Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
Scotland Construction News Archive for April 2013
30/04/2013
A proposed planning revamp for Scotland has been unveiled by Planning Minister Derek Mackay. As part of the reforms, the National Planning Framework and Scottish Planning Policy pledged to revive Scotland's town centres. It also revealed wind farms could be outlawed in the country's national par
30/04/2013
House prices have fallen in Scotland over the past year despite more homes changing hands. According to official statistics from the Registers of Scotland, in the last quarter, homes cost an average 0.4% less than the same period last year. The information also revealed a 5% increase in the numbe
30/04/2013
Clackmannanshire Council is calling for local contractors to help Robertson in the delivery of a new £8m primary school. Redwell Primary School in Alloa is the first project to be delivered in the area by the hub East Central Scotland Company Limited (hub East Central). The new facility is to rep
30/04/2013
Regeneration plans for Stonefield in Hawick have taken a step closer to completion. The works are being made possible due to Waverley Housing and the Scottish Borders Housing Association (SBHA), Housing News has said. As a result, it is understood work will now begin on site to regenerate housing
30/04/2013
Councillors in Dumfries and Galloway are being asked to consider a number of options relating to the final phase of a neighbourhood renewal scheme. According to the BBC, the three options relate to a scheme in Stranraer. A total of £100k, which was set aside to develop community facilities, still
30/04/2013
Plans are being developed to carry out much needed restoration work to Dingwall Townhouse. The historic Highland tower is part of the townhall complex and the proposed renovations will see the reinstatement of traditional lime harling to the building's tower. The town clock will also be restored u
30/04/2013
A £25m fund has been established to help transform disadvantaged areas across Scotland. The Regeneration Capital Grant Fund (RCGF) has been developed in partnership with local authorities, will provide financial support to projects that will help deliver large scale improvements to deprived areas.
30/04/2013
A new £6m health centre for Easter Ross is said to have received a major boost to allow construction of the site to go ahead. According to the Ross-shire Journal, NHS Highland confirmed that “financial close” on the Tain Health Centre was received last week. Contractors Miller Construction will
30/04/2013
Refurbishment work has been completed on Cupar Local Office. The restoration means that the office will be able to move back to County Buildings from next week. The new facilities will provide customers access to a number of services in one place and include a refurbished reception area and wait
30/04/2013
A housing plan for Bridge of Earn has been scrapped due to flooding fears. According to The Courier, GS Brown had hoped to build ten new houses on the land to the north of Clayton Road. However, the scheme was rejected by Perth and Kinross Council's Development Management Committee. In 2010, rej
29/04/2013
A £140k resilience fund has been created to allow redevelopment works to get underway in Barrhead. The fund will see improvements made to shop fronts, lighting, businesses and car parking. Last month, East Renfrewshire Council approved planning application for a proposed Asda superstore in the t
29/04/2013
Plans have been unveiled for a new eco project in Glasgow, the BBC has said. Developers for the £85m project, known as the Wildside development, is said to have named Cuningar Loop in South Lanarkshire as its preferred site. Detailed plans are to be submitted in the summer, but it is understood th
29/04/2013
Construction consultancy firm Turner & Townsend has announced it has been appointed as Employer's Agent, to provide project and cost management services for a major development in Glasgow. Commercial property developers, Abstract Securities Limited, have tasked Turner & Townsend with its high prof
29/04/2013
An attempt to develop a supermarket in the Borders is being recommended for rejection. According to the BBC, this is the third attempt to gain permission for the facility. Developer James Brown wants to build a store and petrol station on the site of a former timber factory in Jedburgh, but planni
29/04/2013
North Ayrshire Council has been presented with plans for the future use of Saltcoats Town Hall. The proposals would see work carried out on the building to restore it as a focal point for the town. The total cost of the project is estimated at £3.5m, with 31.9m already being allocated from the Co
29/04/2013
Plans for a 370m canal link to connect Loch Lomond to the River Clyde are understood to be in development. According to the Evening Times, the link, which would be five miles in length, would run from Dumbarton harbour to the River Leven barrage at Balloch. Running alongside the River Leven, the c
26/04/2013
Balfour Beatty is to extend the University of Strathclyde's Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC). According to the Construction Index, the contract at Inchinnan, Renfrewshire, is worth £5m. The ARFC is a collaboration between the University of Strathclyde, Scottish Enterprise, the Scottish Gov
26/04/2013
Scotland's longest commercial deep-water berth has been created in Orkney following the completion of a new extension at Hatston Pier. The 160-metre extension has been added on to the existing 225-metre pier and cost £8m. The project is part of the ports development strategy, which is supporting
26/04/2013
The Scottish Parliament has introduced a Private Bill which will allow the new Portobello High School to be built in Portobello Park. Edinburgh City Council has taken the rare step of seeking to introduce the new legislation as the existing law presents an impediment to the Council building the muc
26/04/2013
Work has started on three major road schemes in the south of Scotland, which will benefit both drivers and residents. Transport Scotland said the Transport Minister, Keith Brown, visited Ayrshire on Thursday to mark the beginning of the schemes. Work will now get underway on the A77 Symington an
26/04/2013
Construction work is set to begin on a £65m office development in Glasgow city centre. The work will begin almost a year after it secured planning permission, according to the BBC. Abstract (Glasgow) Ltd, who is developing the site, said its on-site works would start within the next few days, aft
26/04/2013
The Scottish Government has announced a £15m fund to help develop deep-water wind turbine foundations in the country. Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism, Fergus Ewing, made the announcement yesterday. The Scottish Innovative Foundation Technologies Fund will support the development of p
25/04/2013
