Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
Scotland Construction News Archive for July 2013
31/07/2013
The National Library of Scotland has launched a tender race for its Causewayside building, Construction Enquirer has said. The contract, worth £10m, is to make the organisation's unique building watertight. The property, which is located south of the capital, is seven-storeys tall and was constr
31/07/2013
Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) is set to demolish three tower blocks in Goven. This is just the latest demolition activity to take place in the city. According to Urban Realm, the GHA has hired Europe's tallest long-reach excavator to destroy the tower blocks so it can begin work on its ambit
31/07/2013
A survey has suggested that those employed in the renewable energy sector are seeing their wages increase at a faster rate than those working in the oil and gas industry. The statistics were published by recruiters oilandgaspeople.com in their latest quarterly report on wage growth. More than 20
31/07/2013
Subsea technology specialists, Ecosse Subsea Systems (ESS) has moved to larger premises. The firm said the move comes as it prepares for significant business growth. The relocation from Aberdee to Brathens Eco-Business Park at Banchory, will allow the organisation to expand its team. It added t
31/07/2013
Transport Minister Keith Brown has launched the latest round of the Stations Community Regeneration Fund (SCRF) following the success of previous rounds. The fund means that disused station premises across Scotland could have a new lease of life as a result of a £1m cash injection. To date, almo
31/07/2013
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has welcomed an announcement by the Minister for Welfare Reform, Lord Freud, that an additional £5m is to be added to the national Discretionary Housing Payments fund. The monies will help the 21 least densely populated areas in Great Britain. The funding aims to avoid a
31/07/2013
The West Ross road in the Highlands remains closed today to allow essential repairs to be carried out. The section affected is the A832 road between Kinlochewe and Gairloch. Following a period of bad weather and heavy flooding, the road suffered significant damage in two locations. The first is
31/07/2013
East Ayrshire Council has said it is to continue carrying out essential carriageway resurfacing works. The works are part of its planned Structural Maintenance Programme which aims to improve the condition of roads throughout the region. The local authority has said the next section under the pr
31/07/2013
RSPB Scotland is said to be finalising plans to restore large sections of peat bog in the Flow Country of Caithness and Sutherland. According to the BBC, the charity aims to secure millions of pounds worth of Lottery funding for the work at its reserve in Forsinard. The proposed work includes the
31/07/2013
Scottish Welfare Minister Margaret Burgess has commented on a benefits high court challenge and additional funding for those affected by changes to housing benefits. Following a meeting with Lord Freud on Tuesday, Ms Burgess said: "I am disappointed by today's ruling. The Bedroom Tax will hit the
30/07/2013
Official figures from the Registers of Scotland have revealed the total volume of property sales across the country has increased. Compared with the same period a year ago, sales have risen by 8.1%, with the statistics showing a gradual sales volume increase over the previous nine months. During
30/07/2013
Irvine Enterprise Area has been designated as the best overall site in Scotland to attract data centre investment. In an extensive exercise carried out by Scottish Enterprise, Irvine Bay Regeneration Company said the site came out on top in the 'very large site' category, as well as in the overall
30/07/2013
Fife Council is celebrating after four of its parks were presented Green Flag Awards by Keep Scotland Beautiful. The parks receiving the outstanding recognition are Beveridge Park, Kirkcaldy; Letham Glen, Leven; Silver Sands and Hawkcraig Point, Aberdour and Sugar Acre, Falkland. Previously, only
30/07/2013
Engineering company, Weir Group, has posted a 14% fall in its pre-tax profits for the first half of 2013. It is thought the decline comes as demand for mining equipment waned. In the first half of the year, the company recorded £193m; this compares with £225m in 2012. Revenue for the first six mo
30/07/2013
Dumfries and Galloway Council has said it is to integrate its Libraries, Customer Services Centres and Registration Services throughout the region. As a result, the facility in Dalbeattie is set to move and integrate into the current library building on the High Street by the end of the year. Th
30/07/2013
A turf cutting ceremony has been held in the Highlands to mark the start of works on new care homes in the region. New care homes are to be constructed at Muir of Ord and Tain to replace the existing homes that serve the two communities. Residents from Urray House, Muir of Ord, and Duthac House,
30/07/2013
A skate park and BMX track in Inverness are to be redeveloped after securing a grant from the Big Lottery Fund, the BBC has said. The site at Bught Park, Inverness, will see £250,000 spent on the facilities to transform it into the Highland Wheeled Sports Hub. The Highland Skate Park Association
30/07/2013
Four Aberdeenshire projects have received funding worth almost £55,000 in the final round of grants from the Rural Aberdeenshire LEADER Programme (2007-2013). LEADER, which is administered locally by the Rural Aberdeenshire Local Action Group (LAG), is a rural development funding programme finance
30/07/2013
Aberdeen's housing market has returned to a level it has not reached in years, according to the Aberdeen Solicitors' Property Centre (ASPC). The figures from the ASPC, reported by the BBC, suggest prices for the second quarter of 2013 were 5.4% higher than the previous quarter, while the number of
30/07/2013
Four projects from the Aberdeenshire European Fisheries Fund (AEFF) have received more than £72,000 to boost sustainable development in the region's fisheries areas. Launched in 2012, the AEFF awards grants to fisheries-related projects demonstrating innovation, increasing community capacity and im
29/07/2013
The UK Government has announced the successful bidders in its RHPP Social Landlord Fast Track Competition, Scottish Housing News has said. A total of 46 organisations will now share £7m of funding to install renewable heating systems in tenants' homes. The successful Scottish social landlords we
29/07/2013
Scotland's tallest free-standing structure has been demolished in a controlled explosion. The 236m-tall chimney, located at the former Inverkip Power Station in Inverclyde, was demolished at 10pm on Sunday. The structure contained 20,000 tonnes of concrete and 1.4 million bricks. More than hal
29/07/2013
Edinburgh Council has said it has appointed a multi-disciplinary project team to begin drawing up options for Meadowbank. The options are expected to be put out to public consultation later this year. According to the local authority, Deloitte will work alongside Edinburgh-based architects Reiac
29/07/2013
Midlothian Council's new 48-home development, situated at New Park Gardens in Gorebridge, has been named as one of the UK's top 50 affordable housing projects. The development, valued at £5m and constructed by Lovell Partnerships, secured its spot on the list after being selected by a panel of ind
29/07/2013
More than 50 parks and green spaces have been awarded a Green Flag award by Keep Scotland Beautiful, the charity has said. The Green Flag Award is the benchmark for a quality green space, and this year, the awards have been made to parks and gardens run by local authorities, a university and a com
29/07/2013
Neilston Leisure Centre is to benefit from further improvement works, East Renfrewshire Council has revealed. The facility is currently undergoing a £350,000 refurbishment project, but the local authority has said further improvements have now been agreed due to the initial works coming in under b
29/07/2013
The Rail Freight Group (RFG) has said an upgrade to the railway line between Perth and Inverness would help ease traffic on the A9, the BBC has reported. The suggestion follows an announcement made by the Scottish Government on Friday that average speed cameras are to be installed on the road betw
29/07/2013
The first project as part of the River Ness public arts programme has been launched. One of the spin-off benefits of the River Ness Flood Scheme is the creation of a major public arts programme to help enhance the attractions of the riverscape in Inverness city centre. A total of £750,000 has bee
29/07/2013
The Highland Council has welcomed the Scottish Government's pledge to commit funding for the North West Highland Geopark. The £280,000 investment, which will be shared with Shetland Geopark, will allow the Geoparks to continue as members of the UNESCO-supported Global and European Geoparks Network
