Building Briefs – June 17th

• Council approves funding to help redevelopment of Govan Old Church

The redevelopment of Govan Old is a key part of the plans of for Water Row, which is itself integral to the regeneration of the wider Govan area. The Govan Old campus will feature a community facility and visitor centre showcasing the Govan Stones, a collection of medieval burial stones of national significance, with this cultural asset being supported by business space generating income to sustain the business in the long-term.

The creation of the office space would be the first phase in the £5.7 million project, which could accommodate 70 new jobs when complete. Work on the first phase - which would accommodate up to 24 new jobs in three office suites - is expected to begin in August 2019 with completion in March 2020.

The work at Govan Old is closely linked to the £55m proposal to redevelop Water Row, with a number of partners including Glasgow City Council, Govan Housing Association and others planning to develop new homes, commercial office and retail space, and community, leisure and other uses there.

There are a number of significant regeneration projects taking place or soon to take place in the area, including the Govan Cross Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI); Govan Cross Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS); Central Govan Public Realm Works; the Govan-Partick Bridge; Clyde Waterfront Innovation Campus; and the East Govan-Ibrox Transformational Regeneration Area (TRA).

The council has £113.9m City Deal funding to deliver the Clyde Waterfront and West End Innovation Quarter (CWWEIQ) project. Govan occupies a strategically important location at the centre of the project area, and is well placed to derive sustained and lasting benefits from this City Deal investment programme.

The funding is subject to further approval from the Glasgow City Region Cabinet.

• GDL adds new plant to its fleet

Ground Developments Ltd has added new specialist plant machinery to its existing impressive fleet, marking its long association with key manufacturers the Wirtgen Group, Streumaster and Hydrema.

The introduction of some of the latest models, which will offer the best production outputs, adds to one of the largest plant machinery fleets in the UK. GDL’s commitment and further investment in the latest technology signals more growth for the Scottish-based ground improvement specialist.

The introduction of the new Wirtgen WR240i stabilisation mixer with an integrated binder spreader from Streumaster, which is mounted on a customised Hydrema chassis to GDL’s existing fleet allows the company to offer increased and significant capacity within the soil stabilisation market.

Following many years of experience, the Hydrema spreader design is the direct result of extensive collaboration between GDL and the manufacturer to create a bespoke solution for the company that is suited to its application.

The team at GDL also has a long association with the Wirtgen Group having operated their stabilisation mixers, spreaders and rollers for over a decade. As recognised leaders in their respective fields, the companies have also worked in partnership to advance the use of soil stabilisation techniques in the UK. 

• Appeal to turn Aberdeen stables into dog hotel rejected

The Scottish Government has rejected an appeal to turn a stable into a dog hotel at an Aberdeen business.

Plans for the venture, submitted by Aberdeen Pet Resort in Peterculter, were originally rejected by the local authority in December.

A total of 65 letters of objection were filed against the application, arguing that noise from the canines would adversely affect residents.

Earlier this year, the company appealed the decision to the Scottish Government, hoping to have the decision overturned.

The new plans had included an acoustic system in the ceiling, which it was hoped would help to absorb noise from the kennels.

However, the government has again rejected the application.

• Nursery children give thumbs up to new Forres building

Children from Pilmuir Nursery in Forres have given their new nursery building a big thumbs up after going on a site visit.

Due to open in early 2020, the new building signals a £2 million investment in the Forres nursery as part of the Scottish Government’s early learning and childcare (ELC) expansion.

The children currently at Pilmuir Nursery have enjoyed seeing the daily changes to the building site and were keen to get up close to the development, especially the diggers. Today they got to meet the architect and site manager who showed them plans for the new nursery and gave an insight into what it will look like.

Morrison Construction site manager, Paul Skilling, chatted to the children and showed them what the new nursery will look like.

• New Loretto home ‘makes all the difference in the world’

Delighted Isabella Heyne said her new Loretto home in Coatbridge is “absolutely life-changing”.

She and husband Karl moved into one of 28 new home in St Patrick’s Court – designed for people over 55 with mobility issues – in the town centre.

Karl, who uses a wheelchair, had been stranded for a year in their previous home because there were so many steps.

Now, with a lift, an accessible roof terrace and charging points for mobility scooters, the couple have a new lease of life in their ‘wonderful’ new home.

Isabella was joined by some of her fellow tenants, Loretto Housing chair Douglas Robin, North Lanarkshire Council convener of enterprise and communities, Councillor Heather McVey, local elected members and others to celebrate the opening of the new homes.

The 28 homes at St Patrick’s Court have taken shape on the on the site of former offices at Muiryhall Street in the town centre.

The £4 million development, a mix of one and two-bedroom flats, includes £2.4m funding from the Scottish Government.

As part of the contract with Loretto Housing, contractors CCG created two apprenticeships, four new jobs and three work placements.

Loretto Housing has already built 314 homes since joining Wheatley Group in 2014.

Work is under way on another 28 homes, with a further 160 planned.