Scotland's first solar meadow is set to open at Edinburgh College. The site, which is spread across five acres at the Midlothian campus in Dalkeith, features more than 2,500 photovoltaic panels, the BBC has said. The college has claimed the scheme, which was designed and installed by energy compa
25/04/2013
Plans have been unveiled to transform Scotland's canals under a new ten-year blueprint. According to the Scotsman, the proposals include a 'canal beer', holiday cottages and hydro-electric schemes. The announcement comes following the transfer of five canals to Scottish control after British Wat
25/04/2013
Cupar, Fife's historic market town, is celebrating after a further £578,500 of funding was earmarked by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). The latest funds will be for essential repairs and improvements to the town's historic streetscape and buildings. The funding, which is distributed through HLF'
25/04/2013
Communities in the Outer Hebrides can now apply for grants to help improve their facilities or lower their energy bills. Seven community groups have already benefited from the Outer Hebrides Community Energy Fund (OHCEF) since the initiative began last year. A total of £50k has been approved so f
25/04/2013
Two local apprentices have been given a second chance to secure a future career in the construction industry. Sean Karte and Christopher Kerr, from Stirling, have both been taken on by GRAHAM Construction which won the contract to build and fit out the new £11m student accommodation project at Sti
25/04/2013
Construction union UCATT has won a legal protective ward claim on behalf of some of its members. The members worked at WH Brown Construction in Dundee. In the autumn of 2012, the company went into administration with the loss of around 150 jobs. UCATT pursued the claim that the company had failed
25/04/2013
Moray Council is to receive up to £11.6m in funding from the Scottish Government to assist with the new build of Elgin High School. The amount of funding is two-thirds of the anticipated cost of the project. Councillor Anne Skene, who chairs Moray council's Children and Young People's Services Co
25/04/2013
Publishing group, DC Thomson, has appointed a contractor to undertake the refurbishment of its Dundee building. According to Urban Realm, Muirfield Contracts will be responsible for the redevelopment of the Courier Building in the city. The plans for the project include a full internal renovation
24/04/2013
Glasgow City Council has approved plans to extend the Buchanan Galleries site. The £300m extension proposal will see the shopping complex double in size and create 1,700 new jobs for the area, STV has reported. The application was approved in principle at a meeting of Glasgow City Council's Plann
24/04/2013
Work which will transform Ayr's pink buildings is set to get underway as contractors arrive on site. Scaffolding is now being erected around the premises as part of the conservation and refurbishment programme. As part of the initiative, buildings at 1-3, 206 and 6a-10 New Bridge Street will be t
24/04/2013
Scottish Parliament bosses are facing a bill of £49k after defects were found with its Holyrood building. According to the Scotsman, experts found cladding panels had not been fitted onto the building properly after two of the granite panels came loose in high winds in December 2011. A further fi
24/04/2013
A report by the South West Fife Area Committee has revealed plans to invest more than £1m on council homes in the area. A total of 26 different jobs will be undertaken over the next year to help deliver a range of improvements including 71 improved heating systems, 98 new kitchens and 14 new sets
24/04/2013
Orkney Islands Council is to receive substantial funding to help make homes in the area more energy efficient. It is now inviting representatives from the building trade to look at the role they can play in the scheme. The Council is expected to receive around £700k in funding from the Government a
24/04/2013
East Renfrewshire Council has approved a £500k community housing improvement project. The scheme will target East Renfrewshire's most disadvantaged areas. The mixed tenure project, which covers housing owned by the council, owner occupiers and private landlords, will be funded by £400k from the G
24/04/2013
The first phase of a £3.7m state-of-the-art community hub in Fraserburgh has been completed. The multi-purpose building incorporates Westfield School, Fraserburgh Family Resource Centre and the Westfield Community Wing and will provide a range of services to the local community. The community wi
24/04/2013
A recruitment event to help school and college leavers secure an apprenticeship in Aberdeen has been hailed a success. The event, held in the city's Town House, saw 435 attendees receive information on a range of training and apprenticeship opportunities, as well as live construction-related appre
23/04/2013
South Lanarkshire Council has given approval to create a woodland park on the banks of the River Clyde. The £5m park will be built on derelict land at the Cuningar Loop site, following a meeting of the Council's Planning Committee. The green light was also given for a footbridge from Cuningar Loo
23/04/2013
Transport Scotland has confirmed plans to tackle the one of Aberdeen's worst traffic problem areas, Haudagain roundabout, has moved a step forward. The announcement comes after it was revealed the £3m design contract is to go to Jacobs. Subject to the mandatory standstill period, work is expected
23/04/2013
Work is to begin on a new £4.8m sports facility at Peebles High School. In a report by the Southern Reporter, construction work will get underway next month. The Scottish Borders Council also confirmed that the contract had been awarded to Graham Construction. Graham has already built three new
23/04/2013
South Lanarkshire Council has unveiled its vision for the continued growth and regeneration of the area. The proposed Local Development Plan aims to generate economic growth and promote the area as a successful place to live, work and invest. The new plan is a continuation of the South Lanarkshi
23/04/2013
Miller Construction has secured three health contract schemes worth £13.2m, the Construction Enquirer has reported. Delivered through hub North Scotland Ltd, work is expected to begin on site next month. The design and build agreements for NHS Grampian and NHS Highland are situated in Woodside, Fo
23/04/2013
Falkirk Council is to publish its Proposed Local Development Plan. The plan will set out a twenty year vision for the Falkirk Council area, allowing the public to see where future housing, industry, roads, green spaces and other land uses could be allocated, and follows earlier consultation on the
22/04/2013
Plans have been approved to build a £22m health centre in East Kilbride. The new Hunter Health Centre will be build adjacent to the existing building on the site of the current Ballerup car park. Once work is completed, the old building will then be demolished. It is expected the new building wi
22/04/2013
