Minister joined Ryanair Chief Executive Michael O'Leary at Prestwick Airport to announce the creat
10/02/2010
Scottish local authorities are set to share a further £25 million to help build a new generation of council houses. With this latest funding, since April 2009 local authorities across Scotland will have received £75 million to help build more council houses. To date, nearly £50 million has been al
10/02/2010
Work is to start next week on replacing a railway footbridge in Oban. The existing bridge, which links the Soroba Housing Estate with Drummore Road, is to be replaced by an £820,000 new structure. The work, which was commissioned by Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA) as part of the Housin
10/02/2010
Sir Michael Latham, Chairman of ConstructionSkills has joined with other industry partners to call for more craftspeople and building professionals in the built heritage sector to apply for CSCS cards. In a speech to clients, contractors, trainers, professional bodies and industry groups at the Ge
10/02/2010
A plan to use a biomass plant to heat Aberdeen's David Welch Winter Gardens is to be considered by the city council's Housing and Environment Committee. The Winter Gardens is heated by an oil boiler and a gas boiler, which costs approximately £131,200 per year. The estimated cost of heating the g
10/02/2010
House-builder, Mactaggart & Mickel Group, has appointed two senior members of staff. David Parker joins the company as Mactaggart & Mickel Timber System's external Business Development Manager bringing more than 20 years’ experience in the timber frame sector. He will have responsibility for over
10/02/2010
HBXL, a developer of construction software for builders and developers has enlisted the expertise of DCSL Software to create a manageable e-commerce application to drive the development of its online retail presence. Built by DCSL Software to meet HBXL's specific requirements, the new website will
10/02/2010
Rural communities throughout Scotland have been urged to act early and register an interest in land to ensure they benefit from land reform legislation. Meeting representatives from community landowning trusts earlier today, Environment Minister Roseanna Cunningham said: "This government is wholly
09/02/2010
It could take up to ten years for Scotland’s housing output to simply return to pre-credit crunch levels of around 25,000 units per annum let alone achieve the Scottish Government’s ambitions of reaching 35,000 by 20151. This is the claim made by home building industry body Homes for Scotland as i
09/02/2010
First Minister Alex Salmond has welcomed the decision of French energy engineering and construction company Technip to locate its North Sea offshore renewables head office in Aberdeen. Technip, which already employs around 800 people in Aberdeen, yesterday confirmed the decision as it hosted a roun
09/02/2010
Mott MacDonald has been appointed by Transport Scotland as engineering advisor on the Borders Railway project. This railway scheme has been introduced by Transport Scotland to improve connectivity between Edinburgh and the Midlothian and Scottish Borders regions. The project will re-establish a p
09/02/2010
Aberdeenshire Council's Building Standards Service has performed well in a recent Scottish Government Audit. The service is the subject of regular audits carried out by the Building Standards Division of the Government’s Built Environment Directorate. The purpose is to assess the competence of the
09/02/2010
Aberdeen City Council is progressing its plans to build a new Park and Ride site on north-western outskirts of the city. A public consultation event about the plans for the site which will provide parking for nearly 1,000 vehicles, is to be held next Friday [19 February]. The new Park and Ride fac
09/02/2010
Aberdeen's Accommodation Services Management (ASM) Ltd is one of the latest companies to join a scheme designed to help the industry improve its safety record. The Bridge of Don-based firm recently won accreditation from SAFEcontractor, a programme which recognises very high standards of health and
09/02/2010
Aberdeenshire, charity, Disabled Persons Housing Service Aberdeenshire (DPHSA) has been awarded £10,000 from the National Lottery’s Awards for All fund, which means the Peterhead based charity can expand its services to support more disabled people with housing needs. First Minister, Alex Salmond
