Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
Scotland Construction News Archive for December 2016
22/12/2016
Morrison Construction has completed the first phase of the Royal Edinburgh Hospital campus redevelopment project. The £48 million scheme has been handed over to NHS Lothian and preparations are now underway to relocate staff/facilities to their new base throughout 2017. Phase one works included bu
22/12/2016
Work is continuing on a major town centre improvement project in East Dunbartonshire. The Cowgate Street Design Project is scheduled to enter its final phase on 09 January 2017. Work will be carried out around the area of Kirkintilloch Community Hub and William Patrick Library. In order to carry o
22/12/2016
A joint venture (JV) between Morrison Utility Services and AECOM is to begin a £200,000 water pipe refurbishment project in Oban. The scheme, to re-line the internal surface of pipes in the Glenschellach Terrace area, will be carried out by Caledonia Water Alliance (CWA) and will start on Monday, 1
22/12/2016
Funding has been approved for a general excavation of the heated area at Gore Glen in Midlothian. The council will provide £184,000 to remove material at the site to a prepared location so it can be allowed to cool. The excavation is the only sure method of eliminating the heating and ensures that
22/12/2016
Lovell has started work on a new £3.2 million housing development in North Lanarkshire. The contractor is building 30 new 'affordable' homes on behalf of the council in Cardowan Drive, Blackwood. The project is part of the council's NL Homes programme, which aims to build over 2,000 new homes in t
22/12/2016
Work is to begin on a £2 million museum refurbishment project in Inverclyde. The historic McLean Museum and Watt Library is scheduled to close at 3.30pm on Friday, 23 December. The council is investing £1.8 million towards the 18-month project, alongside a £287,000 grant from Historic Environment
21/12/2016
DITT Construction is set to start two new housing project's in the Shetland Islands. A total of 38 new properties are set to be built in Lerwick. The first scheme will see DITT add 11 new homes to Hjaltland Housing Association's 'Hill Grind' scheme. The 1.4 million project, which is supported with
21/12/2016
The Scottish Procurement Alliance (SPA) has unveiled a £800 million buildings works framework for Scottish schools. The four-year programme involves carrying out new build and refurbishment works for schools and community buildings in the country. The contract, which is broken down into lots by va
21/12/2016
Faroe Petroleum has secured nearly £300 million worth of financial packages to further its Norwegian Continental Shelf assets. The two finance packages are part of the Aberdeen-based oil and gas firms growth plans. The first £200m Reserve Base Lending Facility will be used to finance assets and ap
21/12/2016
The new owners of Lochaber's aluminium smelter could create "hundreds of new jobs" in the Highlands, according to union Unite. The organisation has pledged to work with the GFG Alliance after it purchased the smelter and other associated land and assets from Australian company Rio Tinto for £330 mi
21/12/2016
Work is to begin on a £100,000 wall repair project in Selkirk. The council will start mending the retaining wall at Glen Hotel on Yarrow Terrace in January 2017. The scheme is expected to last 10 weeks. The long-standing issue has resulted in a temporary one-way system being in place on the northb
21/12/2016
Advisory firm ACAS are to be called in to audit the Forth Replacement Crossing construction project. The company is being asked to carry out a pay audit by Economy Secretary Keith Brown after Ucatt revealed migrant workers were being severely underpaid for their work. After meeting with the union
20/12/2016
Plans have been approved for a major £350 million expansion project at Aberdeen Harbour. Dragados UK is set to finalise the construction contract with the Harbour Board at a signing ceremony later today, 20 December. Work will begin in early 2017 and is scheduled for completion in 2020. The three-
20/12/2016
A new plan has been unveiled setting out future development opportunities for Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park. The 'LIVE Park' proposals have now been formally by the National Park Authority as its Local Development Plan for the next 10 years. Ideas to improve housing, business and touri
20/12/2016
Dundee City Council has launched a consultation over outsourcing its building and maintenance work to Tayside Contracts. According to union Ucatt, the switch from in-house maintenance staff to a private contractor could put around 380 jobs at risk. The union, which represents around 200 staff at t
20/12/2016
Transport Scotland is continuing progress on the £3 billion A9 Dualling programme. The organisation has now published Road Orders for the stretch of the route between Luncarty and Pass of Birnam. Work is scheduled to start towards the end of 2017. Cabinet Secretary for the Economy, Jobs and Fair
20/12/2016
New plans are to be submitted next next for a sports hub in Dundee. Previous proposals for Dundee's Regional Performance for Sport are being altered after Dundee Football Club decided to withdraw its interest in the scheme. It is expected the new application will be brought forward early in 2017.