A new survey has found the outlook for small Scottish building firms is "significantly worse" than the rest of the UK. According to the BBC, the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) said a fall in workload as well as ever-increasing costs had forced many companies to scale back their operations for
22/04/2013
Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is to visit Stranraer regarding the redevelopment of the town's waterfront. According to the BBC, Ms Sturgeon is expected to hear about the progress of the £24m redevelopment programme when she chairs the latest meeting of a task force established to regenerat
22/04/2013
Dundee City Council has unveiled its vision for a new dock at City Quay, Urban Realm has reported. The plans could potentially allow cruise ships to berth at its redeveloped waterfront. Subject to private sector backing, the ambitious plans could also see the city's famous HMS Unicorn relocated
22/04/2013
Preparation work is underway, as the former headquarters building of Aberdeen City Council is to be demolished. The site around St Nicholas House is currently being cleared for a new development which will lead the way for the regeneration of the east end of the city centre and assist in bringing
22/04/2013
Fife's Valleyfield Woodland Park has taken another step towards a Heritage Lottery bid. Councillors at a meeting of the South West Fife Area Committee heard a team of professional consultants would soon be appointed to take the bid forward. If successful, the fund will help to rejuvenate and pre
22/04/2013
Building plans for a new community campus in Alford have taken a step forward after receiving approval from Aberdeenshire Council. Progress on the £37m school and community facility was discussed last week and it is hoped work will begin on site by December 2013. Proposed designs for the school an
22/04/2013
The Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme (CISRS) has been training two sisters at a Scottish training centre. The women, Kelly Hay (28) and Connory Hay (21) from Double Kwik Scaffolding Ltd in Methil, Fife, are both enrolled as scaffolding apprentices with the National Construction Coll
19/04/2013
House building in Edinburgh could reach a 40-year high after plans were unveiled to erect 16,000 affordable homes over the next ten years. According to the Scotsman, the master plan – which outlines Edinburgh Council's strategy to increase development and encourage investment – is to be discussed n
19/04/2013
The civil engineering industry is to receive a boost through the opportunity to bid for three substantial Scottish Government-funded design contracts. Transport Scotland has published its Prior Information Notice for the design work on the A9 dualling project, signalling the start of procurement.
19/04/2013
Conservation work worth £700k has begun on Scotland's oldest castle keep. The work is vital to protect the 700-year-old Drum Castle and keep it intact. Situated near Banchory, the medieval tower, which is in the care of the National Trust, is to undergo specialist works to remove cement pointing
19/04/2013
A new study has supported plans for a hotel to be built at Dundee's new railway station, the BBC has said. The building would be situated within the new station. Research carried out by TRI Hospitality Consulting, said the city could support a 13-bedroom hotel at the station concourse, adding tha
19/04/2013
Construction work is to begin on a new £3m community facility in Rattray, Blairgowrie. The project will see a major extension to Rattray Primary School and will provide a multi-purpose hall, changing facilities and community group rooms. The development, which has been partly funded with grants
19/04/2013
A site has been chosen for the new Aberdeenshire Council offices to be built in Peterhead. The £5m facility, which is to include council chambers and a customer service point, is to be built at St Peter Street in the town. It will also include office accommodation for around 190 staff, a conferenc
19/04/2013
Fife Council is to work on new ways to make more homes in the area warmer this year. The decision comes following the funding of £1.4m from the Scottish Government's new Home Energy Efficiency Programme (HEEPS), formerly known as the National Retrofit Programme. A total of £30m has been allocated
19/04/2013
Construction work has started on the latest of Inverclyde Council's investment in leisure facilities. The new £1.5m project is part of a wider £14.5m investment being made by the Council. The work at Rankin Park, Greenock, includes a new grass football pitch and pavilion including three changing
19/04/2013
Councillors have approved funding for a new community hall at Newmachar, Aberdeenshire. The move sees the project take another step forward after the Newmachar Community Hall Association (NCHA) has been raising funds for the build for a number of years. The total project is expected to cost £1.2
19/04/2013
The Bervie Braes road between Stonehaven and Dunnottar Castle is set to reopen during summer months. Members of the Policy Resources Committee made the decision on Thursday after they considered a number of options for the future of the troubled route. Under the new scheme, the road will open dur
18/04/2013
Plans to create a new National Business District at Shawfield have received the go ahead from South Lanarkshire Council. The £15m project will regenerate large areas of vacant and derelict land around the former Shawfield Industrial Estate and could support 15,000 jobs. The Council's Planning Co
18/04/2013
Construction of the new £300m Borders Railway project has started at a site in Edinburgh. The initial works involve digging the new line through the Monktonhall area as well as the excavation of the site for the new Sharfair Station, the BBC has said. It follows on from six months of preparation
18/04/2013
Scottish Power has received approval to build its new £100m headquarters in Glasgow's city centre. According to the Evening Times, the firm's UK base will accommodate 1,900 more staff when work is completed in two years' time. Planning approval to relocate from its current HQ in the city's South
18/04/2013
It is understood plans have been submitted for a new £84m wildlife centre at Cuningar Loop. The Rutherglen Reformer said Wildside World Ltd were preparing a proposal to South Lanarkshire for an extravagant wildlife visitors centre. At a closed meeting last week, Jenette Kemp, Head of the Scotland
18/04/2013
Dumfries and Galloway Council are reported to have formally initiated court proceedings over the DG One leisure centre in Dumfries. According to the BBC, the proceedings are to recover the cost of repairs to the centre. Councillors originally approved the move in January, with legal papers having
18/04/2013
Aberdeenshire Council has unveiled a £400m programme of capital investment on key infrastructure improvements for the area. The plans will be undertaken and completed over the next four years and include the construction of new schools, state-of-the-art leisure facilities and new care complexes.
