Building Briefs – May 5th
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GDL invests over £1m in new plant machinery
Ground Developments Ltd has revealed a new fleet of plant machinery worth over £1 million signalling further investment and growth for the Scottish-based civil engineering contractor.
The new fleet consists of:
This significant investment in plant machinery will help GDL maximise the capabilities of its current and extensive in-house fleet of plant to fulfil a range of new and existing contracts.
Approval for Inverness Castle North Tower project
A plan to develop Inverness Castle’s North Tower as a tourist attraction has secured approval from Historic Scotland.
Highland Council had to submit an application for listed building consent as part of the project to create viewing platforms in the tower.
The local authority hopes to open the tower to the public next year.
The rest of the 19th Century building would continue to be used as a sheriff court.
Construction activity hits two-year low as general election jitters take hold
UK construction activity suffered its sharpest fall since Q1 2013 as private developers hit the brakes ahead of the general election, according to new figures from industry analysts Glenigan.
The Glenigan Index for May, which covers the value of projects starting on site during the three months to April, has declined by 11 per cent year on year as office, retail and industrial activity plummeted.
The contraction in non-residential activity is the sharpest since December 2009, with the underlying value of project starts 21 per cent lower than a year earlier.
Office starts fell by 50 per cent compared to a year ago, with the retail and industrial sectors decreasing by 32 per cent and 27 per cent respectively.
The hotel and leisure sector, by contrast, has remained in growth mode over the last three months, although the pace of expansion slipped to 11 per cent from the 31 per cent rise in the three months to March.
Private housing also represents a brighter spot, with a 4 per cent rise in the value of projects. However, overall residential sector growth was just 1 per cent, dragged back by a 6 per cent decline in social housing starts.
Bon Accord Glass post 44 per cent profits increase
Aberdeen glazier and construction services firm Bon Accord Glass has posted a 44 per cent increase in profits for the year ended July 31, 2014.
Accounts lodged at Companies House show pre-tax profits of £391,907 for the period, while turnover went up £ 330,000 to £7.5million.
In a joint statement published in the accounts, directors Colin Kinghorn and Martin Allan said they were “satisfied” with the results in a year that saw the opening of the company’s kitchen showroom.
Employers urged to offer apprenticeships as part of national campaign
Dundee employers are being urged to consider taking on Modern Apprentices to support their business and provide youth employment opportunities.
The call comes ahead of Scottish Apprenticeship Week, which runs from 18 to 22 May.
The Skills Development Scotland (SDS) campaign, now in its fifth year, highlights the benefits apprenticeships bring to employers, individuals and the economy.
53 per cent of construction industry believes party policies are unclear
A study by rental solution provider Hewden has found that a record 1.8 million construction sector workers (87 per cent of the construction industry) intend to vote at next week’s General Election. However, despite the significant interest, more than half (53 per cent) say they are unclear on the different policies being proposed.
While voting intention might be up, overall interest is down, with those surveyed ranking politics less important than common pastimes such shopping, TV and sport.
Jeff Schofield, marketing director, Hewden believes that with so many policies directly affecting the sector, there needs to be greater clarity around the direct impact of those policies, to help industry voters make an informed decision.
In response to the research findings, Hewden has launched an online resource called www.noteB4Uvote.co.uk to help industry workers from all levels get a clearer picture of what the key policies are and what it means for them.
A96 Dualling public exhibitions
A series of public exhibitions are to be held in venues along the route to provide the public with an update on the A96 Inverness to Aberdeen dualling programme.
A series of public exhibitions are to be held in venues along the route to provide the public with an update on the A96 Inverness to Aberdeen dualling programme.
The exhibitions, which start in Elgin on 11 May, will provide the opportunity to see and comment on the outcome of the preliminary engineering and strategic environmental assessment work Transport Scotland has been taking forward for the route from east of Nairn to Aberdeen.
The Inverness to Nairn (including Nairn Bypass) section of the route is at a more advanced stage with the preferred option announced in October 2014.
Details of A96 Dualling public exhibitions:
Harbours in line for £150,000 investment
Harbours across the north east are in line for a £150,000 investment in improvement works.
Aberdeenshire Council’s Banff and Buchan’s area committee will today discuss a report on local authority-controlled harbours in the area with a recommendation to approve a series of works to bring each of the ports up to scratch.