29/07/2013
Work has completed at the community hall of Christian charity, the Preshal Trust, Urban Realm has said. The new £550k headquarters are located at Linthouse, Glasgow. The single-storey pavilion was designed by Elder & Cannon architects and sees the brick building stretch to 374sq m. It also pro
26/07/2013
An information event is being held to reveal details of a new council housing proposal for Cowdenbeath. Fife Council is encouraging members of the public to discuss the planned development in the Kings Street/Rosehill Crescent area of Cowdenbeath. The proposal is for affordable homes to be built
26/07/2013
A new average speed camera system, running from Dunblane to Inverness, is to be installed on the A9, Transport Scotland has said. The system will help to improve safety on the road, and Transport Minister Keith Brown is to visit one of the area that will benefit from the scheme today. He will vi
26/07/2013
The Scottish Government has said that sustainable economic growth that is sensitive to the environment, will be at the heart of draft management plans which will form the country's future National Marine Plan. Yesterday (25 July), a joint marine consultation was launched to help decide how Scotlan
26/07/2013
A £600,000 project to reintroduce rail services at Conon Bridge in the Highlands for the first time in more than 50 years has been recognised at a top UK transport awards night. In a statement issued by ScotRail on the Highlands Council website, the project of the station reopening earned Highly C
26/07/2013
A new state-of-the-art special school in Grassyards Road, Kilmarnock, is set to open next month. East Ayrshire Council has said other pupils in the area return to school on Friday 16 August, with teachers returning on Thursday 15 August. Willowbank, however, as is normal practice with a new schoo
26/07/2013
Plans for an art centre in Aberdeen, which were shelved three years ago by a rival project, could be revisited, BBC Scotland has reported. It claims it has learned the Peacock Visual Arts scheme is to be "revisited" by the local authority. Initially, a majority of the £13m funding had been in pl
26/07/2013
The University of Edinburgh has submitted its £3.4m proposal to revamp its McEwan Hall. According to Urban Realm, the work would involve opening up a cavernous basement beneath the venue and introduce a new entrance from Bristo Square. The plans have been designed by LDN and Buro Happold, and has
26/07/2013
South Lanarkshire Council has said essential resurfacing works are to begin in Carluke. Starting next week, works will commence along Mauldslie Road. As a result, the road will be closed between Gasworks Road and Lawhill Road from Monday 29 July until Friday 2 August. In order for the work to b
26/07/2013
Fife Council has said the RWE npower renewables' Markinch Biomass Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant has reached an important milestone. The plant, which is situated on the site of the Tullis Russell paper mill, received its first wood delivery this week ahead of its completion. A total of 700 t
26/07/2013
First Minister Alex Salmond has confirmed £280,000 is to go towards supporting two Geoparks. One is located in Shetland and the other in the North West Highlands. The investment, which will be provided over two years, will allow the Geoparks to continue as valuable members of the UNESCO supporte
25/07/2013
First Minister Alex Salmond has unveiled funding for repair works to the runway at Sumburgh Airport. The work will bring the lifeline connection for the Shetland Islands back up to standard. Mr Salmond said the agreement for the main contract, worth up to £12m, and will see the repairs get underw
25/07/2013
The parent firm of Scottish Power, Iberdrola, has confirmed posted a 2% drop in its net profit for the first half of the year. It said energy efficient schemes in the UK had a negative impact of £81m (€95m) on its latest results. It added that its first half earning for 2013 were £3.5bn (€4.1bn),
25/07/2013
The BBC has reported that police in Scotland are appealing for information after thieves targeted a Peter Pan-themed development in Dumfries. Moat Brae House is currently undergoing an ambitious renovation project to turn the property into a national centre for children's literature. At some sta
25/07/2013
Edinburgh's older lampposts are to be replaced by more energy efficient ones after the Council secured a further £1m in funds. The additional money will be used to replace up to 760 old concrete and steel lampposts which failed an independent risk-based structural test. The new aluminium columns
25/07/2013
Deputy First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, has welcomed the completion of a major Scottish Water project. The project, valued around £1.5m, saw new water mains installed in the Scottish Borders, allowing villagers in Heriot to benefit from access to high-quality water. The water is being supplied by
25/07/2013
Inverclyde Council has reminded locals that a consultation regarding its Local Development Plan 2013 is due to close tomorrow (26 July). The document outlines where – and how – future developments in the region will take place for at least the next five to 10 years. The eight week consultation b
25/07/2013
Dumfries and Galloway Council are encouraging residents and business owners to attend a Street Design project for Queen Street in Dumfries. People living on Queen Street, Mclellan Street, Cumberland Street and Brooke Street in Dumfries are being encouraged to attend an event that will mark a commu
25/07/2013
The first section of the restored Beauly to Denny power line is to be switched on, according to the BBC. It will be switched on, two-and-a-half years after the project was first given the green light. The first part of the 137-mile circuit runs from Beauly to Fort Augustus. When electrified, the
25/07/2013
Argyll and Bute Council is to carry out repairs to Ballevoulin Bridge on the A817 MOD Haul Road. The local authority has said works are set to commence on Monday 5 August. Following a competitive tendering process, the £77,000 contract for repairs has been awarded to Diack and Macaulay. The prog
25/07/2013
Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA) has completed its refurbishment of the 19th century cottages located at Dalaruan, Campbeltown. The project, valued at £1m, saw the delivery of rundown housing units transformed into 12 brand new homes, Scottish Housing News has said. The properties are
24/07/2013
A new survey has suggested that Scotland's construction sector may finally be recovering as the number of new building projects begins to increase. The latest survey by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors found that industry activity seemed to be "edging upwards". There was an 11% increa
24/07/2013
Scottish Renewables has said new planning policies for Scotland's wind farm sector could have worrying consequences for the country. It added that it could have significant unintended consequences for the economy, communities and the renewables industry, as well as the Government's own energy targ
24/07/2013
Three road schemes in North Ayrshire are to be brought together to help improve a section of the A737, Transport Scotland has said. Subject to a mandatory standstill period, Amey has been awarded the contract worth around £500,000 for the project. The contract involves design improvements for th
24/07/2013
A legal challenge regarding plans for the re-development of the former council headquarters in Aberdeen has been thrown out, according to the BBC. The Court of Session ruled that the process to select a bidder for the St Nicholas House site was "lawful and reasonable". The case was first brought
24/07/2013
Teams of council workers in Renfrewshire are to launch a 72-hour programme in order to complete the resurfacing of a crucial road junction in Paisley. The work at the junction between Canal Street and Causeyside Street will start on the evening of Friday 2 August and will continue night and day un
24/07/2013
An assessment into the economic benefit brought to the Stonehaven area by the Bervie Braes road is to begin this week. The study will look at the road from Dunottar Castle into the town. Aberdeenshire Council's economic development team is following up on the route after it was reopened earlier t
24/07/2013
Nailfast, a family-run business in Dundee, have said its CE marked nails fully comply with EC5 regulations, in line with the new certification that has come into effect. The Eurocode 5 (EN 1995-1-1:2004 Design of timber structures) regulations came into effect this month, and apply a performance s
24/07/2013
Wood Group PSN (WGPSN) has been awarded a contract by Esso Highlands Limited to provide engineering, procurement, construction and maintenance services to support its Papua New Guinea (PNG) liquefied natural gas (LNG) operations. Esso Highlands Limited is a subsidiary of Exxon Mobil Corporation.
