Scotland round-up: Boost for affordable homes in Scotland; Royal High School hotel decision to be appealed for second time

Boost for affordable homes in Scotland

The number of affordable homes approved in Scotland over the 12 months to the end of June 2017 increased by 30 per cent on the previous year, bringing the total number of approvals over the year to 10,612.

The Planner

Tidal power firm Atlantis hits out at funding ‘travesty’

Mixed fortunes for Scottish green energy projects in this week’s clean power auction, with the Moray East Offshore wind farm (The Planner) and proposals for a biomass combined heat and power plant at Grangemouth successful, while the MeyGen tidal energy project in the Pentland Firth was unsuccessful.

The Scotsman

Designing communities

Communities across Scotland can bid to take part in a new £325,000 scheme – the Making Places Initiative – to regenerate their neighbourhood, planning and local government minister Kevin Stewart has announced.

Scottish Government

Royal High School hotel decision to be appealed for second time

Developers behind plans to turn the former Royal High School in Edinburgh into a hotel have said they will appeal against last month’s refusal of their latest proposals.

Scottish Construction Now

Derek McInnes: Aberdeen’s training situation is embarrassing

Aberdeen City councillors have held a predetermination hearing about Aberdeen Football Club’s plans for a new stadium and training facilities at Kingsford, close to the Aberdeen bypass near Westhill, which have generated significant local opposition.

The Press and Journal

Borders national park plan has ‘major cost implications’

Plans to create a new national park in the Borders have yet to win political support despite a feasibility study suggesting that such a scheme could bring economic benefit to the region.

The Scotsman

Hunterston B reactor achieves electricity generation record

One of the reactors at Hunterston B, one of Scotland’s two remaining nuclear power stations, has achieved its longest uninterrupted period of electricity generation in four decades.

The Scotsman

Planning submitted for another 315 homes at Pennywell

Regeneration firm Urban Union and architects Barton Willmore have submitted plans for the next phase of regeneration at the Pennywell Living development in Edinburgh, including proposals for 175 flats and 140 houses.

Scottish Construction Now

Zip wires and giant racing slides coming to Dalkeith Country Park

Dalkeith Country Park has lodged a planning application with Midlothian Council to develop its facilities with zip wires and high-rise walkways.

Edinburgh Evening News

Developers deny significant delays to Scottish film studio

The developers behind plans for a £250 million Scottish film studio on green belt land on the outskirts of Edinburgh have denied the project is suffering significant delays.

The Scotsman

Pensioners’ view blocked by broadband boxes

A group of pensioners are in dispute with Virgin Media after the firm installed broadband boxes in front of their homes in East Renfrewshire.

BBC News

Second anniversary of Borders Railway marked

The Borders Railway has reached the second anniversary of its official opening by the Queen and has signalled that more than 2.6 million people have travelled on the 31-mile route between Tweedbank and Edinburgh.

BBC News

Councils can do more to stop rows over nuisance hedges, says committee

Overgrown hedges remain an issue in Scotland because legislation is not always being used as effectively as it could be, according to a Scottish Parliamentary committee.

Scottish Parliament

Scotland slips down economic ranking of UK regions

New businesses in Scotland are adding fewer jobs to the economy than in any other part of the UK, according to new research that suggests other regions are moving ahead in economic prosperity rankings.

The Scotsman

Glasgow’s historic College Bar saved from bulldozers

The Old College Bar, Glasgow’s oldest pub, has been saved from demolition after developers had a rethink over plans to build a new student residence block in the Merchant City area.

Herald Scotland

Public offered chance to influence future of bus industry

Transport Scotland has launched two public consultations to help shape the future of bus operations and smart ticketing.

Scottish Government

Economic support for south Scotland

Economy secretary Keith Brown has confirmed that an interim partnership, bringing together organisations to support economic growth in the south of Scotland, will be in place by the end of 2017.

Scottish Government

Future of remote island school secured by new homes

The future of a small island school on Mull has been secured after two new families with six children moved in next door, thanks to an innovative community housing initiative.

Herald Scotland

Full details emerge of Dundee FC stadium plans

Dundee Football Club’s proposed move to a new stadium on the edge of the city could also see 210 new homes, a hotel, a new crematorium, an extension to the city’s ice arena and training and community facilities, it has been revealed.

Scottish Construction Now

New lease of life for Meadowbank 

After a run of almost 50 years, Edinburgh’s Meadowbank Stadium will shut its doors on 3rd December 2017 in advance of a major redevelopment of the facilities to create a new state-of-the-art sports centre on the same site, due to be operational by Easter 2020.

City of Edinburgh Council

Plans to increase number of homes at proposed Stonehaven development refused

Aberdeenshire Council members have gone against the advice of officials and turned down an application to build 142 homes in Stonehaven.

Scottish Housing News