09/02/2010
A major milestone in the history of the village of Colmonell was achieved when the first sod of turf was cut to mark the start of the construction of the new Colmonell Primary School building. Pupils from the school, along with staff, local Councillors and invited guests watched as Councillor Hywe
08/02/2010
A Glasgow-registered recycling company and a director have been fined a total of £145,000 for exposing workers to toxic mercury fumes at a site in West Yorkshire. Twenty employees had levels of mercury in their system above UK guidance levels, and five of them showed extremely high levels following
08/02/2010
The Team behind the conservation of one of only a handful of recognisably ancient urban buildings left in Scotland has picked up another award. Tayside Buildings Preservation Trust and Dundee City Council were recognised in the Royal Town Planning Institute's (RTPI) Planning Awards, scooping the UK
08/02/2010
More than 5,000 Bute islanders have the opportunity to vote on plans to buy a forest owned by film director Richard Attenborough. The community buyout proposal of the 2,000 acre Rhubodach Forest is valued at £1.4m. Bute Community Land Company, which has been set up to organise the buyout, aims rai
08/02/2010
A unique property on Haddington's High Street will soon be available for let after a year-long transformation is completed. The property, at 92/93 High Street, most recently Jacksons Jewellers, occupies a prominent space in the town's main retail thoroughfare. The B-listed building has been owned
08/02/2010
Acting on behalf of Iris Properties, Shepherd Chartered Surveyors has let an 860 sq ft ground floor corner suite at 200 Bath Street, Glasgow. It is on a five year lease at £11,000 pa to The Bothwell Partnership for use as an art gallery. A sister company, The Artist Studio has also taken a first f
08/02/2010
One of Scotland's most innovative energy developers is asking the public to suggest a name for a multi-million pound device that generates electricity from the sea. Orkney-based Scotrenewables, is pioneering the development of technology which harnesses energy from tidal currents. The seas around
08/02/2010
The population of a village in the Scottish Borders could be doubled if approval is given for a 900 house scheme. Buccleuch Property and Elphinstone Estates propose to build the £135m scheme on land around Whitehill Farm to the south and west of Newtown St Boswells. Scottish Borders Council's pla
08/02/2010
Householders are being offered the chance to save hundreds of pounds on their fuel bills East Dunbartonshire Council urges its householders to complete the free survey if they haven't already done so. A total of 30,000 survey forms were sent directly to homes around the area in a recent pre-winter
05/02/2010
A rising star in the Scottish construction industry swapped his hard hat and boots for a suit and tie on Wednesday when he visited the Scottish Parliament. Alexander Wood, 24, a final year apprentice joiner for CBC, Central Building Contractors, was invited to the Scottish Parliament by his local c
05/02/2010
A partnership delivering regeneration in Lochgelly, Fife, is the successful winner of the 2010 Excellence in Regeneration Award promoted by both the Chartered Institute of Housing in Scotland and Scottish Centre for Regeneration. The partnership between Fife Council, Fife HARCA, Ore Valley Housing
05/02/2010
ConstructionSkills, the Sector Skills Council for the construction industry, is to host a live and interactive webinar (seminar on the web) on Thursday 18th February, to discuss the importance of apprenticeships to the construction sector, particularly during recession. With a renewed push to attra
05/02/2010
More people will soon be able to generate their own 'green energy' under new Scottish Government proposals. At present, many homeowners are able to install equipment including solar panels and ground and water source heat pumps without planning permission. But, under fresh proposals set out in a c
05/02/2010
The Scottish Government has launched a document which sets out planning policy on topics such as housing, wind farms, flooding and the natural and built environment. It replaces 17 separate policies with one single document which is easier for communities and developers to understand and interpret.