If the £152,000 programme is approved, Banff would receive £45,500 for work including dredging and the installation of water and electric points.
Macduff would be awarded £68,500 for the maintenance of its slipway and general repairs, and Rosehearty would also be buoyed with £27,000 to cover maintenance of its pier. The remaining money would be allocated to Portsoy with plans to revamp its facilities with a £3,500 scheme to repair its sea wall.
Scottish landlord exodus ‘imminent’, survey claims
The removal of no fault grounds for repossession and the spectre of rent controls in city hotspots will result in an exodus of landlords from the Scottish private rented sector (PRS), new research has suggested.
Figures from lettings portal Citylets, revealed that over 31 per cent of Scottish urban landlords are set to leave the PRS or reduce their portfolios after the decision to remove no fault grounds for repossession.
An even greater 39 per cent of Scottish urban landlords say they are likely to leave the PRS or reduce their portfolios should rent controls be introduced in City hotspots. Only 23 per cent said their sentiment toward remaining a landlord now and in the future would remain fully unchanged.
Figures rise higher still amongst landlords with larger portfolios of more than five properties. Around 43 per cent said they will leave altogether or reduce portfolio in light of no fault removal and 54 per cent in the event rent controls are confirmed.
Dundee leisure centre set for £1m upgrade
Dundee City Council is to spend £1 million upgrading the Lochee Leisure Centre.
The centre will be closed for six months from Monday, May 25, until Saturday, December 12, while the £941,000 improvements are made.
A ‘changing village’ will be installed as part of the works, to improve the changing facilities for disabled people and provide a more family-friendly environment.
The centre’s sauna is also to be upgraded and with those close to the plan claiming that the changes will leave the building ‘unrecognisable’ once finished.
Aberdeenshire Council rejects two travellers planning applications
Planning applications for a travellers site were rejected last week at an Aberdeenshire Council meeting.
Two applications for a permanent halting site along with a temporary halting site in St Cyrus were introduced by head of planning and development management, Robert Gray.
Mr Gray highlighted the flood risks associated with the sites, which during a one in 200 year flood is around half a metre at its deepest, and 300ml across the majority of the site.
Roads around the area were also subject to flooding which would affect the ability to evacuate people from the site.
Ian Walton, an engineer who undertook a site assessment, suggested the flood risk could be managed through an adequate flood plan.
The planning applications were refused by a vote of 42 to 20.
Owners’ pledge over castle
A group of wealthy investors has unveiled plans to transform a Highland castle into the “most desirable luxury hotel in Scotland”.
They are in the throes of buying the historic keep at Carbisdale in Sutherland as well a plot of nearby woodland – and have promised “substantial economic benefits” for the area.
The newly-formed company Carbisdale Castle Ltd has revealed that an initial investment of £6.5 million would create a five-star luxury hotel, a Michelin starred restaurant and revamped gardens.
The group says the whole development would support up to 90 full-time jobs and provide spin-off benefits to other businesses in the north.
The Property Ombudsman Scotland makes new board appointment
A new standards and mediation scheme specifically for Scottish estate agents and the private rented sector (PRS) has made an appointment to its board.
Malcolm Cannon, the chief executive of lettings agency Braemore, has been appointed to the board of the newly created The Property Ombudsman (TPO) Scotland to represent member companies north of the border.
Malcolm contributed to the TPO Scotland’s two distinct Codes of Practice which lay down robust processes and disciplines for sales and lettings agents in Scotland and which have been endorsed by the Scottish Government and Shelter.
More than 500 estate agencies and lettings firms are TPO Scotland accredited and as members of the organisation must adhere to the Codes, while their customers have access to a robust dispute resolution process if things go wrong. As membership is voluntary, TPO Scotland represents a mark of quality and reassurance for tenants, landlords and home owners.
Story Homes named ‘Outstanding’ at Customer Satisfaction
Story Homes has been named as ‘Outstanding’ when it comes to customer service.
Independent research company In-house Research presented housebuilder Story Homes with the Outstanding award during what has been documented as a difficult time for the industry. Story Homes were one of the very few companies to get the award.
The award follows Story Homes’ success in the Home Builders Federation customer satisfaction survey, securing the 5 Star Award for a second year running. Story Homes scored higher than many competitors within the industry.
Story Homes has sites in Cumbria, South West Scotland, Lancashire and North East England and is continuing to expand.
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