18/04/2013
The next phase of regeneration at a Dundee housing scheme is expected to move forward next week. The decision to continue the development work will go ahead if Councillors approve the demolition purchase of 95 properties. A total of 68 flats and 27 lock-up garages need to be demolished in order t
18/04/2013
The Scottish Building Federation (SBF) has said latest employment figures for the construction industry for the final three months of 2012 highlight the "damaging impact" of the continued downturn in industry activity. The comments from the trade body come after official statistics revealed yester
18/04/2013
Scotland's construction industry is to benefit from a new initiative that will speed up payments to contractors in public sector developments. Ring-fenced bank accounts will be used to speed up available funds to all contractors. Under the plans, a client will be able to make payments directly and
18/04/2013
A new £1m bridge is to be constructed to help boost canal traffic heading towards The Helix project. The 50-tonne Kerse Lift Bridge will be installed on Glensburgh Road, Grangemouth, with construction work to begin today and expected to last until October. The crossing is part of the £43m Helix
17/04/2013
A £14m project to refurbish Tollcross Swimming Centre has been completed, two years after work was started. The international centre, which is located in Glasgow's East End, will be used during next year's Commonwealth Games. The scheme saw the construction of a new six-lane 50m warm up swimming
17/04/2013
An Ayrshire property development company is believed to be moving ahead with its plans to redevelop the former Diageo bottling plant in Kilmarnock. According to the BBC, the decision follows an agreement signed between the drinks company and Kilmarnock-based Klin Group. Klin has said it plans to
17/04/2013
Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed more small businesses are securing public contracts through Public Contracts Scotland (PCS). The latest PCS figures reveal that 80% of 13,308 suppliers were awarded contracts through the online portal in 2012, were based in Scotland. The figures
17/04/2013
Councillors in Dundee are to consider a £154m investment plan to improve the city's 'green circular' route. The money would be used to improve the safety of walking and cycling in the area. The network covers 27 miles of paths around Dundee and the City Development Committee are being asked to sup
17/04/2013
Fife-based interior fit out and refurbishment firm, Havelock Europa PLC, has welcomed the first 23 recruits into its academy. The Havelock Academy will offer the recruits an initial six months paid work experience. From this group, a number will then be chosen to undertake a full Modern Apprentice
17/04/2013
Stirling Council has unveiled its road maintenance programme for 2013-14. The decision was approved following a meeting of Stirling Council's Environment and Housing Committee last week. For 2013-14, a budget of £6.4m has been allocated to continue improving the condition of 1011km or roadways an
17/04/2013
The first grants from Scotland's £10m Active Places fund have been announced, with three new sport and play facilities earmarked for construction in North Lanarkshire. A £100k cash boost will see a world-class BMX facility built at Cumbernauld's Broadwood Loch and the championship-level track will
17/04/2013
Plans have been submitted to build a new multi-million pound golf course in Scotland. If permission is granted by North Ayrshire Council, 'The Ayrshire' at Marine Drive, Irvine, will be an 18-hole links pay-and-play course, website Golf Club Management has said. The £60m development, will also f
17/04/2013
A new extension to Speyside High School in Aberlour, has been approved by Moray Council. The single-storey extension will accommodate drama and performance space, a music classroom and practice rooms, a fitness suite, offices and staff rooms and will be constructed as an extension to the south-wes
17/04/2013
Plans have been submitted to extend and improve the existing berthing facility in Campbeltown. The proposals include plans to relocate the bridge access directly to the old quay, which in turn, will connect to new onshore toilet and shower facilities within the current building between the RNLI and
16/04/2013
Councillors in Moray have approved plans for a new whisky distillery on Speyside. Chivers Brothers Ltd will build the new project on the site of the former Imperial Distillery at Carron. Production ceased at the site in the 1980s. The original distillery buildings have already been demolished to
16/04/2013
Dundee City Council have submitted revised plans for its £45m Victoria & Albert (V&A) museum and riverside walkway plans. According to Urban Realm, the changes by the Council follow a rethink to locate the facility offshore. The scheme will form part of Dundee's waterfront masterplan and will be
16/04/2013
A planning brief has been submitted to transform a 185-year-old former flax mill into housing and small scale commercial workspace. The development plans for the mill in Dundee could go ahead if councillors support the plan. The draft site planning brief recommends that the former Queen Victoria
16/04/2013
A seven-week period of public consultation regarding two Inverness West projects is to begin today. They are the £27.2m Inverness West Link Road and the Draft Development Brief for the Torvean/Ness-side areas of Inverness. The proposed West Link Road is expected to follow a sweeping alignment alo
16/04/2013
Redevelopment plans have been unveiled for Aberdeen's Satrosphere Science Centre. According to STV, the £7m plans would see the centre double its current size. Construction work would include an extensive refurbishment and a brand new permanent exhibition, as well as new learning, teaching and co
16/04/2013
Around 60 of Scotland's train stations are to be refurbished as part of a £5.2m investment. According to the BBC, the money will be from existing Scottish government budgets and will revamp the stations ahead of the Ryder Cup and Commonwealth Games next year. A number of station in Glasgow will b
16/04/2013
Clackmannanshire Council has said it is to build 28 new homes. They will be built in partnership with Hadden Construction. Councillors unanimously granted planning permission for the new development on land to the west of The Glen, Coalsnaughton and are part of the National Housing Trust (NHT) I
16/04/2013