05/02/2010
Five locations in the Highlands and Islands have been identified for their potential to be significant manufacturing sites serving Scotland's burgeoning offshore wind energy industry. Nigg, (Easter Ross); Arnish (Lewis); Machrihanish (Campbeltown); Ardersier (Inverness) and Kishorn (Wester Ross) ha
05/02/2010
Leading businesses this week welcomed the news that 16,000 female employees had benefitted from the Women and Work initiative. It is run by Sector Skills Councils to support women in traditionally male-dominated industries. At a House of Lords event on Monday 1 February, employers and their female
05/02/2010
Commercial landlords can now upgrade their property portfolios for free with the launch of Blackmhor’s Silverbean service. Silverbean is a café bar brand that operates exclusively within workplaces supported by Flexipod. Meeting the needs of the modern workplace, it provides a flexible solution for
04/02/2010
The Scottish Budget offers nothing new for construction jobs and homes, according to a housing and homelessness charity. Graeme Brown, the Director of Shelter Scotland, said "smoke and mirrors" will not blind them to the fact that the industry is being offered nothing new. "The £31 million announc
04/02/2010
One of the biggest civil engineering operations in Scotland is taking place in Glasgow over the next two weeks. The launch of the Port Eglinton Viaduct is part of the work going on to complete the missing link between the end of the existing M74 at Fullarton Road and the M8 south of the Kingston Br
04/02/2010
Scottish Borders Council has announced plans to invest £35.6 million in Borders school buildings over the next four years. The investment will support the programme of new-build and refurbishment already underway. The proposals are still to be ratified at a special meeting of Scottish Borders Coun
04/02/2010
The road to recovery for specialist contractors is likely to be a bumpy one according to the latest National Specialists Contractor Council State of Trade Survey. The results for the fourth quarter of 2009 show further reductions in both enquiries and orders, despite previous signs of stabilisatio
04/02/2010
A wide-ranging public consultation on the future of the Perth City Hall building is set to begin. The process is to start on Monday 15 February and will run for four weeks. It is hoped that as many people as possible will take part in the consultation when it starts. The Council wants to hear the
04/02/2010
Inverclyde Council's Policy and Resources Committee has agreed to pump an extra £200,000 into emergency pothole and pavement repairs. The money will allow roads teams to act now to tackle damage caused by the exceptionally cold winter weather over the past couple of months. Council Leader Councill
04/02/2010
It is a new beginning this month for parts of Fraserburgh on completion of some of the town's regeneration projects. Work to stabilise and protect the foreshore at Kinnaird Head is now complete and the new housing development at nearby Denmark Street is on schedule to finish in June. The developm
04/02/2010
Two Scottish companies believe they could revolutionise the housebuilding industry after devising a new, greener way to build and insulate homes. Lomond Timber Frame has struck an alliance with Energyflo Construction Technologies to develop the 'Dynamic Breathing Building' concept – compared to con
03/02/2010
Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson signalled the start of works for the A96 Fochabers and Mosstodloch scheme by turning the first sod today. Work on the scheme, which is being carried out by Morrison Construction, will see a new 5km stretch of all-purpose single carriageway on the main road betwe
03/02/2010
An Edinburgh construction company has been fined a total of £3,600 for failing to ensure properly trained staff were managing a construction site in Galashiels. Scotcare Preservation Ltd of Ettrick Road, Edinburgh, pleaded guilty to four health and safety charges at Selkirk Sheriff Court on Monday
03/02/2010
EnerMech Ltd has won a contract worth an estimated £10 million ($16.5M) to provide crane operations and maintenance for Marathon Oil UK Ltd. The contract covers Marathon’s North Sea platforms, Brae Alpha and Bravo and East Brae, and runs for five years with an additional five year option. The Ab
03/02/2010
The property developer at a large Scottish garden centre chain has welcomed the 'green light' for a plan to build in Northern Ireland. The NI Planning Service has approved plans for a new garden centre complex in Lisburn. Scottish firm Dobbies Garden Centres said it would now move ahead with const
03/02/2010
The search is on to find the engineers of the future, as this year’s BAE Systems apprentice recruitment campaign gets underway. The Company is recruiting 200 apprentices across the UK, with opportunities for 70 aspiring engineers across the Surface Ships business in Portsmouth and on the Clyde. B
03/02/2010
Construction firm Lovell has started work on 195 homes at three sites in Port Glasgow, near Greenock, in Inverclyde. The new housing, worth £22 million, is the first to be built by Lovell under its four-year framework agreement with River Clyde Homes. Work is scheduled to finish by May 2012. The
03/02/2010
An historic building in Edinburgh is to be transformed into an arts hotel with public gallery space. The A-listed former Royal High School building on Calton Hill, which has be out of public use for almost 40 years, will undergo a £35m redevelopment. The City of Edinburgh Council have awarded the