20/12/2016
Network Rail is continuing work to build a new railway stabling yard in Edinburgh. The electrified stabling facilities at Millerhill are being developed to house a new fleet of electrified trains which will be gradually be introduced to the network in the next two years. The yard is being develope
20/12/2016
Robertson Partnership Homes has started work on a £2.7 million housing development in North Lanarkshire. A total of 20 new homes are being built at Innerleithen Drive, Walkerburn Drive and North Kilmeny Crescent in Coltness. The scheme forms part of the council's NL Homes programme, which aims to
20/12/2016
The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has called on the Scottish Government to give the construction industry priority access to the £10 million Flexible Workforce Development Fund. Details of the initiative were unveiled in a report by Minister for Employability and Training, Jamie Hepburn, on M
20/12/2016
A new community planning law has come into force today, 20 December. The second part of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 means local public sector bodies must engage with local communities on community planning projects. Overall, organisations such as councils, NHS boards and Police S
20/12/2016
Work on a new £1 million nursery in West Lothian is now complete. The modern extension at East Calder Primary School was delivered by the council's Construction Services team, in conjunction with David Narro Associates, EDP Consulting Engineers, Brownriggs, Thomson Gray and builders JB Bennett (Con
19/12/2016
Around £120 million is to be invested to upgrade an aluminium smelter at Fort William in Lochaber. Both Liberty House and SIMEC, members of the GFG Alliance, completed a £330m deal to purchase the site from Rio Tinto today, 19 December. In addition, the companies have acquired hydro-power plants a
19/12/2016
Work on a new museum and library project in Fife is now complete. BAM Construction has now handed over the new Dunfermline Carnegie Library and Galleries on Abbot Street to the council. Located in the town's heritage quarter, the new museum joins two existing B-listed buildings, the existing Carne
19/12/2016
Central Building Contractors (CBC) is continuing work on the £5.5 million Kirkintilloch Town Hall redevelopment project in East Dunbartonshire. The scheme, which will turn the building into a centre for heritage, arts, culture and community use, is on schedule for completion in late summer 2017. W
19/12/2016
The Scottish Government is to invest over £3 million for a new railway station at Dalcross. The £3.34m funding package represents 60% of the currently estimated construction costs and is being allocated from the Scottish Stations Fund. The project includes a car park with drop off facilities for b
19/12/2016
Work is to begin on a bypass construction scheme as part of the £745 million Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route/Balmedie to Tipperty (AWPR/B-T) project. The junction is being built through a closed section of the C89C Chapel of Stoneywood to Fairley Road. Once completed, it will link up with the new
19/12/2016
A new play park has opened in East Dunbartonshire. The Easter Garngaber play area in Lenzie has been upgraded through a £55,000 investment from the council. Features include both a toddler and junior play area that are separated by a new tarmac path, allowing access to and from the play area in al
16/12/2016
Over £470 million is to be invested to help deliver 50,000 'affordable' homes across Scotland. Announcing the 2017/18 Draft Budget, Finance Secretary Derek Mackay said the programme will "provide support for the economy, for jobs and for household incomes". As well as making major investments in h
16/12/2016
Scotland's new national local authority demolition framework has been launched. The £16 million-a-year Demolition Framework is available to all council's and will deliver planned demolitions as part of regeneration and improvement work. With 24 suppliers on the programme, the initiative will also
16/12/2016
Over 1,400 responses have been recorded on proposals to redevelop Union Terrace Gardens (UTG) in Aberdeen. Plans for the £20 million project, which have been drawn up by LDA Design, aim to conserve the Victorian park's heritage while enhancing access, amenity and activity. A public engagement exer
16/12/2016
Historic Environment Scotland (HES) has unveiled new guidelines towards protecting Scottish heritage buildings from climate change. The 'Climate Change Adaptation for Traditional Buildings' publication contains a series of strategies to provide advice towards homeowners, landlords, and building and
16/12/2016
A consultation has been launched to help shape the public's rights on the future of ownership, management and use of Scottish land and buildings. Land Reform Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said the Land Rights and Responsibilities Statement discussion will give people the chance to shape the future
16/12/2016
A new £7 million primary school has been opened in West Lothian. The new Southdale Primary was built by Ogilvie Construction in partnership with Currie and Brown, David Narro Associates, AHR Landscape, CDM Scotland and the council. Features of the eco-friendly school includes solar panels on the r
16/12/2016
Almost £600,000 has been awarded towards a number of community projects in Argyll and Bute. A total of 14 schemes have secured LEADER funding for projects which fits with the council's Development Strategy. Winners include Taynuilt Sports Council, who will use over £12,000 to carry out access impr
16/12/2016
Scottish Water is continuing work to repair a major part of the sewer network in Hatwick. The sewer on Duke Street suffered severe and unprecedented damage during Storm Desmond in December 2015. Further storms in 2016 also caused further damage and setbacks to scheduled works. Affected streets ne
16/12/2016
The Scottish Government has set up a new Group to create opportunities for performance improvements on the Inverness to Wick and Thurso route. The Far North Line Review Group was unveiled by Cabinet Secretary Fergus Ewing at the Hitrans Annual Rail Stakeholder Conference in Inverness today, 16 Dece