24/07/2013
Residents of the Bute area are being encouraged to share their views regarding their community, and in particular, its historic Rothesay Pavilion. The Council has said this is the largest community engagement programme attempted on the island in recent years. A £6.9m renovation project has been
24/07/2013
Edinburgh Council has said it is to refurbish seven public toilets in the city centre and bring them up to modern standards. The work will be carried out on a phased basis so as to cause as little disruption as possible to those using the service. It added that the more popular amenities will be o
23/07/2013
Taylor Wimpey West Scotland is celebrating after six of its site managers each scooped a prestigious NHBC (National House Building Council) Pride in the Job Quality Award. This matches last year's number of awards for this region underpinning the commitment to quality right across the business. I
23/07/2013
Tenants and homeowners could save up to £500 a year on their energy bills as part of a new £1.7m project run by Inverclyde Council. Delivered through the Council's Local Energy Saving Scheme (LESS), in partnership with local charity Solas, householders in Inverclyde can now have solid wall, cavity
23/07/2013
SSE has said it is continue with a £200m upgrade of the electricity transmission network between Argyll and North Ayrshire. The company's subsidiary firm, Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission, will build a subsea link between Kintyre and Hunterston, the BBC has said. The upgrade, worth £200m, wi
23/07/2013
North Lanarkshire Council has said it is inviting suggestions for any sites that would be suitable for development up to 2025. The request is part of the production of the authority's new Local Development Plan (LDP). The Call for Sites allows interested parties to put forward ideas for sites tha
23/07/2013
An independent review report into Lomond Quarry in Fife has been completed. The investigation was ordered by Fife Council following widespread unrest in the community. Residents had complained about the noise from high explosive blasting as well as vibrations and dust levels from the quarry. In
23/07/2013
Moray Council's roads maintenance section is to begin a programme of carriageway resurfacing next month. A number of streets and rural roads will be affected by the works which will be carried out throughout August and September. The local authority has said contractors will endeavour to keep di
23/07/2013
The partnership behind Millport Marine Biological Statement has celebrated after plans were agreed to save the facility from closure. Representatives from the bodies, whose combined efforts to secure the station's future, visited the facility last week to see the cutting-edge marine science resear
23/07/2013
West Dunbartonshire Community Safety Partnership is asking residents to be careful if cold-callers come to their door. The partnership, which includes Trading Standards, the Police and Public Reassurance, have been advising residents on how to avoid being duped by fraud businesses. One of the k
23/07/2013
East Ayrshire Council is to carry out essential road resurfacing works on the A713 at Bellsbank Road, Dalmellington, and the A713 South of Waterside at Chapel Row. The work, which will begin on Monday 29 July, will last for approximately two weeks. The works at the A713 Bellsbank Road, Dalmelling
23/07/2013
Local Government and Planning Minister Derek Mackay has said the people of Orkney deserve a "high performing, modern planning system that places a stronger focus on economic recovery". The minister's comments come ahead of his visit to the islands. Mr Mackay is visiting the area on July 22 and J
22/07/2013
Fife Council has called for the Scottish Government to look at ways of significantly improving legislation that deals with Dilapidated Properties and take a stronger stand to fixing the issue. In a letter to the Minister for Planning & Local Government, Derek McKay, Councillor Lesley Laird – who i
22/07/2013
The Highland Council is inviting the public to come along to an exhibition regarding the River Ness Flood Scheme. The Council recently awarded an £8.5m contract to Morgan Sindall for the first phase of the flood defence works between Ness bridge and the Friars Bridge. The exhibition will provide a
22/07/2013
Fife's newest sports and leisure centre has opened its doors to the public. The new Michael Woods Sports & Leisure Centre, located in Glenrothes, cost £21.2m and was council-funded. The complex boasts a 25m x 17m eight-lane competition swimming pool with a spectating gallery for 250 people, a 20
22/07/2013
A social housing complex valued at £23m has been completed as part of Edinburgh's Quartermile development. The complex was unveiled by Richard Murphy Architects, as the first tenants collected the keys to their new homes, Urban Realm has reported. The project was delivered on behalf of Quartermi
22/07/2013
Major resurfacing works are to begin today (Monday 22 July) along the A749, just outside East Kilbride. South Lanarkshire Council has said the works between Cairnmuir Road and Cathkin Roundabout will run until Friday 2 August. Throughout the works, a contraflow system will be in place, allowing
22/07/2013
A major refurbishment project is to get underway in Dalkeith Library. The work will see a more inviting space created for the library's users. The transformation works will see the windows of the building replaced, as will the shelving, and in order to accommodate the changes needing to be made,
22/07/2013
Edinburgh Council are inviting local residents, businesses and other groups to attend a drop-in event to view proposed designs and street layout for the Leith Walk programme. The event follows a meeting last month where local people and organisations voiced their support for an enhanced design for
22/07/2013
Two tower blocks, situated in the Gorbals area of Glasgow, have been demolished, the BBC has reported. The 24-storey towers on Sandiefield Road were completed in 1971 and contained almost 400 flats. The properties, which were destroyed in controlled explosions, are being cleared to make way for a
22/07/2013
The Sound of Barra, located in the Western Isles, is to be designated a site of Special Area of Conservation (SAC). The move by the Scottish Government will help protect a pristine marine environment as well as give its wildlife and habitats international recognition. The decision for the SAC, wh
22/07/2013
Aerial surveys which will record data along the length of the A9 and A96 routes scheduled to be dualled, are to begin shortly after a £590,000 contract was awarded. The data will be used in conjunction with land surveys and will provide information to help compile computer ground models which are e
19/07/2013
The Scottish Building Federation (SBF) has called for additional resources to be dedicated to support council planning departments. It also called for further action to streamline the planning process, Scottish Housing News has reported. The construction industry trade body made the comments aft
19/07/2013
The entries for the Glasgow City Heritage Trust's (GCHT) Architectural Heritage Conservation & Regeneration Prize 2013 have identified innovative ways to bring life to under-used sites in Glasgow and establish new connection routes within the city. The two prizes were awarded to students at the Un
19/07/2013