03/02/2010
A timber and building materials supplier, Jewson, has joined forces with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in order to help warn tradesmen of the dangers of asbestos. Jewson's network of 500 branches across the UK backed the Asbestos: the Hidden Killer campaign. Jewson provided information lea
02/02/2010
A third series of ground and marine investigations for the Forth Replacement Crossing is set to begin in late February. The two consortia seeking to construct the scheme - Forthspan and Forth Crossing Constructors - are allowed to request these supplementary investigations from Transport Scotland a
02/02/2010
The boss of Glasgow Airport has called on the Scottish Government to consider alternative measures to improve access to airport if the proposed rail link is axed. Amanda McMillan has written to all MSPs ahead of Holyrood's budget vote saying she was worried that by dropping the £300m rail project
02/02/2010
Fashion retailer Primark has launched a dedicated website for shoppers and other groups to publish their views about its planned new flagship store on Princes Street. The move is an important first for Edinburgh and will allow anyone to have their say about the proposed development and so influence
02/02/2010
Edinburgh University's Charteris Land Building has received an external makeover care of an innovative use of stone-filled gabion baskets from installers, Maccaferri Construction Ltd. Gabions are traditionally used as retaining wall structures but here, Edinburgh based Architects, Lewis & Hickey Lt
02/02/2010
The Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employer's Federation has set up a public petition through the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to follow the lead of Westminster and introduce a "Boiler Scrappage Scheme" in Scotland. The Petition which can be accessed at
02/02/2010
There are gaps in the traditional craft skills base and difficulties in recruiting suitably qualified craftsmen, according to a survey of Tayside businesses. The survey, spearheaded by a working group from Angus College, the City of Brechin Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) and the Scottish Stone
02/02/2010
Investment opportunities in the local property market will be to the fore during a special event taking place in Aberdeen later this month. Stonehaven-based Scape Homes is offering the chance to delve into the property market thanks to an unusual portfolio of developments in stunning North east loc
02/02/2010
Opportunities for Highlands and Islands' businesses in the offshore wind industry will be promoted at an event in Inverness today. In January 32GW of additional offshore wind energy generation was sanctioned for the UK through The Crown Estate's third leasing round, signalling potential for billion
01/02/2010
Slip, trip and fall incidents in the workplace cost five Scottish workers their lives last year, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) warned today as it launched a hard-hitting campaign. HSE figures show that slips and trips are the most common cause of major workplace injury in Britain and cost s
01/02/2010
Ministers have backed moves to give tenants a voice in deciding to transfer 16,000 Glasgow houses into community control. Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) and the Glasgow and West of Scotland Forum of Housing Associations (GWSF) will ask tenants to consider transfer proposals in the course of 2010
01/02/2010
More householders will be able to power and heat their own homes without needing planning permission under plans set to be unveiled this week by the Scottish Government. While many homeowners can now install technologies including solar panels, ground and water source heat pumps without planning co
01/02/2010
The owners of an Argyll boatyard who are celebrating 10 years at the helm are aiming to boost trade and make the yard more versatile after installing a second slipway. Crinan Boatyard near Lochgilphead will be able to handle an increased number of vessels out of the water with the project, which ha
01/02/2010
Façade designers James & Taylor have won two major contracts to put a 'new face' on student living accommodation in key Scottish cities. The company will supply Alphaton terracotta facades for iQ Property Partnership in a new development at Edinburgh University and another for Opal Property Group
01/02/2010
The Port of Leith Housing Association (PoLHA) has acquired three development sites in Leith, at a cost of £2.5m, with a view to investing a further £20m to create 165 new homes on them. The three sites are: Fox Street, where the Association plans to develop 100 homes; Constitution Street for 50 hom
01/02/2010
Five projects from Scotland have been shortlisted for the annual Civic Trust Awards. The awards are given to projects that are culturally, socially or economically beneficial, and make an outstanding contribution to the quality and appearance of the built environment. The five projects from Scotla
01/02/2010
Aberdeen-based oil exploration and production company Dana Petroleum has won a share of nine new licences for drilling zones in Norwegian waters. These awards have been made through the 2009 Norwegian APA Licensing Round, on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. They have a 20% interest in PL359, Block
