Scotland round-up: Green light for major new Glasgow city centre neighbourhood; Budget backs affordable homes

Green light for major new Glasgow city centre neighbourhood

Glasgow City Council has given approval for a new city centre neighbourhood anchored by Scotland’s largest build-to-rent (BTR) scheme so far.

The Planner 

Budget backs affordable homes

Scottish finance secretary Derek Mackay’s Budget statement this week confirmed that in 2019-20 the government would invest a record £826 million to deliver 50,000 affordable homes over the course of the Parliament as well as establishing a new £50 million capital fund to help town centres diversify and develop.

Scottish Government

Housing boost

Housing, care and property management group Wheatley has secured a groundbreaking investment of £76.5 million that will help it deliver some 700 affordable homes across the country.

Scottish Construction Now

Two more Highland pumped storage power plants planned

The company behind a 450-megawatt pumped storage hydro project at Loch Ness has proposed two similar but larger schemes at Loch Tay and Loch Awe in the Highlands. 

The Scotsman

Auld Reekie top of the pops

Edinburgh has been named the best city to live in the world, thanks to its low crime rate, high levels of education and the overall health of its workforce, according to a new study from global consultancy Arcadis.

The Scotsman

Aberdeen residential plans
Developer Dandara has submitted proposals to build more than 200 homes as part of a wider housing development at Countesswells on the western outskirts of Aberdeen. 

Scottish Construction Now

Leith studio concerns

Filmmakers are questioning what they claim are “very rushed” plans for a new film and TV studio for Scotland in a former wave power factory in Leith. 

Edinburgh Evening News

Fresh bid for Galloway national park?

A renewed effort will be made in the new year to secure consultation on a bid to make Galloway Scotland's third national park.

BBC News 

Angus station no longer least-used

A more than doubling of the number of passengers using the Barry Links station in Angus has meant it is no longer the least-used railway station in the UK, which it was in 2016/17.

The Scotsman

Affordable homes tally increases by 21 per cent

Latest figures show a 21 per cent rise in the number of affordable homes delivered during the past year with a total of more than 80,000 provided since 2007.

Scottish Government 

Funding for smarter cities

A project to improve data and digital technology across Scotland’s cities has received a further £15 million in European funding.

The Scotsman

Lothian takeaway tussle

A planning restriction on new takeaways opening within 400 metres of a primary school is being challenged on appeal by retailer Scotmid. It wanted to open an outlet at Bonnyrigg, which was refused by Midlothian Council.

Edinburgh Evening News

Carbon footprint figures

Scotland's chief statistician has published details of the country’s carbon footprint between 1998-2015, which highlighted no change between 2014 and 2015.

Scottish Government