Competition winners have become the first people to see Fife's new sports and leisure centre. 10 people entered the Fife Sports and Leisure Trust competition and were treated to an all-access tour of the Michael Woods Sports and Leisure Centre in Glenrothes. The facility opens to the public on M
19/07/2013
Almost a fifth of an affordable homes fund, which aims to help first-time buyers get on the property ladder, has been left unspent by the Scottish Government, The Scotsman has reported. Last year, SNP ministers unveiled a £40m fund for its shared equity scheme, which sees cash earmarked for buyers
19/07/2013
A new report has suggested that drilling activity in the North Sea remains steady. According to the BBC, accountants Deloitte found drilling activity in the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) was now returning to 'healthy levels' following a prolonged winter period. In the second quarter of 2013, the r
19/07/2013
Following recent reports regarding the mid-term review of Riverside Inverclyde, a joint statement has been released by Riverside Inverclyde Chair Alf Young, Inverclyde Council Leader Stephen McCabe, and Adrian Gillespie, Managing Director, Operations, Company Growth Innovation & Infrastructure, Scot
19/07/2013
Resurfacing work is to begin on Larkfield Road, Gourock this weekend. Starting on Sunday 21 July, the works will continue for 10 days. As a result, Inverclyde Council has said there will be no access from the adjoining roads - Manor Crescent Bay View Road, Reservoir Road, Grenville Road and Garv
19/07/2013
Following a recent move to new premises in Paisley, Pinnacle Training are hoping to continue their expansion in the Renfrewshire area. The company delivers bespoke training courses throughout Scotland covering a range of industry sectors including Construction, Health and Safety and In-House short
19/07/2013
Falkirk Community Trust is looking to hear from local residents as part of their 'Inspiring Active Lives: A Strategy for Culture and Sport 2013-23'. The draft strategy will focus on how the areas of sport, recreation, culture and libraries can progress over the next 10 years and how it will shape
19/07/2013
Argyll and Bute Council's Planning Protective Services and Licensing (PPSL) Committee Chair, Councillor Sandy Taylor, has welcomed feedback from the Scottish Government commending the authority's work. The review praised the Council's planning department for delivering good levels of performance a
18/07/2013
Work to secure a future for the Millport Marine Station located in the Firth of Clyde, has moved forward following a meeting with key partners to discuss funding options. Education Secretary Michael Russell chaired a meeting to help prospective new owners – the Field Studies Council – who have agr
18/07/2013
Renfrewshire Council's ambitious roadworks programme worth £5.7m is to roll out to Linwood over the next two weekends. The Linwood Toll Roundabout, where the B789 Elderslie Road and the A761 Ferguslie and Linwood Road meet, is to be resurfaced in two stages from 20/21 July and 27/28 July. During
18/07/2013
Housebuilder Cala has submitted plans for a development on the site of a former quarry, the BBC has said. The quarry is near the village of Ratho, in the west of Edinburgh. It is understood the company wants to build 112 homes as part of its plans to develop the 81-acre site into an ambitious co
18/07/2013
Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA) has been awarded £296,994 from the Big Lottery Fund. The funding has been awarded from the Support and Connect Hardship Awards category and will be targeted to support ACHA tenants in Argyll and Bute with money and welfare rights advice. This will be a
18/07/2013
A distillery near Inverness has become the first Scotland-based business to secure investment from the UK Green Investment Bank (GIB). Tomatin Distillery received £1.2m in funding to build a new biomass boiler at its site. Around half of the grant will come from the Equitix managed fund, Energy
18/07/2013
Aberdeenshire Council is proposing to designate the village of Auchenblae as a Conservation Area. The Environment Team is now in the early stages of the designation process and has been gathering information about the historical development of the village, taking photographs and compiling it into a
18/07/2013
Link Group Ltd has been awarded £293,000 as part of the latest Support and Connect funding package from the Big Lottery. The money will allow the Link's Tenant Transition Advice Service to help support more tenants affected by welfare reform, as well as allowing Link to extend the service to its pa
18/07/2013
The Green Building Council has heard how the Green Deal has been given a much-needed boost and will "take off" in the autumn. According to a speech by Paul Joyner, Director of Sustainable Building Solutions, which is part of the Travis Perkins Group, he identified the key challenges facing the Gre
18/07/2013
Aberdeenshire Council has unveiled proposals to designate the village of Tarland as a Conservation Area within the next year. The Council's Environment Team is currently in the early stages of the designation process and has been gathering information about the historical development of the villag
18/07/2013
The Chief Executive of Edinburgh Council, Sue Bruce, has been appointed a non-Executive Director of SSE plc. When Ms Bruce takes up her appointment from 1 September 2013, the Board of SSE will comprise two Executive Directors and six non-Executive Directors, as well as the Chairman. Of these, six
17/07/2013
Planning permission has been refused for a 23-turbine wind farm near Drumnadrochit. Energy Minister Fergus Ewing confirmed he had rejected the proposed Druim Ba wind farm in the Blairmore Estate. He said he agreed with the findings of the Public Inquiry Reporter that the number and height of the
17/07/2013
Demolition work has started at the University of Stirling's Murray Hall as part of a £38m project, Urban Realm has reported. The work will pave the way for the second phase of the development which will deliver new student housing, a conference venue and events space. The latest build, which is v
17/07/2013
An ambitious restoration project at one of Scotland's largest open cast coal mines is to be announced, the BBC has reported. The Glenmuckloch site sits between the Dumfriesshire and Ayrshire border, to the north of Kirkconnel. It is thought the site will be landscaped, before it is then transfor
17/07/2013
Two of Scotland's universities have received £6m of government funding for a joint research centre. The money will be used to develop a joint research centre in the capital city and will focus on robotics and autonomous systems. Heriot-Watt University and Edinburgh University will team up for the
17/07/2013
Official accounts for Glasgow City Council's construction firm, City Building, shows it has lost £1.2m in the last year. According to a report by Scottish Housing News, this is the second time the company has made a loss since its establishment. City Building was formed in 2006 and is the flagsh
17/07/2013
The Shetland Islands Council's Planning Service has launched a 12-week consultation regarding proposed onshore wind energy developments in the area. The purpose of the consultation aims to provide developers with information and guidance on where, in principle, large-scale onshore wind energy deve
17/07/2013
The contact room at the Social Work Services' offices at Irish Street, Dumfries, have been transformed thanks to those carrying out unpaid work. The female art group, from the Community Payback Unit at King Street, worked on the murals for two days a week for six weeks, while large toy boxes were
