Building Briefs - March 3rd

• Squarestone sells Glasgow Airport industrial investment 

The 55,600 sq ft distribution parade is let to two global transport, logistics and delivery companies and a craft beer distributor, with a combined income of £357,000 per annum. Since acquiring the asset, Squarestone has worked with the existing occupiers to extend the leases by five years and secure a letting for the 17,500 vacant unit on a five-year lease.

Colliers acted for the Squarestone and Savills acted for Tilstone on behalf of Warehouse REIT.

• Optilan wins Seagreen Wind Farm contract

Security and communications company Optilan has been contracted to supply telecommunications and security services for the Seagreen Wind Farm project.

Optilan will supply telecoms services, including the provision of integrated telecoms and CCTV solutions, for both the offshore and onshore elements of the wind farm project. The contract has been awarded by Linxon, the joint venture between ABB and SNC-Lavalin, who are supporting Petrofac on the delivery of substations for the project.

The £3bn Seagreen offshore wind farm is situated approximately 90km from the Angus coastline. Upon completion, the site will become one of the largest operating wind farms, with approximately 114 wind turbines being installed.

• Montrose Port at forefront of circular economy effort

A member of a North-east port’s team has been selected to represent the business promoting awareness of and encouraging participation in a Tayside-wide environmental programme.

Hamish Murray, projects team leader at Montrose Port Authority, will now act as an ambassador for Circular Tayside, a joint initiative between Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce, Perthshire Chamber of Commerce, and Zero Waste Scotland, funded by the European Regional Development Fund.

The aim of Circular Tayside is to encourage a thriving circular economy within the region with innovative businesses at the forefront, shouting about the work they do and encouraging others to consider how they can reuse valuable resources.

Montrose Port Authority has been working hard in recent years to secure projects which contribute to a green economy – the flagship being the Seagreen offshore wind farm, currently under construction 27km off the Angus coast, as well as wave energy trials last year.

The 1,075MW 114-turbine wind farm is a joint project by SSE Renewables and Total, who selected Montrose as the location for its Operation and Maintenance base.

• Dundee to approve EV charger contracts

Almost £1 million could be spent on boosting the electric vehicle charging infrastructure in Dundee if councillors back the move next week.

A total of 38 charging points for public use, as well as for Dundee City Council’s ever-expanding electric fleet, could be installed in the spring and summer by contractors Swarco.

The single biggest contract is for Gellatly Street multi storey car park to install 20 car charging points, as well as solar panels and electrical infrastructure at top roof level. Work will also include installation of a battery storage unit at ground level and an electrical switchgear room on the first floor. Work is planned to begin in April and finish in summer at a cost of £602,000.

Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc at Baldovie Road could see the installation of five dual-outlet chargers with other work at sites across the city including Fairbairn Young Person Unit, Millview, Kings Cross Road, The Elms, Eastern Primary School and Friarfield House.

In total work expected to cost £965,000 will be discussed by the city development committee on Monday.

• Winchburgh community facilities update

West Lothian Council has confirmed the allocation of £700,000 for new library facilities to further enhance new community-based services within Winchburgh.

The funding is part of the council’s capital programme of investment which was unanimously agreed at the council executive last week.

It is expected library facilities will be included within the Partnership Centre development in the town, which is being led by the NHS.

Winchburgh is currently undergoing West Lothian’s biggest ever investment in education. A £62 million project is well underway to build two new secondary schools and a primary school as well as shared sport, leisure and community facilities.

It is anticipated that by 2023/24 the council will be expected to provide a financial commitment for library services, to the NHS, as part of their wider project to create a Partnership Centre. The library facilities could be located within any new health care facility in the town. However, that may mean a delay in providing library facility provision as it depends upon when the NHS are able to create a Partnership Centre development. Alternative solutions for library provision are possible, however, and the council is continuing to engage with community groups to discuss these options.

• Perth & Kinross Council announces £2m investment in smoke detector upgrades

Perth & Kinross Council has announced that nearly £2 million will be spent upgrading smoke detectors in thousands of council homes across the area.

The improvement scheme is to ensure safety devices meet with stricter Scottish Government legislation expected next year. The new standard will require all homes to have interlinked smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

The council has now agreed a deal with Glasgow firm BRB Electrical Ltd to replace detectors at nearly 3,400 properties over the next year.

• Fife Council calls for residents to help with new housing plans

Fife Council has launched a new survey to help with planning for new housing across Fife.

The survey is now live and Fife residents have been asked to take part.

Fife Council is organising the survey as part of The Housing Need and Demand Assessment (HNDA).

The online survey is open to all Fife residents and responses will help inform the council of the area’s housing needs.

All responses will be confidential and anonymous.

The survey can be found here.