Building Briefs - August 25th

• Cairngorm funicular re-opening postponed

The current phase of engineering works to strengthen the 1.9km viaduct that supports the railway track began in April 2021, with the aim of returning the funicular to service early next year.

However, despite strong progress made in tough conditions, HIE has concluded that the planned timescale now needs to extend into the second half of 2022.

The mountain resort will stay open throughout winter, with skiers and snowboarders able to access the slopes using nine ski tows that will run every day when weather conditions are suitable.

According to the development agency, several factors have combined to lengthen the funicular reinstatement programme.

These include technical challenges associated with designing and implementing effective solutions to an existing structure, as opposed to a new build.

In addition, progress has been hampered by COVID impacts and by extreme weather, particularly blizzard conditions in the spring.

Extra effort has also been required to source vital construction materials that are currently in short supply across the UK.

• Demolition to start on old care home in Penicuik

Clearance works will begin next week at the site of the former two storey detached house and single-storey residential facility/care home in Penicuik to make way for a new development for Ark Housing Association.

The buildings at 74 & 76 Windsor Square were home to a number of people supported by Ark who moved to their own Ark tenancies near the area a few years ago.

The buildings, which have been empty since, will be demolished and the clearance of the site will take approximately six weeks.

Once this stage is complete, Ark Housing Association has planning permission to build new homes for social housing on the site while still retaining most of the existing green space.

The Association is currently working through the necessary processes to get construction started on site but until such time it is making plans to ensure that the demolition site is made safe and is not an eyesore to the local residents.

Ark said it anticipates minimal impact to neighbours and have sent a letter to all residents surrounding the site to advice of works and to thank them in advance for their cooperation.

The surrounding residents will be kept updated on the association’s plans and advised in advance of any work being carried out on the site on Ark’s behalf.

• Awards final for development in Glasgow’s West End

Dorchester 183 in the West End of Glasgow is in the running for a top national award.

The development of stylish one, two and three bedroom flats has reached the finals of the Scottish Homes Awards in the Apartment Development of the Year category.

Featuring three blocks of stylish contemporary homes, Dorchester 183 beat competition from across Scotland to reach the final on the 16th of September at an awards ceremony at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Glasgow.

Pauline Coates, sales director, Bellway Homes Ltd (Scotland West), said: “The fact that more than 60% of the apartments at Dorchester 183 have now been sold testifies to how popular they have been with buyers who love the generous floorplates and location.

“It is wonderful for the development to also be recognised by some of the leading experts in the property industry – a lot of care and attention went in to ensuring that the development blended in well with the surrounding area and offered a really special place for people to live with attractive communal entrances, gardens and landscaping.

“Key to that success has been our beautiful show apartment which shows exactly the kind of lifestyle on offer at Dorchester 183.”

• Lockhart Campus opens for pupils

North Ayrshire’s new Additional Support Needs (ASN) School is now open to pupils.

Lockhart Campus has welcomed pupils through the gates gradually over several days to help the young people to acclimatise to their new and exciting environment.

The £20 million school – situated in Stevenston next to Auchenharvie Academy – has replaced James McFarlane, Haysholm, Stanecastle and James Reid Schools.

The architecturally striking campus, which features a ribbon effect roof, offers a range of classroom settings as well as a swimming pool, hydrotherapy pool, sensory rooms, and a soft-play area - all providing an educational experience to children with a diverse range of additional support needs.

The school also incorporates enhanced outdoor learning spaces including an outdoor rebound area and external classrooms.

Health and social care colleagues will also have access to the facilities to enable them to deliver first-aid, therapy and other treatments.

Contractor Morrison Construction first started work on the project in late 2019 and has overcome the difficulties posed by the Covid-19 pandemic to ensure the facility was ready for the new term.

• Gold award for Russell Roof Tiles

Russell Roof Tiles has been awarded Gold status by the Supply Chain Sustainability School (SCSS).

The pitched roof tile manufacturer previously held the Silver award and has worked with the organisation since the early days of its inception.

Launched in 2012 the Supply Chain Sustainability School, is a multi-award-winning initiative which represents a common approach to addressing sustainability within supply chains. With over 50,000 users, the school provides free practical learning and support for the UK built environment, through sustainability training, networking, e-learning modules, tailored assessments, and online resources.

The aim of the organisation is to provide upskilling those working within, or aspiring to work within, the built environment sector. The school covers all aspects of the built environment, and focuses on five main topics: sustainability, offsite, BIM, Lean construction and management.

The SCSS is part-funded by CITB and other industry partners, where resources are shared to inspire the UK built environment to drive positive change.

• Glasgow homelessness charity receives funding boost for Back to School campaign

As part of its ongoing commitment to working in partnership with local communities, staff from Taylor Wimpey West Scotland have donated £425 in cash, hundreds of pounds worth of school uniforms and other items to provide a welcome boost to the Kindness Homeless Street Team’s school uniform campaign.

Kindness Homeless Street Team (Kindness HST) is a community group set up to help the homeless and less fortunate people within Glasgow and surrounding areas.

The group provides a pop-up soup kitchen service within George Square in Glasgow four evenings per week, and it supplies clothing, toiletries and essentials for those who find themselves on the street and for people who are facing financial hardship or vulnerability. There are around 100 volunteers who are committed to providing this much needed service.