17/07/2013
A debate over whether to intervene to help secure a £2m arts project in Dumfries has been put on hold, the BBC has reported. The Stove building, formerly a high street store, was converted to aid regeneration within the town. Last month, the local authority called for a full business case on the
17/07/2013
Scottish Water has advised road users in the Greenock area to expect a road traffic management programme as it prepares to upgrade water mains as part of a major project in the town centre. The project, worth £2.9m, will deliver clearer, fresher drinking water to more than 65,000 people and involv
17/07/2013
RWE npower CEO Paul Massara has called on the Government and industry to come together to provide consumers with a clear message about rising energy costs. He added that it would also help rebuild trust and give consumers the information required to take action. A report launched yesterday (16 J
16/07/2013
According to official figures published today (16 July), fewer people in Scotland are becoming homeless. In the last twelve months, there were 39,827 homelessness applications, 5,720 (13%) lower than the number of applications received in 2011-12. There were 3,177 households with children in temp
16/07/2013
Milngavie's oldest building has been transformed thanks to funding from East Dunbartonshire Council. Corbie Ha', which is owned by Milngavie Pipe Band, received £4,000 to refurbish the building. Half of the grant was provided by the Council's Civic Pride Action Fund, with the remaining £2,000 co
16/07/2013
The Highland Council has awarded an £8.5m contract for the first phase of works to begin on the River Ness Flood Scheme. The works will build flood defences on the River Ness, Inverness, to protect 800 homes and 200 businesses. The first stage of development – between Ness Bridge and Friars Bridge
16/07/2013
Renfrewshire Council has called on the Scottish Government to increase its support for affordable housing. The call follows the publication of a major study by Audit Scotland last week which highlighted the challenges facing the funding and supply of affordable housing over the next few years. T
16/07/2013
A mid-term review of Inverclyde's regeneration company has been considered by Councillors at Inverclyde Council. As a result, Councillors have agreed to work closely with Riverside Inverclyde's Board and develop a greater joint working with the Council-run economic development service. An agreem
16/07/2013
Fife Council has said its Transportation and Environmental Services is to carry out essential carriageway repairs to the westbound lane of the B942 at Charleston Golf Course in Colinsburgh. Work will begin today (16 July) and is expected to take around two weeks to complete. The work involves re
16/07/2013
Clackmannanshire Council's new Head of Housing, Ahsan Khan, has started his new role. Mr Khan was previously Chief Executive of Loreburn Housing Association, and is a former board member of the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations. He has also served on the boards of the Chartered Institute
16/07/2013
The second phase of a staged opening of one of the new Tay Road Bridge ramps is to take place this week. It will see drivers coming from the east, who want to go over the bridge, now being directed onto the new bridge ramps, while traffic from Dock Street and travelling west, will use the new ramp
16/07/2013
A couple from Clydebank have become the proud residents of a brand new council house in Granville Street. The home is one of the first to be built in West Dunbartonshire in a generation. Newlyweds Karen and Neil Rodgers and their three children were given the keys to their new four-bedroomed home
16/07/2013
Inverclyde Council is encouraging residents to have their say on proposed parking plans for the area. There are plans to improve parking and traffic management in the town centre, and as a result, the local authority has reviewed the existing parking restrictions. It is now proposing updated tra
15/07/2013
The wheels are in motion across Scotland to help communities cut their carbon footprint thanks to funding from the Climate Challenge Fund (CCF). Minister for Environment and Climate Challenge Paul Wheelhouse visited the Glasgow Bike Station – which last year received over £440,000 from the CCF - to
15/07/2013
One of Dumbarton's oldest buildings has been given a welcome makeover with the front of the building covered with two eye catching banners celebrating the town's proud past and inspiring future. The Old Academy Building in Church Street is used as the backdrop to display the huge 31' by 22' banners
15/07/2013
A midterm review of Inverclyde's regeneration company has been considered by councillors at Inverclyde Council. Councillors have agreed to work in closer collaboration with Riverside Inverclyde's Board and to develop greater joint working with the Council-run economic development service. They've a
15/07/2013
Essential maintenance is to take place on Galashiels War Memorial Clock from Monday 22 July. Specialists will upgrade the existing motors, carry out the electrification of the curfew bell winding mechanism and introduce electronic controls for the clock, chimes and curfew bell. Stuart Mawson, Scot
15/07/2013
A free advice surgery on how community groups can access Climate Challenge Fund grants of up to £150,000 is taking place. The event is on Wednesday 17 July from 9.30am until 12.30pm in the Cadzow Room in Hamilton Town House. It is an open invitation for community groups to learn how they can get g
15/07/2013
Morrison Construction, part of the Galliford Try group, has been appointed preferred phase one contractor by hub South East Scotland on behalf of NHS Lothian for the first phase of the £41.8m redevelopment of the Royal Edinburgh Hospital. In addition, Galliford Try's Facilities Management business
11/07/2013
A new report has suggested that the Scottish Government's aim to provide affordable homes for all could miss its 2020 deadline. The report by Audit Scotland added that the recession has caused a large reduction in both public and private funding for house building and the supply of new properties
11/07/2013
Work has officially started on a new £2.5m health centre in Dalbeattie. Health Secretary Alex Neil attended a turf-cutting ceremony at the site on Wednesday. The facility, which will be located on the Port Road, has been proposed for a number of years, but a lack of funding has repeatedly pushed
11/07/2013
New workspaces for creative businesses are to open tonight (11 July) in Leith, Edinburgh. Creative Exchange Leith will see 80 workspaces provided for individuals, groups or businesses as well as aiming to create a new hub for creative talent in the city. Located in the former Corn Exchange buildin
11/07/2013
East Lothian Council has said Dunbar, North Berwick and Prestonpans are to gain new sports facilities. The local authority is completing the extension of 3G pitch provision across the remaining three clusters within the county. The Council, in partnership with sportscotland, previously delivered 3
11/07/2013
Work has started to strip out a tower block in Glasgow in preparation for demolition, Scottish Housing News has reported. The Glasgow Housing Association block, as 20 Rosemount Street, Roystonhill, is one of three scheduled for demolition on the estate between now and 2015. After a period of cons
11/07/2013
