Scotland round-up: Scottish university proposes huge new student accommodation project; Loosening up planning for Edinburgh’s Princes Street?

Scottish university proposes huge new student accommodation project

The University of St Andrews has announced a fresh planning application to provide 960 student beds at Albany Park. It says this will ease the pressure on the town’s housing stock.

The Planner

Help us celebrate 60 years of the RTPI’s Royal Charter

This year is a particularly special one for the RTPI, which next month will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the granting of its Royal Charter. And you can help The Planner to mark the occasion.

The Planner

Contract finalised for Aberdeen energy-from-waste facility

A consortium led by infrastructure and renewable energy solutions provider Acciona is to build and operate an £150 million energy-from-waste plant. It will be located at the East Tullos Industrial Estate in Aberdeen, where the Ness Energy project will process non-recyclable municipal solid waste produced in the city, Aberdeenshire and Moray and generate power for the national grid and hot water for local homes and businesses.

Scottish Construction Now

Hebridean fish farm raises a stink

Canna, one of the smallest inhabited islands in the Hebrides, is at the centre of growing controversy over plans by salmon farm giant Mowi to locate a huge facility just off its coast.

Glasgow Herald

Loosening up planning for Edinburgh’s Princes Street?

Edinburgh’s Princes Street could be opened to food and drink outlets as well as leisure activities as part of a more flexible planning regime. The city council is now running a public consultation on the scheme.

Edinburgh Evening News

Life expectancy stalls

Life expectancy in Scotland has increased over the past three decades, but has stalled in recent years, according to a report published by National Records of Scotland.

Scottish Government

Kirkaldy housing scheme revealed

Edinburgh-based developer Whiteburn Projects has revealed plans to deliver around 100 new homes in the grounds of the former Viewforth High School on Loughborough Road, Kirkaldy.

Scottish Construction Now

Makeover for Speyside distillery

Diageo’s £150 million Scotch whisky tourism vision for Scotland has made further progress now Moray Council has approved planning permission for the company’s proposals to transform Cardhu Distillery on Speyside. It is slated to be one of several new Johnnie Walker visitor attractions.

Scottish Construction Now

Capital art gallery extension backed

Edinburgh city planners have backed proposals to extend the city centre Fruitmarket art gallery into a neighbouring disused nightclub on Market Street.

BBC News

Tweedbank masterplan moves

Scottish Borders Council is consulting on the next phase of a masterplan for Tweedbank that aims to promote business and residential development in the area, and which will be the subject of supplementary planning guidance.

Scottish Borders Council

Funding boost for historic Stirling almshouse

Historic Environment Scotland has provided £321,985 funding towards repairs to the A-listed 17th century almshouse in Stirling known as Cowane’s Hospital.

Historic Environment Scotland

Revised guidance for strategic housing investment blueprints

The Scottish Government has published revised guidance for local authorities that prepare Strategic Housing Investment Plans (SHIPs).

Scottish Housing News

Go-ahead for Glasgow hotel

Proposals for a 12-storey hotel on land at the junction of Old Wynd Street and Osborne Street, currently used as a car park, have been given the green light by Glasgow City Council.

Scottish Construction Now

Funding for central Scotland network of nature sites

Buglife Scotland has been awarded £157,000 by Scottish Natural heritage for its Central Scotland B-Lines project, which will create 100 hectares of wildflower habitat across 50 urban sites connecting East Dunbartonshire, South Lanarkshire, Falkirk and Edinburgh. It will help pollinators to move freely through towns and cities.

Scottish Natural Heritage