The Highland Council is to pilot a scheme targeting its empty homes and bringing them back into affordable housing use in three of its areas. The news comes a day after the Scottish Government awarded £20k to councils across the Forth Valley area to help rejuvenate a number of the country's empty h
16/04/2013
A £3.8m water main upgrade has been completed in Renfrewshire. The project, which began in September 2011, saw improvements and upgrades made to more than 100 miles of distribution mains. A total of 58,200 people in areas of Renfrewshire were affected by discoloured water due to naturally-occurr
16/04/2013
According to a report by MPs, major construction firms which set up a blacklist of workers, still appear to be avoiding responsibility for their actions. The comments were made by the Scottish Affairs Committee in an interim report released today. It added that it was "appalled" to discover thou
15/04/2013
Paisley town centre is set to receive a major boost through a new combined retail and housing investment. The project will be situated on the former Arnotts site in the town's Abbey Quarter. A masterplan for the scheme is being compiled after Link Group Ltd agreed to take forward plans for 31 on
15/04/2013
A new affordable housing development has opened in Leith, Edinburgh. Port of Leith Housing Association (PoLHA) welcomed the first of 100 homes to a block of new, high-quality properties in Fox Street and Edinburgh Council said the completed development would make a "significant impact" on the regen
15/04/2013
Aberdeen City Council's Road Resurfacing Programme for 2013-14 gets underway today, with motorists being warned to expect delays. Work is set to begin on a stretch of Great Northern Road – one of the city's main roads. A budget of almost £4m has been set aside for roads-related works, with more t
15/04/2013
A £20k Scottish Government grant has been awarded to councils across the Forth Valley area to help bring the region's empty homes back into use. A pilot project, under the guidance of the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership which is run by Shelter Scotland and funded by the Scottish Government, will
15/04/2013
Two new major hotel developments are to be built at Pacific Quay in Glasgow. According to the BBC, Premier Inn has confirmed it will begin construction work shortly on a 180-bedroom hotel and restaurant. It will be located opposite the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre and the new Hydro ar
15/04/2013
Restoration works to a 1930s cinema in Aberfeldy, Perthshire, have been completed. The project took seven years to complete at a cost of £1.3m, the BBC has reported. Now finished, the Birks Cinema will open its doors to the public – more than 30 years after it closed down. The cinema was opened
15/04/2013
Work has been completed on the first new council houses to be built in Lossiemouth, Moray, for more than 20 years. The development at Inchbroom Avenue comprises of four three-bedroom houses and six one-bedroom flats. The properties, which have been been constructed by Tullouchs of Cummingston, h
15/04/2013
Work has started on Inverclyde Council's multi-million pound programme of road and footpath repairs and improvements. More than £4m is to be invested over the next financial year, as part of the Council's £17m three-year investment. The proposed projects over the next month, include: 1. The B78
15/04/2013
Blairgowrie-based A Proctor Group is to hold an exhibit at the Greenbuild Expo at Manchester Central next month. The exhibition takes place on 8 and 9 May. Over the two days, the exhibition will highlight the company's Spacetherm Aerogel – which includes new prototypes of a wall liner and floor un
15/04/2013
Firstcall Home Assist has reported a significant surge in work following its decision to restructure its business to target the Government's flagship Green Deal campaign. The Government's Green Deals scheme allows people to make energy-saving improvement to their home or business without having to
12/04/2013
A total of £4.7m is to be invested in housing in the Glenrothes, Kinglassie, Leslie, Markinch and Thornton area. The report outlining the funds was presented to Glenrothes Area Committee on Thursday. A total of 80 jobs will be carried out as part of the scheme and will include the installation of
12/04/2013
A proposed office development has been recommended for approval at Rubislaw Quarry. The development would be situated at the northern edge of the world-famous quarry. The plans are expected to be considered by members of Aberdeen City Council's Development Management Sub-Committee next week. Th
12/04/2013
The future of Edinburgh's Royal Mile is to be consulted. The consultation exercise has been launched by the city council, the BBC has reported. Royal Mile is Edinburgh's most famous street and under a 'Royal Mile Action Plan', proposals have been drawn up to determine its future. Issues sugges
12/04/2013
West Dunbartonshire Council is to conduct structural surveys on a number of its properties after concerns were raised over one of its homes. It is understood the surveys are precautionary, after a potentially serious defect was found in one of its flat-roofed homes. Letters from the Council have
12/04/2013
Plans have been unveiled for a new housing development in the Scottish Borders. According to the BBC, the 172-home development will be built near a caravan park in Peebles. Aberdeen Asset Management is also understood to want to carry out improvements to the adjoining Rosetta Caravan Park. Last
12/04/2013
Construction union UCATT has said it will fight for each worker currently employed by companies Muirfield and Carillion. The workers involved are working on an Aberdeen City Council contract. More than 30 workers could be made redundant in Aberdeen this month after a kitchen and bathroom contrac
12/04/2013
A number of options are to be discussed next week regarding the future operation of the Bervie Braes Road in Stonehaven. The options will go before members of the Policy and Resources Committee. For safety reasons, the road has been closed to traffic since 2009 after a major landslide on the Brae
12/04/2013
The Scottish Government has awarded grants to three of Glasgow's museums to help carry out improvement schemes. In a report by the Evening News, more than £100k was set aside for the projects. Glasgow Women's Library is set to receive £40k to help fund the creation of space to store and develop i
12/04/2013
