Scotland round-up: Regional plans needed to curb countryside carbon; New Scottish planning legislation costs could reach £59m

Regional plans needed to curb countryside carbon

The Scottish Government has been urged to facilitate regional land-use plans to maximise the countryside’s role in cutting carbon dioxide emissions.

The Planner

Local services, environment and social housing should top Spending Round

Chancellor Sajid Javid has announced that the fast-tracked Spending Round will take place next week on Wednesday 4 September. We asked you what the priorities should be.

The Planner

Construction values rose in July

Construction contracts worth £5.1 billion were awarded in July 2019 – an increase of 1.8 per cent on June, according to construction industry analyst Barbour ABI.

The Planner

Meadowbank and Powderhall housing green-lit

Edinburgh City Council has been given the go-ahead to prepare both masterplans and detailed planning applications for sites at Meadowbank and the former waste transfer facility at Powderhall, which should deliver more than 850 new homes, 35 per cent of which would be affordable. Proposals to build student accommodation and a hotel have been ditched.

Edinburgh Evening News and Edinburgh Live

Masterplan approved for new Cumbernauld neighbourhood

Planning approval has been granted in principle for the masterplan for a major new residential neighbourhood for Cumbernauld drawn up by North Lanarkshire Council for a 40-hectare site at Mid Forest. Around 600 new homes are planned, 25 per cent of which will be affordable.

North Lanarkshire Council

Green light for Glasgow housing

Glasgow City Council has awarded planning consent to Craighead Properties for the erection of 388 homes on brownfield land, once a foundry, at Cathcart Road, Caledonia Road and Lawmoor Street.

Scottish Housing News

Affordable homes for Callander

Fifty new affordable homes are to be built at Claish Farm in Callander in the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park after the park authority approved the plans.

Scottish Housing News

Build-to-rent pipeline surges

The pipeline of homes in Scotland’s Build to Rent sector has increased by a third in the past year to reach more than 7,200, according to a report from property firm Rettie & Co.

Scottish Construction Now

Tweedbank development OK’d

Plans for a multimillion-pound retail development near the terminus of the Borders Railway at Tweedbank are being recommended for approval by Scottish Borders Council.

BBC News

Inverness public art project backed

The controversial £240,000 My Ness public art project for Inverness riverside will now go ahead – but without any more public funds.

The Highland Council

Rutherglen golf project approved

Scotland’s first three-level driving range and golf entertainment centre is to be built on an area of disused land in Rutherglen following approval from South Lanarkshire Council.

Scottish Construction Now

Mountain hare cull concern

Conservation charity RSPB Scotland wants an immediate ban on mountain hare culling after data provided to the EU by Scottish Natural Heritage suggested that numbers had fallen by more than 90 per cent in some areas.

BBC News

Boost for South of Scotland businesses

More than £1 million will be funnelled into projects to develop rural skills, boost tourism and develop female-led businesses in the south of Scotland through the region’s Economic Partnership (SOSEP). It has also awarded £67,000 to a former coal mine-turned-visitor attraction in Sanquhar.

Scottish Government

Glasgow office scheme is approved

Proposals for a 13-storey development on Glasgow’s Argyle Street, providing grade A office space, have been approved by the city council.

Scottish Construction Now

Air quality review results published

An independent review has found that Scotland is performing well on air quality by both EU and global standards. But it recommends that more attention should be paid to the impact of new building developments on air quality levels and a shift to more sustainable transport modes.

Scottish Government

Paisley museum makeover

The first images showing how architects will transform Paisley Museum into a world-class facility have been revealed. It is set to be revamped at a cost of £42 million.

Scottish Construction Now

New drive for electric vehicle charging

A £7.5 million project has been established involving the government and power companies to deliver more electric vehicle-charging points.

Scottish Government

Go-ahead for Fountainbridge office development

A six-storey curved glass development providing grade A office space has been approved by Edinburgh City Council for a site at Fountainbridge.

Edinburgh Evening News