Scotland round-up: RBS puts key Edinburgh development site up for sale; Grade-A office block mooted for Glasgow’s finance district

RBS puts key Edinburgh development site up for sale

The former New Town Royal Bank of Scotland’s site on Dundas Street, Edinburgh, is now for sale after the bank’s controversial plans to demolish and redevelop the land were withdrawn in August.

The Planner

Grade-A office block mooted for Glasgow’s finance district

Developer Osborne & Co has submitted a detailed planning application for a nearly 26,300 square metre grade A office development on Argyle Street in Glasgow’s international financial services district.

Glasgow Herald

Dundee Waterfront proposals

Proposals have been unveiled for a mixed-use development, including offices, hotels, housing and shops, on a site within Dundee’s £1 billion Waterfront regeneration project adjacent to the planned urban beach and directly west of the Tay Road Bridge exit ramp.

Scottish Construction Now

Salmon farms fall short

Nearly one in five salmon farms in Scotland has failed to meet statutory environmental standards, according to a report from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

BBC News

Sauchiehall Street scheme

Bywater Properties, new owner of the McLellan Works building on Sauchiehall Street, has unveiled proposals to convert the block in the heart of Glasgow city centre into a business and retail hub.

The Scotsman

East Lothian blueprint

The East Lothian Local Development Plan 2018, which allocates land for 10,500 new homes over the plan period, has been rubber-stamped by Scottish ministers and adopted by the local authority.

East Lothian Council

Go-ahead for Brora Distillery restoration

The famous Brora Distillery has taken another step towards reopening after the Highland Council approved a scheme involving the restoration of the original buildings that date back to 1819.

Scottish Construction Now

Longannet and Hunterston make shortlist for new rail plant

Sites at Longannet and Hunterston have been shortlisted as potential locations for a factory for specialised rail rolling stock engineering company Talgo.

Scottish Construction Now

Kelp farming concern

Marine Scotland has said a plan to mechanically harvest kelp off Scotland's west coast involves too large an area.

BBC News

Cleaner buses for Glasgow

Bus company First Glasgow has unveiled the first 75 vehicles of its £100 million cleaner-engine fleet required to comply with Scotland's first low-emission zone, which comes into force next year.

The Scotsman

Upland mapping breakthrough

The wildlife and landscape of Scotland’s wildest and most remote islands, moorland and mountain ranges are set to be understood as never before, thanks to new mapping technology that can help tackle climate change and manage upland habitats.

Scottish Natural Heritage

Dumfries flood protection inquiry timetable

The timetable has been published for the public inquiry into a £25 million flood protection project for Dumfries, which is due to start next month (November).

BBC News

MSPs call foul over dwindling green budget

Scotland’s budget for the environment has been declining over many years and the long-term impact of this is a matter of concern, MSPs warned this week.

Scottish Parliament

Aberdeen travel options

A study published this week sets out potential public transport and active travel options for Aberdeen’s cross-city connections involving the city’s new development sites.

Aberdeen City Council

Danish billionaire biggest landowner

Danish billionaire Anders Holch Povlsen, who owns 11 estates in the Highlands, has been named as the largest private landowner in the UK. He has 89,435 hectares of Scottish land in his portfolio.

The Scotsman

Update of A96 upgrade proposals

Controversial proposals that could have seen an upgraded A96 pass through the Bennachie Special Landscape Area have been scrapped, Transport Scotland announced this week in an update to its proposals to improve the A96 between Huntly and Aberdeen.

BBC News

Lowther Hill wind farm objection move

Officials have recommended that Dumfries and Galloway Council should object to revised proposals for a major wind farm in the Lowther Hills, which is being considered by Scottish ministers because of the scale of the 30-turbine project.

BBC News

V&A Dundee pulls in the punters

V&A Dundee, the flagship design museum, has welcomed 100,000 people through the doors in its first three weeks in operation.

Dundee City Council

Edinburgh’s Western Harbour development makes progress

Edinburgh City Council has approved an updated development framework for Forth Ports’ proposals to redevelop its Western Harbour site between Leith and Newhaven with 1,600 mid-market rental home and a new park.

Edinburgh Evening News