A new leisure facility is to open in Whitburn, West Lothian this weekend following extensive refurbishment work. The Xcite Whitburn was previously closed for two years after a fire left the popular venue severely damaged. A majority of the building had to be subsequently demolished and reconstruc
12/04/2013
Blairgowrie's A Proctor Group is to hold an exhibit at the Roofex exhibition at the NEC, Birmingham, next month. The exhibition takes place on 1 and 2 May. The exhibition will highlight the firm's high specification pitched rood underlay, Roofshield. Roofshield has unique vapour and air permeab
11/04/2013
A new £4.3m housing investment has been unveiled for the Dunfermline Area. On Wednesday, a report by the local Area Committee outlined its plans to improve its council homes. A total of 942 jobs will be carried out within the next year to deliver a range of home improvements, including: * 146 i
11/04/2013
Part of a £1.2m infrastructure scheme has been completed in Inverclyde. The latest investment in Port Glasgow saw the creation of a new park and ride facility for the town centre. Funding from the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) enabled Inverclyde Council to transform the former High
11/04/2013
The City of Inverness Area Committee are to discuss the potential conservation work of the city's town house next week. On Monday, members of the Committee will be asked to approve preparatory work be undertaken in order to carry out repairs to the town house. The cost of the project is estimate
11/04/2013
The Highland Council has revealed a new approach to housing the homeless. Councillors have set a target of providing 200 new homes over the next four years for people who find themselves in an emergency homeless position. The Council plans to gradually reduce the amount of money spent on purchas
11/04/2013
Transport Scotland is encouraging local communities to have their say on proposed designs for the A96 Inveramsay Bridge improvements. The invite comes after the government agency published the draft Road Orders and Environmental Statement for the scheme to help remove one of the north-east's most
11/04/2013
New plans have been submitted for the development of a brownfield site in Edinburgh, Urban Realm has reported. The site has been lying dormant for a lengthy period, and the revised proposals will see 160 new homes, a quarter of which will be affordable; by Frasers Hamilton (Shrubhill) Ltd. The si
11/04/2013
A video aimed at promoting the installation of a new bridge at Inverness has omitted the problems that caused the project to be delayed. The 290-tonne Golden Bridge was expected be installed over the A9 in Inverness on Saturday night, but a mechanical fault with one of the hoisting jacks delayed t
11/04/2013
East Lothian Council has revealed it is about to enter into a new funding arrangement with Taylor Wimpey East Scotland Ltd. As a result, the agreement should allow construction to begin at Pinkie, Musselburgh in the near future. With the economic downturn, when planning permission is granted for a
11/04/2013
Breedon Aggregates, the construction materials supplier, is to increase its presence in Scotland after acquiring a range of assets from Aggregate Industries, the Scotsman has reported. The deal, which is worth £34m, will see the firm purchase seven ready-mixed concrete plants, six quarries, four a
11/04/2013
A total of £40k has been awarded to Rozelle House and the Maclaurin Art Gallery from the Museums Galleries Scotland (MGS). The MGS is the strategic development body for museums and galleries in Scotland and the grant is part of a national funding package of £500k. The award will now be used to h
10/04/2013
Whiteburn Projects has submitted plans to develop Dundee's Parkview School, Urban Realm has reported. The plans, if approved, will see the Jacobean main building converted for residential use as well as the construction of a new build block in the grounds. Designed by Page\Park, the project has b
10/04/2013
East Dunbartonshire Council has dismissed planning proposals to build a new supermarket in Bishopbriggs. There had been proposals to construct a 72,000sq/ft Morrisons supermarket and associated residential development in the town centre, according to the Evening Times. The plans would have occupi
10/04/2013
Plans have been revealed which could transform one of Aberdeen's derelict nightclubs into new retail premises. The plans involve a building on Aberdeen's beach front and will be refurbished into a home and leisure retail store, the Scotsman has reported. The Amadeus nightclub is located at the cit
10/04/2013
A group of investors are reported to have met to discuss the possibility of building a hydro power generator in Scotland. It is understood the discussions involved a generator in the Pentland Hills in Edinburgh, the BBC has said. The group want to install hydro power at the first outlet from the
10/04/2013
East Lothian Council has confirmed it is to invest a total of £25.6m on modernising housing stock, new affordable housing and mortgage to rent schemes. Around £10.1m will be allocated to improve council houses. Improvement works include replacing kitchens, bathrooms, central heating, windows and d
10/04/2013
The regeneration of Dalkeith Town Centre has taken another step closer to completion following the repair and restoration of the former Cross Keys Hotel. In recent times, the building became run down until it lay vacant. The continued deterioration of the town centre landmark became a concern for l
10/04/2013
It has been reported that one of Scotland's energy providers has asked for permission to build a subsea cable. The cable, if permitted, would transmit renewable energy from the remote far north of Scotland to the rest of the country, Energy Live News has claimed. Scottish Hydro Electric Transmiss
10/04/2013
A new report to Highland Councillors has revealed repairs to an historic building in Inverness could cost millions. According to the BBC, the report says the exterior of Inverness's town house requires repairs that could reach a total of £4m. Highland Council members said "significant work" was ne
10/04/2013
Argyll and Bute Council has revealed the contractor chosen to transform Helensburgh town centre. The multi-million pound contract to transform Helensburgh's town centre and the West Bay Esplanade has been awarded to Maclay Civil Engineering Limited. The Helensburgh CHORD project will see extensiv
10/04/2013