16/12/2016
Work on a £400,000 library refurbishment project in West Lothian is now complete. The Broxburn Library has been redeveloped following a council improvement project. Work will now begin next week to move the service to Strathbrock Partnership Centre. As a result, the council said the service will
15/12/2016
Hitachi Zosen Inova (HZI) has started building a new £142 million Energy-from-Waste (EfW) plant in Midlothian. The company is delivering the Millerhill Resource and Energy Recovery Centre (RERC) on behalf of FCC Environment (UK). The facility is scheduled to begin operation by 2019. Once completed
15/12/2016
Amey has been selected to develop a new £17 million mile-long sewer in Paisley, Glasgow. The project is part of Scottish Water's £250 million investment package for the wider Glasgow area. Works include installing a 1.5 metre diameter interceptor sewer using a microtunnel boring machine across the
15/12/2016
Work is continuing on a new £7.4 million care home project in Edinburgh. The 74-bed scheme is being delivered by Marshall Construction on behalf of Walker Healthcare in Cramond. Once completed, the site will provide care services for older people and will include a wide range of shared living spac
15/12/2016
Plans have been approved to build a new social housing development in Argyll and Bute. A total of six two-storey homes will be built on a site east of Hayfield in Oban. The approval brings the number of 'affordable' units on the site to 18, over the 25% required via the council's local development
15/12/2016
Compulsory purchase orders (CPO) are to be drawn up to proceed with the £26.4 million Berryden Corridor Improvement Scheme in Aberdeen. A recommendation to start the process was approved by the council on Wednesday, 14 December. Officers will continue to attempt voluntary acquisition of buildings
15/12/2016
A £1.4 million 'smart city' scheme is set to be delivered in Dundee. It is expected the first elements of the Smart Mobility Project will be in place by April next year. The initiative, which is backed by the Scottish Cities Alliance (SCA) with funding from the European Regional Development Fund,
15/12/2016
Raeburn Drilling & Geotechnical Ltd has won a contract to investigate ground conditions for the A9 dualling scheme between Dalraddy and Slochd. The deal is worth nearly £1 million and will see the contractor progress the £3 billion project for this 15 mile section of the route. The five-week schem
15/12/2016
A new strategy has been unveiled on how to develop rural housing and energy on the Orkney Islands. The 'Housing in the Countryside' supplementary guidance and the 'Energy' supplementary guidance has been published for public consultation today, 15 December. The first strategy outlines the Council'
15/12/2016
A major wind energy conference is scheduled to take place next year in Glasgow. The annual Offshore Wind Conference, by Scottish Renewables, will be held at the University of Strathclyde's Technology & Innovation Centre on 24 January. The event, which will include an exhibition and speakers from v
15/12/2016
Robertson Timber Engineering has strengthened its regional presence by appointing two new Technical Sales Managers for England and Scotland. Andy Lewis will cover the central England region, while Cameron Scott has been selected to cover Scotland and northern England Barry Armstrong, Robertson Tim
14/12/2016
Forth Valley College has started hunting for a contractor to build the new £83 million Falkirk Campus. The College is now looking for a developer after gaining project approval from the Scottish Government and the Scottish Funding Council. The new facility will be built on the College's former Mid
14/12/2016
A wind power project in south west Scotland has received a £5 million boost towards developing new technologies. Kite Power Systems (KPS) received the investment from E.ON, Schlumberger and Shell Technology Ventures (STV). The funding will be used to develop a 500kW onshore power system at West F
14/12/2016
Plans have been submitted for a new housing development in Glasgow. CCG is proposing to build 154 new homes on a former industrial site at Riverford Road in the south side of the city. Designed by MAST Architects, the project will comprise of 55 townhouses and 99 flats with views across the White
14/12/2016
Plans have been approved for a new £35 million care village development in Stirling. A full business case for the facility has been given the go-ahead by the Scottish Government and build work is scheduled to begin in January 2017. The project will be developed in the grounds of Stirling Community
14/12/2016
Edinmore Contracts has expanded its regional presence by opening a new office in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. The new premises in Draffen Street signals the start of a new recruitment drive by the Grangemouth-based property repair firm. The insurance contractor is looking to take on up to 30 new
14/12/2016
Lovell has started work on a new £1.7 million housing development in North Lanarkshire. The contractor is building 16 new homes on the site of the former Kildrum Nursery in Cumbernauld. The development forms the latest phase of the council's NL Homes programme, which aims to build over 2,000 new h
14/12/2016
The amount of time it takes to decide on planning applications is "one of the main blockers to the delivery of housing", according to Homes for Scotland (HfS). New figures released today, 14 December, have revealed it takes around 48.5 weeks to decide on applications, over three times the statutory
14/12/2016
Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham has made visit to view progress on the £20 million Almondbank Flood Prevention Scheme in Perthshire. The major flood alleviation schemes second phase is being delivered by Balfour Beatty. Works include building a series of flood defences along the River Al
14/12/2016
Scottish Water has announced plans to invest £6 million in environmental improvements in the Holy Loch and Firth of Clyde. The upgrades will be carried out in the villages of Toward, Rhu, Kilmun, Innellan and Strone. Work is scheduled to begin in early 2017 and last three months at each location.
