Building Briefs – April 24th

Hadden Construction to build £4.7m Perth motorstore

Perth building group Hadden Construction has secured a major contract to build Arnold Clark’s new £4.7 million showroom on the city’s iconic Motor Mile.

Chairman Scott Hadden said the group were delighted to be renewing their association with the motoring giant and also to be working in Perth at an exciting moment in the city’s economic development.

The new Arnold Clark Motorstore is to be built at Easter Inveralmond on the city’s northern gateway.

The area is undergoing significant development work in advance of the establishment of the Cross Tay Link Road, a major infrastructure project that is designed to inject new life into the city.

Mr Hadden said preparatory work had already been completed at the Arnold Clark site and the building phase would begin in earnest early next month.

The entire build has a projected development schedule of 24 weeks.

Surveying company fined £4,500 over asbestos claims

A Scottish surveying company has been fined £4,500 after putting up false claims on its website.

The Press & Journal reports that Ask Environmental Solutions was reported to Aberdeen Trading Standards in November 2015 over the qualifications it claimed to hold.

Court papers show the company falsely claimed it could carry out asbestos removal as a member of the Asbestos Removal and Contractors Association and the Asbestos Control and Abatement Division.

The claims were put on its website from an address on Montgomery Road in Edinburgh.

The company’s director, Kriss Ferrier, of Wester Kippielaw Drive in Dalkeith, appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court last week.

His solicitor John Good said he had not carried out any asbestos removal.

He said: “My client works as a surveyor; he would go round to people’s houses and tell them what work they needed done and then bring in somebody who was qualified to do it.”

Sheriff Malcolm Garden said: “This is quite a serious misrepresentation, letting people think they were getting one thing and then they were getting another.

“I will impose a financial penalty of £1,500 for each of the three charges.”

East Kilbride Expressway road surface improvements

Essential road surface improvement works are to get underway on the A725 on weekday overnights from today.

Scotland TranServ, working on behalf of Transport Scotland, has specifically scheduled this improvement programme to repair potholes and superficial cracks on the main westbound carriageway between the Douglas Street off and on slip roads each night from the evening of Monday 24 until the early morning of Friday 27 April.

The A725 road surface improvement project is one of a number of schemes being scheduled by Scotland TranServ to deliver long-term benefits to commuters, local communities and businesses across the region.

Bid to turn Glasgow city centre office into boutique hotel

Plans have been unveiled to turn an office in a former townhouse which was built in Glasgow city centre between 1822 and 1825 into an upmarket boutique hotel.

City businessman Robert Mullen and his wife would own and operate the 12 bedroom hotel across from the famous Alexander Green Thomson’s Free Church on St Vincent Street.

A report to city council planners says: “They have a passion for the catering/hotelier industry and have always aspired to operate their very own hotel and eaterie.

“The applicant is dedicated completely to the task of running the proposed hotel and take their responsibilities very seriously.

“The proposal will add to the amenity of the city for visitors by providing high quality accommodation to complement the existing provision in the city centre.

“Most of the buildings around the immediate area are occupied predominantly by offices, resulting in much of the pedestrian footfall occurring during the working hours of Monday to Friday.

“Our proposal will help further populate this area of the city during the evenings and weekends and subsequently help with the area’s regeneration.”

The report says there have only been minor changes to the building over the years and as a result it still boasts its classic architectural style, retaining the historic grandeur of St Vincent Street.

It adds: “The property is a category B-listed building.

“It was first built as a house and converted to an office.

“By changing it into a hotel, bar and restaurant the public will be able to engage once again with its historic qualities.”

Green light for Highlands shooting lodge

Plans have been approved for the first phase of a world-class shooting lodge and spa in the Highlands.

Danish clothing magnate Anders Holch Povlsen’s company Wildland Ltd aims to create more than 100 jobs by renovating a series of buildings spanning the Kinloch, Hope and Loyal estates in north-west Sutherland.

The project focuses on the area around Hope Lodge, which will continue to be used as a sporting lodge let to guests, but will be restored and gain an additional wing, including a large dining room, new working gun room and more en suite bedrooms.

A central facility for visitors would eventually be built in the upper deer park north of the existing Kinloch Lodge – six miles south-east of Hope Lodge – and would be known as the Wildland Hub and Spa.

A decision to approve the Hope Lodge plans was made by Highland Council planners under delegated powers.

150,000 manufacturing and construction jobs in Scotland supported by UK

New figures have revealed more than 150,000 manufacturing and construction jobs are supported by Scotland’s trade with the rest of the UK.

Research from the Fraser of Allander Institute show that overall, half a million Scottish jobs depend on the UK domestic market.

In addition, over 175,000 jobs are supported by export demand from the rest of the world and around 125,000 Scottish jobs are supported by export demand from the rest of the EU.

Around two thirds of jobs supported by exports to the rest of the UK are in the services sector (over 328,000) with just under one third in manufacturing and construction (more than 150,000).

Overall, Scotland sells goods and services worth £49.8 billion to the rest of the UK, and £12.3 billion to the EU.

Next phase of £5m Dundee water mains upgrade

Caledonia Water Alliance (CWA) is to start the next phase of a £5 million water mains upgrade project in Dundee.

The works will begin in the Clepington Road from Monday, 24 April. This initial phase will take place on Arklay Place and Arklay Terrace, with no road closure on this stretch of work.

Further work due to take place on Clepington Road will start on 01 May, lasting for around four weeks. Road closures and diversions will be in place.

Consultation on draft Inverclyde Local Development Plan

Inverclyde Council has launched a public consultation over its draft Local Development Plan.

The document sets out how future development will take place in the area up to 2024 and beyond.

It sets out the local authority’s strategy, policies and proposals for the use of its land and buildings, as well as determining planning applications and advise on development proposals.

The consultation is part of the Main Issues Report stage and sets out options for how particular issues should be addressed. These include how much new land is required for new housing development and possible locations; the future of industrial areas such as Port Glasgow Industrial Estate and Spango Valley and whether the new development plan should have a more flexible approach to encourage new uses in Greenock town centre.

Residents are invited to submit their opinions during the consultation, which runs until 31 May.

To view the Main Issues Report, visit here.

Funding secured for Bridge Of Dun station restoration

Funding support has been secured towards the restoration of the Bridge of Dun railway station in Angus.

The LEADER programme has awarded £31,800 towards Caledonian Railway (Brechin)’s project to build a replacement station at the Bridge of Dun terminus.

Plans include developing a bigger station than before – a wooden structure 18m x 5m that will be similar in style to its predecessor.