Building Briefs – April 12th

Laggan Outdoor in Gatehouse of Fleet has announced a £1.9 million investment to support its ambitious plans to diversify into the high-end conference and wedding market.

The development will see a refurbishment and extension of an existing farm steading to provide conference facilities for up to 400 people or 240 seated guests. The company is aiming to tap into domestic and international opportunities in both the corporate and wedding markets.

The development is the latest in a line of investments by Laggan Outdoor, which has seen the business grow significantly since 2015. This has included new accommodation units, which have already helped secure local employment on a year-round basis.

The investment includes a Scottish Enterprise grant of £362,000 to support the expansion, which will create 34 new full and part-time jobs over the next two years – more than double current staff levels.

Construction on the new development is due to start shortly, and is expected to be complete later this year.

Masterplan agreed for CairnGorm Mountain

A new masterplan has been agreed that will see major improvements to visitor facilities on CairnGorm Mountain.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has agreed that a previously approved loan of £4 million to mountain operator Natural Retreats can be put towards making the vision for CairnGorm Mountain a reality.

The proposals are still subject to full planning. If approved, an artificial ski slope will be installed using the latest high performance technology to provide year-round skiing facilities.

A wrap-around viewing platform will be added to the Ptarmigan building, the mountain’s top station. The restaurant facilities will be upgraded and capacity increased from 100 to 200, and the exhibition area and retail shop will be relocated and improved.

The developments will enable Natural Retreats to offer year-round activities, including during winter periods of little snowfall.

Natural Retreats hopes to lodge the planning application during the summer 2017. Subject to approval and conditions, work would start as soon as possible thereafter.

Natural Retreats is in the process of reviewing the uplift infrastructure of the Mountain, following an initial evaluation of the ski area and will be looking for input into this review from the snow sports community.

Grant Property announces high profile appointments

Residential investment and management company Grant Property has appointed former Scotland cricket captain Preston Mommsen and Young Banker of the Year 2016 finalist Nicole Perry to its growing team.

After representing Scotland in international cricket for more than six years, Preston Mommsen announced in 2016 he would be leaving competitive sport for an opportunity in the corporate world. He has joined the company as a Property Buyer for Edinburgh.

Preston will work within the property buying team to acquire prime residential properties throughout the city on behalf of the company’s investors. Prior to his cricket career he trained as quantity surveyor and worked for global engineering firm Black and Veatch.

Preston is also currently studying part-time for a BSC in Property Development and Valuation which he is due to complete in 2018.

Nicole Perry has joined the company earlier this year as Associate Director of Investment and will focus on developing Grant Property’s UK and international growth strategy. A finalist in last year’s Young Banker of the Year, Nicole was previously with Tesco Bank where she entered the graduate scheme and became International Commercial Development Manager.

A graduate of Strathclyde University and former Saltire Scholar, Nicole previously interned at Entrepreneurial Scotland and through this met Colette Grant.

Bauer Technologies awarded RoSPA Gold Award

Bauer Technologies, a subsidiary of independent foundations contractor Bauer Spezialtiefbau GmbH, has been awarded the internationally recognised and coveted RoSPA Gold Award for Occupational Health and Safety 2017.

The RoSPA awards, a key fixture in the UK Health and Safety calendar, offer organisations the opportunity to prove their on-going commitment to raising health and safety: a commitment that Bauer Technologies said is a core value for the firm.

Aberdeen private rental scheme recognised by ASA

Dandara’s Forbes Place development has received an award from the Aberdeen Society of Architects, which represents architects across the North-east.

ASA, which has around 200 members, presented Dandara with a highly commended prize in the residential category at its Design Awards 2017.

A chapter of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland, ASA promotes the interests of architects and architecture in the region.

An independent judging panel of three Scottish architectural experts praised the development’s landscape setting and the reduced impact of parking.

Forbes Place, which was the first Private Rental Sector development in the North-east of Scotland, is located within Dandara’s Stoneywood community in Aberdeen.