14/12/2016
Scotland TranServ is to begin a roads maintenance programme in West Dunbartonshire. The company will start resurfacing the slip roads of the A898 at Erskine Bridge on Saturday, 17 December. The six-night scheme involves repairing the on and off slips at the north end (A82). Road closures and diver
13/12/2016
A proposed direct rail link between Glasgow Airport, Paisley and the city centre has been formally backed by council leaders, who said that it would help secure the regions long term economic future. The £144million Glasgow Airport Access Project is the flagship project for the £1.13 billion Glasgo
13/12/2016
New build home completions increased by 4% in the 12 months to June 2016, official figures have revealed. In the latest Quarterly Housing Statistics for Scotland it was revealed that 15,991 new homes were completed, compared to 15,400 in the previous 12 months. The Statistics present the latest qu
13/12/2016
The Scottish Cities Alliance has announced that the Smart City projects will be taken forward across seven cities to be transformed into world-leading digital hubs. Last year, the Alliance launched its Smart Cities Scotland identity with the announcement that it had been allocated up to £10million
13/12/2016
Construction work has started to develop 30 new 'affordable' homes on the site of the former St Aloysius Primary School in Chapelhall. This £4.3million development is being delivered by Cruden Building and Renewals Ltd and includes a mix of flats, bungalows and houses. Attending the sod cutting we
13/12/2016
The Highland Council has reminded the public that its consultation on draft Landscape Appraisals to help in the consideration of future proposals for wind energy development is ongoing. Two landscape sensitivity appraisals are currently being consulted on: one for the Caithness study area and anoth
13/12/2016
Funding of £15.6 million has been announced by the Glasgow City Region City Deal Cabinet, towards the preparation of the full business case for the £115.5million City Centre infrastructure project. This is a key project for both the city and the wider city-region as Glasgow is the UK's second most
13/12/2016
Fife Council employees are working 24 hours a day, seven days a week over the winter to keep roads open and safe. Cllr John Wincott, Executive Spokesperson for Environment and Transportation said: "We're ready to keep Fife moving this winter. Over the summer we stocked up on salt reserves which sho
13/12/2016
East Ayrshire Council has announced the first "health check" for Galston, seeking views from the public over the ongoing regeneration scheme in the town. Galston Town Centre is currently undergoing many positive changes, with the advent of the Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme Funding and the w
12/12/2016
Scottish renewable energy businesses have helped deliver £125.3 million worth of projects in 43 countries across the globe, according to new research. Jenny Hogan, Director of Policy at Scottish Renewables, said the organisation's survey "clearly shows" Scottish expertise in renewable energy is "in
12/12/2016
The new £41 million Edinburgh Gateway train-tram interchange station has been officially opened. Unveiling the new facility on Friday, 09 December, Transport Minister Humza Yousaf said the investment will offer "huge benefits" to rail passengers from Fife and the north. The station was built as pa
12/12/2016
Economy and Jobs Secretary Keith Brown has been urged to meet with union Unite over jobs cuts by Doosan Babcock in Renfrew. The engineering firm has announced plans to axe around 270 roles from its offices and manufacturing facility in the town. Unite regional officer Alison MacLean said the union
12/12/2016
Work to install new boilers at properties in Port Glasgow, Edinburgh and Falkirk is now complete. The four-week contract was delivered by CCG Asset Management for housing and care provider Blackwood. Overall, works were undertaken at 59 properties in the Charlotte Hill area of Falkirk, along with
12/12/2016
Industry body Homes for Scotland (HfS) is calling for entries to be submitted for its 2017 awards scheme. Now entering its 15th year, the event aims to recognise and showcase achievements in the housebuilding sector. Categories for this year are: • Private Development of the Year – large (100+uni
12/12/2016
Dundee City Council is to host a consultation event on plans for a flood alleviation scheme at Broughty Ferry. The projected scheme aims to reduce the risk of coastal flooding by building improved defences between Douglas Terrace and the castle. The development is being led by the Design and Prop
12/12/2016
A new major art exhibition project is set to be based in Galashiels. Councillors are being recommended to select the town to be the home of the Great Tapestry of Scotland once the local authority meets on Thursday, 22 December. If approved, the Scottish Government has confirmed it will provide a £
12/12/2016