The development of eleven council homes in Arbroath has been completed. The work is part of Angus Council's development of two and three bedroom homes in Noran Avenue, Arbroath, and is another example of the continuing regeneration of the Demondale area of the town. The completed homes will be off
09/04/2013
BIOGEN is reported to have signed a deal with Edinburgh and Midlothian Council to design and build an anaerobic digestion (AD) plant. According to website Resource, the plant will be constructed in Midlothian as part of Scotland's Zero Waste project. The AD plant is expected to process 30,000 ton
09/04/2013
Wood Group PSN (WGPSN), the oil services company, has secured a major North Sea contract, the Scotsman has reported. It is understood to be a contract extension with oil and gas giant Total. Under the deal, WGPSN will continue to provide engineering, procurement, construction and services to Tota
09/04/2013
Highland Councillors have welcomed plans to consider a new marina at Torvean, Inverness. The plans submitted by Scottish Canals also include associated tourist attractions and housing. The announcement is in tandem with the construction of the Inverness West Link Road and the development of a rec
09/04/2013
Clackmannanshire Council is to launch a new housing scheme, aimed at offering support to residents to adapt, repair and maintain their homes. Councillors agreed to establish a Supported Owners' Service, which will be made available to homeowners and private tenants in the area. The service will
09/04/2013
The Highland Council has supported plans for a 67-turbine wind farm. Following a meeting regarding the proposals yesterday, councillors voted 11 to three in favour of raising no objection. SSE Renewables had sought permission for up to 83 turbines to be constructed at Stronelairg, near its Glendoe
09/04/2013
Scotland's Giffnock Library is to receive a £450k refurbishment, East Renfrewshire Council has confirmed. The Council will begin work later this year to transform the well-use facility. As well as providing new, bookable meeting rooms for community groups and organisation, the new build will also
09/04/2013
West Dunbartonshire Council is to take action against industrial firms which create and share a blacklist of worker's names. It has been reported that some trade union and health and safety activists have been kept denied work after their names appeared on a blacklist. In West Dunbartonshire, arou
09/04/2013
Lesley Riddoch, Scottish broadcaster and journalist, has been selected to guest chair this year's Saltire Society Housing Design Awards. The chair oversees the jury in their assessment of Scottish housing projects, to select the winner of the Saltire Medal, Building Design has reported. The post
09/04/2013
A new survey of chartered surveyors has revealed the housing market in Scotland is "broadly stable", even showing early signs of recovery. Of those surveyed, 10% said they expected house prices to rise rather than fall in the coming months. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) sai
09/04/2013
Clackmannanshire Council has secured funding of £147,000 from Sport Scotland to go ahead with a Community Sports Hub in the area. Community sports hubs are Sport Scotland's contribution to the Scottish Government's 2014 legacy plan. Three Community Sports Hubs are to be set up in Clackmannanshire,
08/04/2013
Planning permission has been granted to Scotland's largest college for the construction of two new campuses. The campuses will be located in central Glasgow, according to The Scotsman. The £228m plan will see the City of Glasgow College redevelop its existing sites on Cathedral Street and Thistl
08/04/2013
Construction work has resumed on a section of the A9 in Inverness after it was hit with problems at the weekend. It is understood part of the wheel section on one of the hoisting jacks buckled, causing all work at the site to top. Overnight works were expected to be carried out on Saturday to ins
08/04/2013
A nuclear bunker is to be transformed into a museum, STV has reported. The Barton Quarry bunker, which is buried beneath Corstorphine Hill, is expected to be restored to its original state and become a visitor attraction for the city of Edinburgh. James Mitchell, who runs Scotland's Secret Bunker
08/04/2013
Scottish Hydro Electric (SHE) Transmission has awarded four contracts worth £600m to erect new electricity substations in the north of Scotland. In a report by Construction Enquirer, the places have been awarded to a line-up of joint ventures. The contracts are being let on a regional basis and
08/04/2013
Plans for the future development of the Torvean/Ness-side areas of Inverness have been unveiled by senior members of the Highland Council. A timetable for proceeding with the construction of the £27.2m Inverness West Link Road was also revealed. Progress on the West Link, as well as the Draft Dev
08/04/2013
An American tidal power company is believed to be establishing a base in Scotland. According to the BBC, ResHydro are currently working on a hydrokinetic energy generation device that requires further research and development. The firm will work in partnership with the University of Strathclyde a
08/04/2013
A £5.4m investment plan of council homes has been presented to Cowdenbeath Area Committee. The report outlines a variety of improvements for the area's council houses. A total of 1,184 different jobs will be undertaken over the next year. The work includes: * 385 improved heating systems * 424
08/04/2013
Minister for Local Government and Planning, Derek Mackay, has officially opened Rothesay House in Cumnock. The £9.9m state-of-the-state office opened its doors last year and has become a community hub for the area, with residents being able to access a variety of local services in one location. I
05/04/2013
Construction work on Paisley Town Hall is progressing well ahead of its reopening next month. The new venue will be fully accessible for people with disabilities and will be available for entertainment, weddings and conferences. As part of the refurbishment works, the hall has a remodelled foyer
05/04/2013
Councillors in West Lothian have approved plans for a tank play park to be built near Winchburgh. Geoffrey Nicholsby, who is from Edinburgh, owns Duntarvie Castle and the surrounding land near the village and was granted permission to build the park, the BBC has reported. The army tank obstacle co
05/04/2013
Progress Continues With Ullapool Construction The first phase of construction on six new workshops at Morefield Industrial Estate, Ullapool, is progressing well. The Morefield site was purchased by Ullapool Harbour Trust in 2009. The development is a mix of commercial and industrial units and st