A newly completed housing development by Kingdom Housing Association has won a prestigious Green Apple Environment Award. The £1m project in Cupar's town centre conservation area, won the award in a national campaign to find Scotland's greenest companies, councils and communities. Kingdom retain
11/07/2013
Cars could be banned from the north side of Glasgow's George Square under new plans by the Council, the BBC has reported. The plans would also see a bus gate opened at West Nile Street, with access to Nelson Mandela Place, to help reduce traffic in the area by up to 70%. It is understood there a
11/07/2013
A new community garden has been created in the grounds of Hawkhill Community Centre. Cabinet Secretary for Justice, Kenny MacAskill, is expected to visit the site today (11 July). The garden was created with support from the Clackmannanshire Council's Criminal Justice Service, and in particular,
11/07/2013
BRE, along with partners Sustainable Development Capital Ltd, have launched a new scheme to provide capital investment for non-domestic energy efficiency retrofit projects in the UK. The new Green Retrofit Investment Programme has up to £100m available for investment in building retrofit projects a
11/07/2013
Moray Council has asked motorists to be patient during the six-week closure of a busy main road in Elgin. New Elgin Road and Main Street in New Elgin will be closed from the Asda roundabout to the Thornhill Road roundabout until 18 August as upgrading work is carried out on a water main. The sec
10/07/2013
Construction work has started on 40 new affordable homes in Renfrewshire by Sanctuary Scotland Housing Association. The homes at Braille Crescent, Renfrew, which will consist of either two or three-bedrooms, have a scheduled completion date of July 2014, Scottish Housing News has said. The £4.8m
10/07/2013
Work has started to reinstate the Heart of Midlothian War Memorial to its location at Haymarket junction in Edinburgh. The project began on Monday (8 July) and is expected to take around six weeks to complete. In 2009, the memorial, which commemorates the Midlothian Football Club footballers who
10/07/2013
Housebuilder Barratt Developments has said its full year profits will be stronger than expected. The announcement was made in a trading update by the firm for the year ending 30 June 2013. The company added that the government's Help to Buy scheme assisted in improving sales. It now expects fu
10/07/2013
Housing Minister Margaret Burgess has unveiled a £62m funding boost to help people across Scotland get onto the housing ladder. The funding for the Open Market Shared Equity Scheme will be available over the next two years for eligible buyers on low to moderate incomes who are looking to buy their
10/07/2013
Comhairle Leader, Angus Campbell, has welcomed the Scottish Government's decision to dedicate additional funds for affordable housing. The announcement of £0.6m of extra money for affordable housing for the Outer Hebrides comes just a week after the Housing Minister, Margaret Burgess MSP, met with
10/07/2013
Sportscotland and Tennis Scotland have announced a new four-year investment programme aimed at improving tennis facilities in Scotland. The programme, worth £5.8m, will aim to capitalise on the recent success of Andy Murray at Wimbledon. The money will be designated to help modernise and develop
10/07/2013
From Monday 15 July, East Ayrshire Council will be carrying out essential road resurfacing works on the A70 Main Street, Muirkirk. The works will last for approximately eight days and will involve the removal of the existing road surface and resurfacing a 240m length of road. Adjustments to kerbi
10/07/2013
Lochside Play Park in Forfar has re-opened following a £90,000 refurbishment. The work was carried out over a three-week period and includes new play equipment for all ages. The play area has been redesigned as a jungle theme, based on the existing wooden play animals known by a number of local ch
10/07/2013
Angus Council's Neighbourhood Services Convener, Councillor Donald Morrison, has welcomed a decision by the Scottish Government to increase affordable housing in Scotland. The announcement, which was made earlier this week, will see an increase in the amount of grant which local authorities and Ho
10/07/2013
Proposals for a multi-million pound investment in leisure facilities for Banff and Macduff are to go on public display. The move marks the next stage of the consultation process for the project. The event, to be held on Monday 15 July, will show residents how the plans for the leisure and communi
09/07/2013
The Scottish Government has unveiled a £9m funding package for Rutherglen. The investment will see a derelict land site in the town transformed into high-quality office space and create jobs for up to 1,000 people. Once work is completed, the Rutherglen Low Carbon Zone will be a 15,922sq m space
09/07/2013
The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has said the Scottish housing market continues to show further signs of recovery. According to the latest RICS Residential Market Survey, house prices continued to rise for the month of June, while demand for new properties was sustained. The rep
09/07/2013
Leader of the Highland Council, Councillor Drew Hendry, has described the Scottish Government's plans to inject £44m into affordable housing as "fantastic news for the Highlands". In an effort to accelerate house building and keep rent levels affordable, the Government is to increase the grant for
09/07/2013
Three planning applications have been submitted for new primary schools in the Fort William area. The projects are part of a £36.5m programme of new primary schools for the region. The Council has added that the preparation of tender documents for each project will also be issued to contractors by
09/07/2013
Restoration works have been completed at a former stately home on Raasay. Raasay House was taken over by the local community in 2007. It then underwent a £4.5m refurbishment project, and was in the final stages of completion when it was destroyed by a fire in January 2009. The following year, th
09/07/2013
Work is continuing on a £2.3m project in Ardrossan which will help support people to live independent lives. Once completed, the building and refurbishment work at Currie Court will provide a modern sheltered housing complex and 13 two-apartment houses. Work on the project began on-site in Janua
09/07/2013
Works have been completed on a new signalised junction and widening of the B9006, Culloden Road, between Caulfield Road North and the A9. The Highland Council's £1.522m contract to Wills Bros Ltd., Civil Engineering Contractors has also improved capacity on a key route into the city from the south,
09/07/2013
A total of 29 new family homes have been officially opened in Angus by Provost Councillor Helen Oswald. The new properties in Wirren Gardens, Montrose, is Phase 1 of Angus Council's major new council housing development. It will also see a further 16 homes completed later this year. The houses wil
09/07/2013
Homes for Scotland has announced the appointment of experts in housing finance from the world renowned Cambridge Centre for Housing & Planning Research and LSE London. The appointments will assist a sector-led group to identify and attract new sources of investment to help expand Scotland's rental
09/07/2013
Forestry Commission Scotland is encouraging mountain bikers, walkers and the local community to give their views on how it can improve the recreation development at Glentress Forest. Two 'drop in' events are due to be held at the Glentress Café this week to allow the public to give their opinions.