Landowners, developers and community groups are being urged to suggest suitable sites for development in Moray. The council has issued a 'call for sites' and the deadline for applications is 28 February 2017. The call forms the first stage of a review on the 'Local Development Plan'. The next stag
12/12/2016
BAM Nuttall is to begin a railway bridge replacement project next year in West Lothian. The contractor will work alongside Network Rail to demolish and replace the structure on the A71 road next to West Calder station on 05 January. The 16-week scheme will see the bridge levelled and rebuilt as pa
12/12/2016
Plans have been approved for a £300,000 refurbishment project at Glover House in Aberdeen. The historic building will undergo repairs after the city council decided to proceed with the scheme last week. The minimum cost of the repair and refurbishment works contained within the Condition Survey Co
09/12/2016
Glasgow City Council's construction division, City Building, is to form a major joint venture (JV) with developer Wheatley Group. The new 50/50 partnership, worth £3.7 billion, will help secure 2,000 jobs and more than 2,000 apprenticeships over the next 30 years. As part of the deal, Wheatley Gro
09/12/2016
Over 700 new homes are set to be built in Glasgow. The council has approved plans to dispose of 16 sites across the city for new social housing, with construction activity expected to generate £60 million of economic activity. The selected regions are; Baillieston, Barlanark, Bridgeton, Castlemilk
09/12/2016
Viridor has been threatened with legal action by Unite after engineering and construction workers were locked out of a waste power plant site in Glasgow. The company had previously been appointed by the city council to build a new Recycling and Renewable Energy Centre in Polmadie. Subsequently, Int
09/12/2016
A new £31 million secondary school has been opened in Dundee. The Harris Academy project was led by hub East Central Scotland in partnership with Dundee Council, Scottish Futures Trust and contractors Robertson Tayside. The scheme, which begun in 2014, involves original features being retained suc
09/12/2016
Morrison Construction has started work to build a new £32 million secondary school in West Lothian. The new West Calder High School is being developed through Hub South East Scotland and completion is scheduled for 2018. Site preparations are now underway and features will include a swimming pool,
09/12/2016
A joint venture (JV) between Amey and Black & Veatch (aBV) has completed two flood alleviation projects worth over £16 million in Glasgow. The schemes, which will reduce flooding for 47 properties in the Springburn area, were delivered as part of Scottish Water's £250m waste water infrastructure up
09/12/2016
The Scottish Government has invested £6.8 million towards building 80 'affordable' homes in Dumfries. The funding is being made available from charitable bonds via Allia, a social investment charity who issues the bonds on the governments behalf. The organisation has provided Dumfries and Galloway
09/12/2016
Energy company SSE has submitted a series of proposals to the Scottish Government as Ministers begin to draw up Scotland's new 'Energy Strategy'. The initiative aims to help Scotland maximise benefits from innovation, cost reductions and new technologies, as well as de-carbonise energy systems and
09/12/2016
Argyll and Bute Council is to boost a number of improvement projects throughout the region with a £3 million regeneration fund. The 11 schemes were shortlisted following the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Committee meeting on Wednesday, 07 December. The successful schemes are: • Improve
09/12/2016
Esh Border Construction has completed a £1.6 million school expansion project in West Lothian. The contractor has built two new classrooms and a gym hall at St. Nicholas Primary School in Broxburn. Other features include a new pedestrian entrance as well as new electrical, water and heating system
08/12/2016
At least 50% of Scotland's energy needs should come from renewable sources by 2030, according to Scottish Renewables. In its 'Renewed Ambitions: A Plan for Renewable Energy in Scotland' report, the industry body has set out a series of measures which "set a clear vision for the future of our energy
08/12/2016
A £14 million social housing development being delivered in Glasgow is on schedule to be completed in 2017, Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) has revealed. The 130-home scheme at Dougrie Drive, Castlemilk is being built by CCG on behalf of the Association. As GHA's third largest new-build project
08/12/2016
A joint venture (JV) between Black & Veatch, Galliford Try and MWH is to begin a major water investment project in the Highlands. Efficient Service Delivery (ESD) has started work to install new ultra violet (UV) treatment technology at the Waste Water Treatment Works (WWTW) outside of Ardersier.