05/04/2013
UCATT has called for an urgent revision of safety laws after an Aberdeen construction site was found to have repeatedly breached safety rules. The construction union said the site broke safety rules on four separate occasions. Last week, MK Builders, in Co Durham, were fined £4k for breaching wo
05/04/2013
Plans for a biomass plant in Dundee have been boosted after a report was published claiming the new development would have a "negligible" impact on air pollution. According to the Scotsman, Forth Energy was forced to scrap similar plans for a "green energy" plant at Leith Docks, Edinburgh after pro
05/04/2013
Falkirk residents are being encouraged to get involved in plans to finalise a new five-year management plan for the Antonine Wall World Heritage Site. The World Heritage Site includes a number of towns across the Falkirk area, including Bo'ness, Laurieston, Camelon, Bonnybridge and Allandale. A
05/04/2013
Stirling Council is to contact around 850 tenants who will be affected by the new bedroom tax. It said it has already been in touch with 600 households, with over half saying they will have difficulty paying the shortfall. Changes to the benefit system were introduced from 1 April. As part of th
05/04/2013
Construction work is to begin on a new community facility in Boghall after building plans received the green light. West Lothian Council approved the plans on Thursday. The project will see the existing community building near Boghall Primary School being demolished and replaced with a community
04/04/2013
Building Design Partnership (BDP) has been chosen to develop design proposals for Aberdeen's Music Hall. BDP was one of five architectural practices shortlisted by Aberdeen Performing Arts (APA) for the project. APA operates the venue in the city. The Music Hall is a landmark for Aberdeen and is
04/04/2013
A public consultation aimed at transforming Edinburgh's City Centre has opened. The Council has developed a proposal to improve the city centre, with particular emphasis on the area around Princes Street and George Street. It said the proposal aims to make the area a better place in which to live
04/04/2013
Large areas of Scotland's landscape is to be protected from unsightly wind farms, Herald Scotland has reported. Under plans being drawn up by the Scottish Government, the proposals aim to protect some of the country's most remote landscapes from being developed by energy companies. The new guida
04/04/2013
Perth and Kinross Council has agreed to plans to build an 83-bedroom hotel in the city. Councillors agreed to support the development which will see part of the Pullar's Dyeworks complex on Mill Street changed into a hotel with a bar and restaurant. The £5m Premier Inn project could create up to
04/04/2013
Scottish Borders Council has given the go-ahead for a £28m flood protection scheme. The scheme has been approved for Hawick, Roxburghshire, and comes eight years after the town was devastated by a severe deluge. Plans for the protection scheme will now progress to the next stage. This will inclu
04/04/2013
Proposals for a new £14.5m Johnstone Town Hall is set to take a step forward as work begins on the site. Refrewshire Council has been working in conjunction with Hub West Scotland, a public private partnership engaged in the design and construction of community facilities to deliver the new build.
04/04/2013
Scottish Water has started work to raise the height of the dam at the Black Esk reservoir. The dam is to be made 2.5m higher in order to secure future water supplies. The £5.5m project, led by contractors Black & Veatch, will increase the capacity of the reservoir, offering a more secure and cons
04/04/2013
D.M Dreams Limited has won two major awards for one of its design features. The product, Sunbreeze, fits to French or Double Doors to prevent trapped fingers as well as damage to property. The product, which is the creation of Director David Halliday, was launched at this year's Fit Show in Birmi
03/04/2013
A £200m development in Edinburgh's Haymarket has been given the go-ahead after a lengthy delay. The development will include a hotel, offices and retail space, the BBC has reported. The site in the city centre has been lying empty for several years due to a long-running planning battle, as well
03/04/2013
Diageo is to invest a total of £92m into its Highland production. The expansion by the drinks firm also includes the construction of a new whisky distillery, which is being planned for Easter Ross. It is understood the company, which is the largest distiller of Scotch, has chosen a greenfield si
03/04/2013
Building contractor, M & J Ballantyne Ltd, has been appointed to carry out a £780k redevelopment in Kelso. The project, which will be on the gap site between Horsemarket and Woodmarket, will replace a property in Kelso town centre which was lost more than 50 years ago. The project has been fund
03/04/2013
Inverness Marina has been given a major boost with plans to expand and develop the facility. According to the Highland News, the plans aim to attract more visitors and help encourage more tourists and boat owners to the area. The marina and surrounding site, is located on 26 acres of land reclai
03/04/2013
The final instalment of a funding package to transform Lews Castle has been unveiled. The Castle on the Isle of Lewis is being made into a Museum for the Western Isles. Finance Secretary John Swinney confirmed £1.8m from the European Regional Development Fund would be invested in the project.
03/04/2013
Fife Council has agreed to invest almost £62m in its houses over the next year. The majority of the budget will be used to continue to carry out maintenance work on homes across Fife to bring them up to the Scottish Housing Quality Standard. A number of improvements are included as part of the w
03/04/2013
Burntisland Fabrications Ltd (BiFab) has recruited 15 new apprentices at their base at the Energy Park in Methill. Each of the apprentices have been recruited locally and will undertake General Fabrication training before specialising as welders or platers. Over the past four years, the firm has
03/04/2013
A new play park is to be created in Edinburgh on the site of the former Drum Brae Primary School. Work will begin on Buttercup Farm Park this summer. It is the first public park to be created in Edinburgh since Craigmillar Castle Park ten years ago. The new plans will accommodate a mix of uses a