08/07/2013
Local authorities and registered social landlords (RSLs) are to benefit from a £44m increase in housing subsidies, allowing them to deliver more social housing. Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon made the announcement, which will provide councils and housing associations with an extra £16,000 p
08/07/2013
Plans have been submitted for the £220m regeneration of Glasgow's Sighthill area, the Evening Standard has reported. The announcement comes just days after the council failed in its bit to host the 2018 Youth Olympic Games. Sighthill had been selected to be the site of the Athletes' Village for t
08/07/2013
The Scottish Government's home energy programmes are to save householders more than £1bn on their energy bills. Since the Government's four home energy programmes were introduced in 2009, more than 800,000 households have been offered energy advice or assistance. The initiatives from the Governm
08/07/2013
Glasgow's infamous 'Bridge to Nowhere' has finally been completed – after being left partially built for decades, the BBC has reported. The £1.3m bridge, which is located over the city's M8 has been left unfinished since the 1970s after the shopping centre it was meant to link to failed to come to
08/07/2013
A survey carried out by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) into all of Scotland's local authorities, has revealed the significant financial pressures being placed on councils because of welfare reform changes to housing benefit by the UK Government after their introduction 100 days
08/07/2013
North Ayrshire Council is set to build on its recent tourism success by setting out ambitious plans for the future of the area. Last year, more than 1.1 million visitors travelled to North Ayrshire and Arran, spending almost £133m in the area. The figures, which have been revealed in the latest
08/07/2013
A new management plan for Orkney's four urban conservation areas is now available in draft form for public feedback. The consultation period, which will run for eight weeks, will close on August 29, 2013. The draft plan is the first produced by Orkney Islands Council (OIC) that covers all four o
08/07/2013
East Renfrewshire Council's Housing Convener Danny Devlin and Council Leader Councillor Jim Fletcher have met with those behind the council's community housing improvement project. The 'hit squad' was established as part of an innovated £500,000 scheme by the local authority which target's the are
08/07/2013
An update on the proposed developments of a new community centre in Hillhead, Kirkintilloch and Community Hug in Lennoxtown has been submitted to East Dunbartonshire Council. The developments, alongside the new Lairdsland Primary School in Kirkintilloch, will now move onto the next stage of delive
08/07/2013
Dundee City Council has submitted its bid in the hopes of securing the National Performance Centre for Sport. The Council has approved £5m of local authority capital funding towards the project. This would help to provide the capital costs of the centre and its facilities, in addition to the £25m
05/07/2013
A restoration project of a house that helped inspire the Peter Pan story has reached a major milestone. Earlier this week, a 100-tonne crane towered over Moat Brae House in Irving Street, Dumfries for a crucial part of the Phase A construction works. The crane lowered three central roof beams ont
05/07/2013
Plans for a major wind farm in the outer Firth of Tay have been submitted to Marine Scotland, the BBC has said. The proposals, if approved, would see up to 213 wind turbines constructed off the coast of Angus. Inch Cape Offshore Ltd is behind the development, with the project a joint venture betw
05/07/2013
A project to develop Wick Harbour has received a boost with an investment of up to £450,000. The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) said it will provide 'substantial funding' to help the harbour attract new jobs to the area. It has pledged up to £250,000 for the first project in the Harbour
05/07/2013
An official handover ceremony is to take place to mark a community buy-out of Scotland's most southerly tip, according to the BBC. The Mull of Galloway, which has a site of 30 acres, has been sold by the Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB) to the Mull of Galloway Trust after it raised funds of more th
05/07/2013
Perth & Kinross Council has launched a new free property matchmaking service which aims to introduce prospective buyers to sellers of empty properties, in an effort to bring some of the area's empty buildings back into use. The initiative aims to link buyers, and those looking for an investment or
05/07/2013
West Dunbartonshire Council's Housing Service has been recognised by the Scottish Housing Regulator (SHR) for its commitment to providing quality homes and services for tenants. The independent body, which regulates all Scottish Social Housing Providers, carried out an inquiry earlier this year, w
05/07/2013
An extensive programme of improvements and repairs have been completed on Paisley Town Hall. The work included roof and stonework repairs, a completely remodelled entrance and reception area, which is more in keeping with the building's Victorian heritage, and an improved access for customers with
05/07/2013
A development brief for Orkney's Copland's Dock has gone out for an eight-week consultation period. The extended period is to give people time to contribute to the consultation over the summer period. The draft development brief was informed by an earlier consultation event held in February by Ork
05/07/2013
Work is continuing on Dundee City Council's first investment under a new £40,000 tennis action plan. Fairmuir Tennis Courts are currently being refurbished in an improvement drive for the sport within the city. On Thursday, Depute Environment Convener Vari McDonald visited the site, and said: "T
05/07/2013
Aberdeenshire Council are encouraging community groups in the Kincardine and Mearns area to take advantage of two grant schemes. Both the Area Committee Budget and the Regeneration Priority Area Small Village Grant Scheme have funds available for the 2013/14 financial year. With no possibility o
04/07/2013
Clackmannanshire Council has welcomed the announcement that Scotland's 'right to buy' scheme is to be abolished. On Wednesday, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirmed that the right of council tenants to buy the homes they rent at discounted rates is to stop in 2017. It is already scrapp
04/07/2013
Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has welcomed an independent report detailing key recommendations for revitalising Scotland's town centres. The report, The National Review of Town Centres, was commissioned by the Scottish Government and includes a number of proposals to help restore the areas
04/07/2013
The Orkney Museum in Kirkwall is to re-open to the public on Monday 8 July, following a period of refurbishment and upgrade work. While extensive work has been carried out to restore the A-listed building, a lot of it has taken place between the walls and floors of the premises. The works that have
04/07/2013
Transport Scotland has unveiled three multi-million pound contracts to design the A9 Dualling Programme. The three contracts are worth in the region of £40m and £60m each and will cover the Perth to Inverness stretch of road. The contracts will cover:
04/07/2013
Scotland's tallest free standing structure is set to be demolished. Energy company ScottishPower has confirmed the 778ft chimney stack at the former Inverkip Power Station site, near Greenock, is due to be demolished by an explosive charge later this month. The demolition has been scheduled for 1
04/07/2013
The Highland Council has reaffirmed its support to providing cleaner, greener energy for its sites with a contract for the servicing, maintenance and repair of biomass installations, including the supply of woodfuel. The contract is for four years and is worth £1.2m. As many Highland communities
04/07/2013
Giffnock Library has been chosen for a £450,000 redevelopment project. The building will have to close for a period of six months while the extensive works are carried out, but the East Renfrewshire Council has said temporary measures will be put in place for library users. The plans for the libr
04/07/2013
Plans to create a new grant body to share funds generated by wind farms in Dumfries and Galloway have been dropped, the BBC has reported. The Council had previously agreed to split the money received from developers, with half of the funds going to communities directly affected by the turbines, whi
04/07/2013
Environmental group, The Cairngorms Campaign, has failed in its legal challenge regarding four major housing developments for Cairngorms National Park. According to the BBC, the group opposed plans for 1,500 homes at An Camas Mor, 117 homes at Carrbridge, 300 homes at Kingussie and 40 homes at Neth
04/07/2013
Subsea UK has revealed the UK's subsea industry is now worth almost £9bn. According to the industry body's latest business activity review, the UK now has 45% of the £20bn global market. In a survey of more than 750 companies throughout the supply chain, 16,000 new jobs have been created in the
03/07/2013
The Scottish Government is expected to announce the end of its 'right to buy' programme later today. According to the BBC, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is expected to confirm the news. The scheme, which was first introduced in 1980, allowed council tenants to buy the homes they rent at a
03/07/2013
House builder, Stewart Milne Group, has appointed Jim Fitzsimons to project manage the development of a new community at Countesswells to the west of Aberdeen. A major player in the Scottish development community, with considerable project delivery and commercial expertise, Jim Fitzsimons will tak
03/07/2013
PARC, the organisation behind an ambitious regeneration of Craigmillar, Edinburgh, is to progress with its development, Housing News has said. The multi-million pound project will provide hundreds of jobs as well as a significant boost to the entire regeneration process. The initiative will see
03/07/2013
Energy company E.ON is to pull out of a marine energy research project in Orkney, the BBC has said. The firm had been working alongside Edinburgh-based Pelamis Wave Energy to test a wave energy converter at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC). It is thought delays regarding the development of
03/07/2013
A new streetscape and development opportunity is to take shape over the coming months in Dundee as work on the Lochee regeneration masterplan continues. The work will see the second phase of demolition of the former Highgate Centre and the recreation of a number of historical streets and paths.