08/12/2016
Work is continuing on a £7.8 million town centre regeneration programme in Denny, Falkirk. The centrepiece of the project, the new Denny Library, was officially opened on Monday, 05 December. The library forms the focal point of the regeneration, which will include 10 shop units, an improved car p
08/12/2016
Edinburgh-based architects JM Architecture have revealed the final designs of a new £12 million primary school in Moray. Work on the new Linkwood Primary is scheduled to begin early next year, with completion by summer 2018. A 3D illustration of the new building is on display at Linkwood Primary t
08/12/2016
Over £107,000 has been secured from Historic Environment Scotland (HES) to help redevelop the former Ballater Railway Station in Aberdeenshire. The building, which was devastated by a fire in 2015, is set to undergo a £3 million reinstatement programme by the council. Specialist conservators are t
08/12/2016
CCG is continuing work on the final stage of a major regeneration scheme in Glasgow. The project involves building 206 new homes in the Anderston area of the city. Full completion is scheduled for 2018. The regeneration involves replacing concrete high-rise blocks which have suffered from poor ins
08/12/2016
An innovative aerial surveying method is being used to map out the resilience of electricity networks in Scotland and England. Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) are working with NM Group to create a model of its 63,000km power line network of Scottish and English operations. Using
08/12/2016
Work to refurbish two DG customer service facilities in Dumfries and Galloway is now complete. The Kirkcudbright facility in Daar Road and the customer service facility in Eastriggs were reopened earlier this week by the council. Features of the capital works scheme included increasing the size of
08/12/2016
Argyll and Bute Council is to consider plans for a new pedestrian crossing in Rosneath. The crossing would be located outside a Co-op store and cost around £20,000 to deliver. Features include installing new bollards, laying the crossing, installing high friction surface on the approaches and deve
07/12/2016
Plans have been announced for a £2 million refurbishment project in Edinburgh. The Charlotte Square Collection, a managed estate of 21 office properties, is planning to redevelop two townhouses on the south terrace of Edinburgh's Georgian square. Proposals for 24 and 25 Charlotte Square include cr
07/12/2016
Engineering firm Doosan Babcock has confirmed it is cutting nearly 500 jobs across the UK. A total of 470 posts are set to be axed across the country, including around 270 at its facility in Renfewshire. It is understood other jobs will be lost in Cumbria, Yorkshire, the West Midlands, Bristol and
07/12/2016
A major milestone has been reached on the £745 million Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR) development. Darlington-based Cleveland Bridge UK (CBUK) has reached the halfway-point of its work to build eight bridges for the scheme, creating a 43km bypass around the western side of Aberdeen. More
07/12/2016
Ground Developments has started enabling works as part of a new £333 million conference centre project in Aberdeen. The multi-million pound Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre (AECC) is being built by Robertson Construction on the 130-acre former Rowett Research Institute site in Bucksburn.
