Building Briefs – January 31st

  • Scotweld provides welding expertise at Queen’s Quay

Springburn-based Scotweld has commenced a programme of welding works on the first large-scale water source heat pump of its kind in Scotland.

Building Briefs – January 31st

Scotweld, part of the SWGR group, is manufacturing the pipework in Queenslie, for James Ramsay Glasgow and Vital Energi. Once completed the Water Abstraction Pipework will be fitted at the Queen’s Quay Energy Centre on the banks of the River Clyde in Clydebank.



The 14-inch, fully Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) welded pipework system is made of grade 2205 Duplex which will serve the company and people of the region due to its exceptional corrosion resistance.

The Queens Quay Energy Centre is at the centre of a £250 million mixed-use regeneration project on the site of a former shipyard in Clydebank. The centre’s District Heating Network will ultimately serve the entire 80-acre residential-led development and beyond – making Clydebank the greenest town in Scotland.

 

  • Serviced apartments plan approved for vacant Glasgow townhouse

A developer has been given permission to turn a vacant Glasgow building into serviced apartments.



A proposal for “adaptive restoration” of Laurieston House in Carlton Place has now been approved by Glasgow City Council planners.

There will be 11 managed apartments, a mixture of one, two and three-bedroom units.

A statement included with the application explained: “The building is owned by MMLL Apartments Ltd whose proposals are to carefully transform these unique townhouses into elegant apartments — part of the city’s rich mix and offer for a growing business and tourist market.

“Laurieston House has been designated with a Category A listing status and is of national significance, forming part of Carlton Place, a twin-set of very long and dignified neoclassical terraces begun in 1802 (completed 1818). It is a rare and primarily intact and unique example of a Georgian townhouse.”



The statement continued: “The proposals for Laurieston House are well-timed and chime with the city’s future vision to re-establish the north/south link combining the old and new Laurieston as a singular and connected place with its own rich mix of uses and ‘South Bank’ riverside identity.

“The proposals will not diminish but will seek to add to the building’s significance, where the varied series of original and new spaces can absorb and be enriched by a variety of contemporary interventions providing comfortable residential accommodation.

“These proposals have the potential not only to adapt this much-loved building for contemporary use but to provide for its sustainability as one of the nation’s finest interior residential volumes.”

 



  • Hardies signs RICS Scotland conflict avoidance pledge

Hardies Property & Construction Consultants has signed up to the RICS Scotland Conflict Avoidance Pledge which aims to drive behavioural change in the way relationships and disputes are managed throughout the construction and engineering sector.

Established by The Conflict Avoidance Coalition Steering Group, the Pledge is the focal point of its campaign to reduce the financial and other costs associated with disputes by promoting cooperation between contracting parties and helping people and organisations understand and use conflict management measures to reduce numbers of disputes and ensure infrastructure and property development projects are delivered on time and on budget.

By signing the pledge, Hardies is committed to working proactively to avoid conflict and facilitating early resolution of potential disputes; developing its capability in the early identification of potential disputes and in the use of conflict avoidance measures; promoting the value of collaborative working to prevent issues developing into disputes and working with industry partners to identify, promote and utilise conflict avoidance mechanisms.



 

  • Views sought on Edinburgh transport and development plans

Two major consultations on the future of transport and development in the capital got underway today.

People are being asked to share their views on the draft City Mobility Plan, a ten-year strategy for creating accessible, affordable and environmentally-friendly travel in and around Edinburgh, and the Choices for City Plan 2030, which sets out options for the sustainable management of future development during a time of major change.



The two draft plans are closely linked and are being consulted on at the same time to ensure any new development helps people to make healthier choices, improving quality of life through enhanced provision for walking and cycling and better links to public transport.

Over the next eight weeks, the public can share comments and opinions on both by taking part in the consultations online, while they can meet the teams involved and find out more about plans at several drop-in events being held across the city.

 

  • Plan to revive Perth city centre building

A multi-million-pound rescue plan has been unveiled to breathe new life into one of Perth’s oldest buildings.



The Lower City Mills, which date back to the late 18th century, are described as a “nationally important survivor” of the area’s agri-industrial past.

Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust, which moved into the A-listed building in October, has announced an ambitious bid to revive the mill and convert it into a “centre of excellence” for architectural conservation, traditional building skills and heritage education.

The trust needs to raise £2.7 million for its five-year plan, which involves repairing the historic fabric of the building and creating a new conservation and training heritage hub.

The group hopes to restore some of the old mill machinery, including a huge waterwheel which last turned on its own accord during flash floods a few years ago.



 

  • Thermal imaging explained in NHBC Foundation guide

In a typical existing British home, up to one third of the heat produced by the heating system can be lost through the roof, ceiling and walls. When carried out properly a thermographic survey can help identify for gaps in insulation.

The NHBC Foundation in collaboration with BSRIA has published a brand-new guide for this increasingly useful technology. It identifies what a good thermographic survey should include, gives examples of typical thermal imagery and highlights what makes a successful report.

New homes built to the latest building regulations will typically hold their heat more efficiently thanks to improvements in modern insulation and double glazing. But with higher expectation from today’s potential buyers - many are looking for ‘greener’ homes; now more than ever builders need to demonstrate the carbon footprint of their new properties.

Thermal imaging has been used for some time to give a non-invasive ‘window’ at various stages of construction. It can show the thermal performance of the external walls, roofs and internal services.

The ‘Thermal imaging report guide’, available free of charge, gives advice on good practice and highlights the most common issues that can affect the accuracy of a thermal imaging report if the survey isn’t interpreted correctly.

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