Scotland round-up: Green light for new East Lothian settlement; Homes for social rent, first-time buyers, and the elderly

Green light for new East Lothian settlement

A new town in East Lothian is set to climb off the drawing board following approval from the planning authority of the masterplan for the 1,600-home first phase of the Blindwells development.

The Planner

Dementia-friendly housing charter launched

Alzheimer’s Society, the dementia support and research charity, has called on housing associations to sign up to its new dementia-friendly housing charter and improve the lives of people living with the condition.

The Planner

Over a million used Help to Buy

More than 868,000 have opened a Help to Buy ISA while at least 259,000 people have bought a home using another of the government’s Help to Buy schemes, according to government statistics.

The Planner

Housing association to use wind farm to fund housing

The UK's first wind farm to be developed by a housing association as a means of funding new homes for social rental has been launched. The Hoprigshiels community windfarm is near Cockburnspath in the Scottish Borders.

Triodes Bank

Homes for social rent, first-time buyers, and the elderly

South Lanarkshire Council has given the go-ahead to plans for more than 400 new homes in the Rutherglen and Cambuslang areas.

South Lanarkshire Council

Greenock freight terminal to double capacity

Greenock freight terminal could double the number of containers it handles under plans announced by owner Peel Ports. The five-year plan is linked to the expansion of the company’s hub at Liverpool.

BBC News

Former Dundee printing works to become £18m cultural hub

An £18 million project to regenerate a former Dundee printing works into a cultural and creative centre has been launched.

BBC News

Community bid lodged for Edinburgh’s Sick Kids Hospital

Residents have formally submitted a community bid for Edinburgh’s Sick Kids Hospital. Locals want the site used for affordable co-operative housing, healthcare and nursery facilities as well as space for social enterprises and a community hall.

Edinburgh Evening News

Guidance for land owners

The administration has published draft guidance for land owners and land managers on the best way to engage local communities. This consultation is the next step in implementing the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016.  

Scottish Government

Scotland’s Futures Forum launches its ‘Scotland 2030’ programme

Scotland’s Futures Forum – the Scottish Parliament’s in-house think tank – has launched its latest initiative, which involves a consideration of what sort of country Scotland will be culturally and technologically by 2030.

Scottish Parliament

Shetland oil find ‘could be biggest of the century’

An oil discovery has been made near the Shetland Islands which has been described as potentially the biggest find in British waters this century.

The Scotsman

Campaign launched to make Inverness a cycle-friendly city 

Highland Council is under pressure from walking and cycling enthusiasts who are demanding more action to improve active travel facilities in and around Inverness.

The Scotsman

Edinburgh’s biggest office building targets tech scene

The largest single office building in Edinburgh has opened after refurbishment to meet “unprecedented” demand from the city’s thriving technology sector.

The Scotsman

People move into Scotland's first town in decades

Residents have started moving in to what is claimed to be the first new town to be built in Scotland for 50 years. Tornagrain, which is being created on farmland near Inverness, will ultimately become a community of 12,000 people.

Herald Scotland

Queensferry Crossing opening delayed until between mid-July and end of August

The opening of the Queensferry Crossing has been postponed from May until between mid-July and the end of August, economy secretary Keith Brown told MSPs.

The Scotsman

Gleneagles in multimillion-pound plans to accommodate visitors in tepees

Gleneagles has unveiled a multimillion-pound plan to accommodate visitors to the luxury hotel in a “rural camp” providing tepees, luxury lodges, a spa, restaurants, bars, shops and an events space.

Herald Scotland

£16m for affordable housing 

Affordable housing in Shetland, Borders and Fife has received a boost of £16 million, thanks to the Scottish Government’s investment in charitable bonds.

Scottish Government

Seal protection area at Ythan designated

A special protection area has been designated for seals at the mouth of the Ythan Estuary in Aberdeenshire. The move, approved by Holyrood's environment committee, makes it an offence to harass the mammals on the north bank of the river.

BBC News

New opportunities to get involved with the best of Scotland’s nature

Scottish Natural Heritage has joined forces with charity MyParkScotland to raise the profile of SNH’s National Nature Reserves.

Scottish Natural Heritage