07/12/2016
Ucatt has welcomed calls from Scottish Labour MSP Neil Findlay for an investigation into workers being paid low wages on the Forth Crossing project. The union claims Portuguese sub-contractor Sosia, who is helping to deliver the major infrastructure project, are paying joiners £7.67 per hour and la
07/12/2016
Over £400,000 of play park improvements are set to be delivered across Dundee. Both Dawson and Victoria parks are in line for new play equipment, while environmental improvements will be carried out Camperdown and Dudhope parks as well as Hawkhill and Watson Street. Dundee firm P&G Blacksmiths has
07/12/2016
A £1.3 million road bridge upgrade project has been completed in North Lanarkshire. The scheme, on Biggar Road in Cleland, was carried out by Network Rail and BAM Nuttall ahead of the Shotts line electrification project. Features included raising the height of the parapets, demolishing the old bri
07/12/2016
Turners FM is set to begin an external wall insulation programme worth over £300,000 in Dundee. The contractor will deliver upgrades to 48 properties in Maitland Street after the energy efficiency programme secured additional funding from a number of national sources. Further finance has been awar
07/12/2016
Work to refurbish public toilets in Dunblane is now complete. Stirling Council agreed earlier this year to fund the estimated £16,000 - £18,000 scheme to bring the Bridgend Public Toilets back up to standard. Discussions will continue with the local community over how the building will be managed
07/12/2016
Builders and developers in the Lothians are being urged to offer more properties for sale. Housing charity LAR Housing Trust is appealing for developers to create more housing and raise the organisation's homes portfolio. The Trust is aiming to provide at least 1,000 affordable homes for rent over
06/12/2016
Perth & Kinross Council has submitted a bid to purchase the B-listed St Paul's Church in Perth. The privately-owned building has been on the Buildings at Risk Register for Scotland for a number of years and is in a state of disrepair. The owners were handed an Urgent Works Notice to carry out repa
06/12/2016
A new mixed-used development is to be built in Elgin. A total of 15 new apartments and a new retail unit will be developed at 184 – 188 Elgin High Street. The existing B-listed building façade will be demolished and rebuilt using materials from the site. In addition, terraced buildings to the rear
06/12/2016
Westerwood Development Group has started work to build a new £1.17 million surgery in Edinburgh. The project will see the current Leith Walk Surgery come together in an historic A-listed property which was once part of Leith Central Station. The new facility is scheduled to open in spring 2017. As
06/12/2016
The Scottish Government has awarded over £300,000 towards various community projects across the country. The Charrette grants are being allocated alongside the 'Activating Ideas Fund', which supports participation and empowerment initiatives in disadvantaged areas. A total of 19 projects will rece
06/12/2016
Aberdeen-based Wood Group has pledged to work with Heerema Fabrication Group (HFG) on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS). The companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which will see them join efforts to offer wellhead platform development, from design to installation, hook-up a
06/12/2016
Graham Construction is continuing work on a £20.2 million student accommodation project in Glasgow. The contractor is building the new 330-bed facility at the former A-Listed Elgin Place Congregational Church on Bath Street. The 12-storey scheme is being delivered on the site of two former nightcl
06/12/2016
Bridge beams are scheduled to be delivered at the £745 million Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route/Balmedie-Tipperty (AWPR/B-T) project site. A total of 12 structures will start arriving from 9.30am – 3.30pm on Thursday, 08 December, to allow contractor Connect Roads to develop the new bridge at Mill
06/12/2016
A new innovative technology competition has been launched by the Offshore Renewable (ORE) Catapult. The research centre is running a competition for SMEs to demonstrate new sensor technology for its 7MW Levenmouth offshore wind demonstration turbine. Entrants will be asked to propose how new techn
06/12/2016
Scotland TranServ is to begin a £185,000 resurfacing project in North Ayrshire. The company will start repairing the A737 Dalgarven at High Monk Castle Farm, south of Dalry, on Friday, 09 December. Completion is scheduled for Monday, 12 December. Works will take place between 8pm – 6am each day
06/12/2016
The Scottish Government is being urged to carry out an independent pay audit on the Forth Replacement Crossing (FRC) project after claims workers are being underpaid. Union Ucatt has claimed employees for Portuguese sub-contractor Sosia Ltd told the organisation that joiners were being paid £7.67 a
05/12/2016
Plans have been revealed to build hundreds of new homes in South Ayrshire. The council has published its new five-year Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP), which sets out the delivery of as many as 580 new homes across the region. Priority areas for future development include Ayr, Prestwick,
05/12/2016
Oil firm Statoil has started production drilling on a major oil field in the UK North Sea. Up to five wells will be drilled at the Mariner field and first oil is expected to be produced in 2018. The largest jack-up rig in the world, the Noble Lloyd Noble, is currently positioned over the Mariner j
05/12/2016
A new multi-million pound research hub is set to be created by Edinburgh Napier University. The 'green gold' timber research facility will cost over £3 million and examine how Scotland's forests will support sustainable housing construction in the UK. The hub will be built by Key Property Solution
05/12/2016
Dundee City Council is set to approve a tender to build two new city schools and community facilities. The £16 million contract will be awarded to Willmott Dixon if the city development committee approves the tender next week. Plans include building the new schools and a community project in Colds