03/07/2013
A major refurbishment project on a busy dual carriageway in Livingston is set to begin later this month. Work will begin on Monday 15 July on the A899 Houston Interchange Bridge and Cousland Interchange Bridge. Over the last couple of winters, both bridges have suffered from potholes and part of
03/07/2013
A partnership between North Lanarkshire Council and Mears has delivered a new pioneering service. The 'Local Homes' service will see the partnership's repairs remit transformed to deliver more modern, accessible, caring and responsive services to help improve the lives of its tenants. By using u
03/07/2013
A rolling programme of road repairs is to get underway in Renfrewshire. The work will involve rebuilding the speed ramps which lead to the block work areas of the town centre. Four sites have been selected for the scheme and the upgrade work will take around two weeks, at each site, to complete.
03/07/2013
A £5.8m project to transform Edinburgh's Saughton Park and Gardens, has taken a step forward after receiving confirmation of initial funding support from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). The project passed the first round stage of funding, which highlights backing for the outline proposals. Deve
03/07/2013
The Scottish Government has announced additional funding for Dumfries and Galloway Council's Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP). The news means a further £9.7m will be spent on building new affordable homes in the region between 2015 and 2018. The Council has moved from a three-year invest
02/07/2013
ScottishPower Energy Networks (SPEN) has submitted proposals to Ofgem outlining a £5.2bn investment programme. The scheme would create 2,500 jobs and play a key role in supporting the UK's transition to a low carbon economy, as well as improving services and reducing costs for customers. Plans b
02/07/2013
Aker Solutions has secured its largest UK subsea contract. The contract, worth £289m ($440m) will see the company deliver the subsea production system for an oil field development in the UK North Sea. Aker Solutions' subsea operations in Aberdeen will manufacture the control systems and wellheads
02/07/2013
Cowdenbeath Area Committee has approved plans to demolish 12 properties at Craigie Street, Ballingry. The Fife properties form three blocks of four apartment dwellings. Initially, plans had been developed to carry out improvements during 2013/14, due to major water penetration problems, the inten
02/07/2013
East Dunbartonshire Council has said the Bishopbriggs Relief Road is one step near to being completed as work starts on Phase 3 of the project. Machinery is now moving onto the site so works can progress on the five-phase scheme. Taylor Wimpey West Scotland is building this section of the road wh
02/07/2013
BSW Timber has provided home-grown Scottish timber for a unique partnership project for a Salvation Army Lifehouse in an Edinburgh suburb. The 'Sitooterie', located in the gardens of the Ashbrook Lifehouse in the city's Trinity area, is a striking wooden outdoor structure, giving residents protect
02/07/2013
New homes company, Cala Homes, is predicting record profits following a good start to 2013, the BBC has said. It added that its private completions had increased by 4% for the year as market conditions appear to improve. Private reservations also increased by 10% and it is thought the reason behind
02/07/2013
The new Lasswade Centre has officially opened to the public. The new community sports and leisure facilities include state-of-the-art gyms and a gymnastics academy, as well as a 25-metre swimming pool. The facilities are part of the £37.1m Lasswade High School Centre. The community facilities wit
02/07/2013
The Inveraray CARS project is set to benefit from a grant of £350,000 from Argyll and Bute Council. The fund was originally agreed at a budget meeting in February, and confirmed at a council meeting last week. The news also follows the announcement that the project has secured £970,000 from Histori
02/07/2013
A council meeting held by Argyll and Bute Council last Thursday has agreed to set aside up to £300,000 from the Campbeltown CHORD project for the South Kintyre Development Trust (SKDT). The funds will go towards the Campbeltown Town Hall Project. Campbletown Town Hall is viewed as one of the mos
02/07/2013
Extensive bridge repairs are to be carried out on the Formatine and Buchan Way this summer. The route, therefore, will be closed at the bridge over the River Don at Parkhill from Sunday 30 June to Monday 8 July. During this period, scaffolding will be erected to allow works, including the re-poin
01/07/2013
Fife Council has said regeneration plans for Hillend and Donibristle Industrial Estate are continuing following a successful feedback event. The event on the draft report was held last week and included participants from the business community, land and property owners, developers, local and commu
01/07/2013
Two more of Dundee's tower blocks have been demolished. On Sunday, an exclusion zone was set up in the area, with up to 20 roads closed as preparations got underway. Around 60 commercial properties and 600 homes nearby were also evacuated, while St Martin's Episcopal Church, located in between the
01/07/2013
It has been reported by the BBC, that Ofgem has rejected SSE's case for the Western Isles subsea cable. The project, which has been valued around £780m, would carry electricity generated on the Western Isles to the mainland. Scottish Hydro-Electric Transmission Ltd, a division of SSE, has submitt
01/07/2013
The NHS Highland board has approved plans to upgrade Raigmore Hospital. According to the BBC, the plans include the hospital's operating theatres and critical care services. The proposals, said to cost £20m, will now be submitted to the Government and if approved, work could begin in 2015. In
01/07/2013
Shetland Island Council's Housing Service is set to welcome tenants to the first of its new homes at Burnback, north Lerwick. The properties, which cost £22m to construct, were built and completed by DITT and managed by the Council's Capital Programmes Service. A total of 22 new properties are o
01/07/2013
Clackmannanshire Council has launched a public consultation regarding improvement proposals for The Orchard and Newmills in Tullibody. Tenants and residents are now being asked about what improvements they would like to see carried out in their neighbourhood. A drop-in consultation event will be
01/07/2013
A £5.2m restoration project of Aberdeen's Duthie Park has been completed and unveiled to the public. As part of the ambitious project to return the site to its former glory, ponds and paths were restored, while the park's iconic mound – complete with spiral walkway and flag pole set on a granite p
01/07/2013
Clyde Windows & Construction (CWC) has become the first double glazing/conservatory firm in Scotland to have achieved accreditation for the Government's Trading Standards Department's Buy With Confidence scheme. Trading standards have said: "Many local authorities operate approved trader schemes -
01/07/2013
Aberdeenshire Council has held a consultation with resident in Peterhead regarding the future development of Catto Park. There are potential plans to develop the park into a new sports and community hub. PMR Leisure was commissioned by Peterhead Football Club to carry out research and then presen
01/07/2013
Stewart Milne Timber Systems has announced the appointment of a new board director. In addition, the firm has also strengthened its business development team amid early signs of market recovery. Previously commercial director for Corgi Technical Services, Eddie Stanton will join the company as sa
