Building Briefs – April 18th

Balfour Beatty welcomes HRH The Princess Royal to open Edinburgh student accommodation

International infrastructure group Balfour Beatty welcomed the University of Edinburgh’s Chancellor, Her Royal Highness (HRH) The Princess Royal, to the award winning site of the Holyrood postgraduate village within the world heritage site of Holyrood in the City of Edinburgh.

The Princess Royal visited the development to mark the completion of the final phase and official opening of the development which has seen 1,200 postgraduate students reside in the accommodation since September 2016.

In 2013, Balfour Beatty was charged with the design, build, funding and maintenance of the village, working in close partnership with the University of Edinburgh.

Construction was led by its Scottish business, with mechanical and electrical works provided by Balfour Beatty Kilpatrick to deliver 1,200 student beds, a retail unit, café and outreach centre, which houses the Institute for Academic Development and the Edinburgh Centre for Professional Legal Studies.

Ian Woosey, investment director, Balfour Beatty Investments was introduced to The Princess Royal together with other members of the project team, he said: “It was an honour to meet with The Princess Royal as she officially opened the prestigious Student Accommodation facilities we have provided in Holyrood. We have worked across our expert teams and delivered a high quality development which has been recognised as exceptional across the property and Higher Education sectors.

“In the short time the residences have been operational they have been voted Best University Halls of Residence at the first Property Week Student Accommodation Awards and also the Student Development of the Year at the Annual Scottish Property Award. The design and layout of the facilities are such that the students develop a strong community spirit and have an excellent experience whilst staying in the accommodation. It is extremely popular with full occupancy.”

Revamp plan for military museum

One of Scotland’s best loved military museums is to undergo a £3.75 million transformation.

For many years the history of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders has been celebrated at Stirling Castle. Based in the A-listed 15th Century Royal Palace known as the King’s Old Buildings, it already attracts around 185,000 visitors each year.

The trustees hope to update the museum, however, and provide an all new presentation and interpretation of the regiment’s history fit for the 21st Century.

Supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund and a successful £2m Thin Red Line Appeal fundraising drive, backed by the Earl of Strathearn, Prince William, heritage design consultants PLB Ltd will take on that task.

Trustees hope the modernised museum and expanded exhibit space will help attract an extra 28,000 visitors each year.

CCG managers secure CIOB accolade

Two managers working for CCG have each been named a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB).

The two successful staff members are Gary Weir, CCG technical manager, and John Baggley, CCG contracts manager.

The grade is only available to CIOB members who have at least five years of senior level industry experience.

Number of Scottish distilleries rises by 50%

The number of distilleries in Scotland grew by 50 per cent last year, a study has revealed.

According to analysis by UHY Hacker Young, 12 opened in 2015 and 18 in 2016.

Across the UK, more than 50 new distilleries launched, showing the “explosive creativity” of craft spirits, the study’s authors said.

Two awards for Hardies

Hardies Property & Construction Consultants has won both the Best Construction Consultancy Firm – Scotland and an Excellence in Project Management award in Build magazine’s 2017 Heavy Construction, Equipment & Machinery Awards.

Established to acknowledge the leading-lights of the construction industry who strive to prepare, develop and maintain heavy builds around the globe, the prestigious accolades have been awarded to Hardies in recognition of its commitment to service in the Scottish construction sector, having successfully worked on a number of the country’s largest projects.

Hardies serve clients in both the private and public sectors with an end to end operation in Property and Construction Development, Building and Quantity Surveying and Project Management, Principal Designer Services, Clerk of Works and the provision of Energy Performance Certificates.

Fife bridge strengthening works

Realm Construction is to begin bridge strengthening works in Fife.

The contractor will start refurbishing the A917 Kilrenny Bridge between Anstruther and Crail in May.

The works, which are part of the Fife Bridge Works Programme, will include installing a steel tunnel liner over the Kilrenny Burn and infilling beneath the bridge deck with concrete.

The new arch bridge and concrete parapets will be clad in natural stone sympathetic to the Kilrenny Conservation Area while the road will be resurfaced with junctions realigned to suit the new arrangement.

Completion is scheduled for August.

M8 resurfacing scheme to begin

Scotland TranServ is to begin a £240,000 resurfacing project on the westbound M8 Junction 30.

The company will repair a 1km section of the motorway, tackling potholes and structural cracks on this stretch of the route.

Work will take place between 8pm – 6am from Tuesday, 18 April to Friday, 21 April.

Restoration work completed on historic Muckle Cross

The wraps have come off an iconic structure in Elgin town centre following a £45,000 restoration project.

The Muckle Cross has spent the past few months shrouded from public view while work was carried out on cleaning the stonework.

Now the structure has been unveiled after being restored to its former glory.

Funding for the project to preserve the fabric of the historic monument came from Moray Council, the Elgin Common Good Fund and the Elgin Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS).

The restoration work was undertaken by local company Darroch and Allan.

Borders traditional property workshop event

Owners of traditional buildings across the Scottish Borders are being invited to a workshop in Selkirk being delivered by the Scottish Traditional Skills Training Centre in association with Selkirk Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS).

Four leading experts will be on hand on May 25at The Haining, Selkirk, to look at the basic principles and critical factors which must be addressed when identifying potential sustainable futures for traditional buildings of all types.

The event, which runs from 9.30am to 4.30pm, will include a series of brief presentations, case studies and facilitated discussion and question and answer sessions. The cost is £35 and includes lunch and refreshments.

For further information, or to book a place, call 01835 825563 or email selkirkCARS@scotborders.gov.uk.