05/12/2016
A new 23-turbine wind farm has been opened in South Ayrshire. The Dersalloch Windfarm has a capacity of 69MW and can generate enough green electricity to power over 40,000 homes. It is the first of eight onshore windfarm schemes currently being delivered by ScottishPower Renewables via a £650 mill
05/12/2016
Graham Construction has been selected to deliver two new health facilities worth £134 million in Aberdeen. The contractor will build the centres on behalf of NHS Grampian at its Foresterhill Health Campus. Construction work will begin in mid-2018, with completion scheduled for 2020. The multi-mill
05/12/2016
A new £5.8 million primary school has been officially opened in South Lanarkshire. The new Braidwood Primary School was built by Morgan Sindall in Carluke. The project included seven classrooms spread over 2,000 square metres, including an all-weather multi-use games area. A number of sustainable
05/12/2016
Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing has announced details of a £5 million investment in Peterhead Port Authority's (PPA) fish market. The funding will expand the port's facilities, bringing together services and facilities like stores, ice, boxes, water, fuel and repair services into one place. I
02/12/2016
Plans have gone on display for a new £20 million regeneration project in Aberdeen. Proposals for the revitalisation of Union Terrace Gardens (UTG) have been unveiled along with the launch of a public engagement exercise, which will run until 09 December. The development is a key part of the Aberde
02/12/2016
Nearly 500 new homes are to be built in South Lanarkshire. Taylor Wimpey West Scotland has secured planning permission to develop 486 new homes at Benthall Farm in East Kilbride. Pre-construction works are scheduled to begin on-site in early 2017. The 61-acre site, located off Shields Road, has be
02/12/2016
A new initiative has been launched to tackle the impact of climate change in Edinburgh. The Edinburgh Adapts 2016-2020 action plan aims to protect and enhance the city's wildlife and green spaces against climate-related problems. Planning and development will play a key role to ensure the city ad
02/12/2016
Tulloch Homes has offered to donate Inverness Caley Thistle's (ICT) Tulloch Caledonian Stadium to the club. The deal will see the football club assume immediate ownership of the three stands in the ground, which cost over £6 million to build, including associated infrastructure. The north and sout
02/12/2016
Scottish firm Shepherd Chartered Surveyors has merged with property and construction consultancy, Hardies. The collaboration will be led by Shepherd's Senior Partner George Brewster and Derek Ferrier, Managing Partner of Hardies. The new partnership will help form a practice which is "unrivalled i
02/12/2016
Spie UK has won an accolade at the Scottish Power Supplier Awards. The company secured the top prize in the 'Emergency Storm Response' category for its work in assisting Scottish Power with their emergency response last winter, as well as for previous years. In addition, Spie recently won the Qual
01/12/2016
WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff has been selected to help deliver a new £64 million hospital in Orkney. The industry consultancy will carry out the role of Independent Tester on the development, which is being delivered by NHS Orkney and Robertson Capital Projects. Features include checking the design
01/12/2016
David Smith Contractors is to begin a major demolition project in Aberdeen. The company will start levelling empty buildings on Powis Terrace to help form part of the route for the £26.4 million Berryden Corridor Improvement Scheme. The transport project is one of several major infrastructure sche
01/12/2016
TechnoNICOL has announced plans to expand into the United States via its newly acquired Scottish base in Stirling. The Russian-owned roofing and insulation group purchased Superglass earlier this year. The company has now set up a new division to focus on securing business opportunities in the US,
01/12/2016
Robertson Tayside is continuing work to build a new £13.2 million primary school in Dundee. The contractors are developing the new Tayview Primary and completion is scheduled in time for the new term in August next year. The project involves creating a new two-storey, three-stream primary school d
01/12/2016
Scottish Borders Council is continuing to make progress on a number of major flood alleviation schemes in the region. Two alleviation projects have been completed in the last year, with one getting closer to its next phase before construction. Almost 600 homes/businesses are now protected in Selki
01/12/2016
Electrical contractor Lightways has completed a £3.23 million LED upgrade project on the Erskine Bridge over the River Clyde. The 22-week scheme has seen over 800 individual lamps replaced with more efficient LED lighting across the 1,300-metre long structure. In addition, almost 130 lamps have bee
01/12/2016
Glasgow City Council has barred nine landlords from the landlord register. The decision was made after each landlord was found not fit to rent out property. John Blackwood, Chief Executive the Scottish Association of Landlords, welcomed the news. He said: "We are delighted that Glasgow City has u
01/12/2016
Industry tensions between Ucatt and Laing O'Rourke are escalating after the union accused the contractor of "backdoor blacklisting". The organisation has repeatedly claimed the company is refusing union officials access to the £212 million Dumfries hospital project. Colin Smyth MSP has also table
01/12/2016
Breedon has purchased a number of quarries, ready-mix (RMX) concrete plants and terminals in England and Scotland. The industry materials group has acquired rival firm Sherburn Minerals Group for £15.7 million. Sherburn employs around 110 people and operates four quarries and five RMX plants in Co
01/12/2016
A new pedestrian and cycling bridge has opened over the River Clyde. The structure forms one of the two main entrances to the Cuningar Woodland Park and was officially unveiled at 11am on Wednesday, 30 November. The development forms part of the £5.7 million Cuningar Loop development, a partnershi
