Building Briefs – August 2nd

The ground has been broken at Dundee’s first drive-through coffee shop.

Coffee chain Starbucks and pub and restaurant operator Marstons have committed to construction group Kilmac’s development at Fulton Road, Wester Gourdie Industrial Estate.

The Starbucks build is the first phase of development at the 1.5 acre site.

A 30-strong construction team began work on the development this week and the superstructure of the building is due to be complete by October 31.

The internal fit-out will then follow, with the intention of the new store opening in time for Christmas.

Marstons are seeking permission for final amendments to their plans and construction of their unit will follow in the coming months.

TÜV SÜD Real Estate shortlisted for two awards

Building magazine has announced the finalists for this year’s Building Awards with TÜV SÜD Real Estate shortlisted for two categories.

The firm has a chance of winning Engineering Consultant of the Year and Sustainability Project of the Year for its work on the £110 million Scottish Power headquarters.

Designed by architects Page / Park, the office development is a new build 14 storey headquarters located in Glasgow city centre, designed to house 1,900 staff. The scheme has been built on previously developed land, which was home to the former Strathclyde Regional Council. The 220,000 sqft, state of the art office complex overlooks the M8 motorway and has rehoused staff from locations in Falkirk, Cathcart and Yorker.

The design consists of a Cat A & B office fit out, data centre, lecture theatre, full kitchen/restaurant catering facilities and a penthouse executive floor. TÜV SÜD Real Estate provided the mechanical, electrical, energy and sustainability services. The scheme achieved a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating (74 %), EPC of A (11) and a 40 % reduction on internal water consumption compared to Building Regulations.

The building was designed with the wellbeing of its users at its heart, it offers a varied provision of catering, a gym, a health centre and well situated breakout areas at upper floor levels. The office plates are 15m wide with no internal columns and no intrusive vertical service risers or cores and thus offering maximum potential for space planning and future flexibility. Offsite modular construction techniques where utilised within the cladding and services elements to reduce the overall construction programme.

Winners are due to be announced on November 7.

Penicuik regeneration consultation announced

Consultants Douglas Wheeler Associates and architects Austin-Smith:Lord have been appointed by Midlothian Council to work with the people of Penicuik to draw up proposals for the heritage regeneration of the town.

The work, which has been made possible through a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, will include developing repair proposals to restore buildings, improve streets and potentially develop new community activities in the town centre.

The consultation will focus on creating a community-led vision for the historic core of the town centre and work will also be conducted to gather the technical information needed to submit a further funding application to the Heritage Lottery Fund to carry out the proposed plan.

If the second funding application is successful, it will mean an award of up to £1.69 million over five years to implement the project from April 2018. It will also release £725,000 of funding from Historic Environment Scotland.

In coming weeks, the consultation team will be launching an online questionnaire for local people, businesses and visitors as the first step in engaging with the community.

Graduates reach new heights at roofing firm

Roof tile manufacturer Russell Roof Tiles has taken on its first two Graduate Trainees in Operations Management at its Lochmaben factory.

The company – which employs 80 staff on an 11-acre site in Halleaths – produces roof tiles and accessories for the UK’s top house builders and high profile social housing and commercial projects, where sustainability and eco-credentials are of the utmost priority.

The company was originally founded as The Annadale Tile Company by John Gibson in 1964, when he purchased the site, which is close to Lockerbie.

The two new graduate recruits are Adam Clark (28) Gelston near Castle Douglas and Aidan Duff (22) who lives in Lochmaben, only a few miles from the factory – who both joined Russells at the early in the summer.

Adam recently qualified with a degree in Electrical Engineering from Napier University, Edinburgh. He previously spent time in the Army, KOSB – latterly part of the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

Aidan joins with a Degree in International Economics with Management from Abertay University, Dundee. He graduated with a BA (Hons) in 2016 and has spent his last year working as a Development Manager for a Scottish Distiller.

Soutra Hill quarry operation extension approval advised

Councillors are being advised to allow the extension of the operational life of a quarry in the Scottish Borders by nine years.

The Soutra Hill site - operated by the Skene Group - currently has consent for 18 years but that would rise to 27.

The company wants to extend its operations to help offset the cost of investment at the site.

Scottish Borders Council is being advised to approve the plans but with a string of conditions.

A legal agreement will have to be put in place to provide a bond to finance the restoration of the site.

Temporary diversion at South Deeside Road from next week

A temporary diversion for the B9077 South Deeside Road is expected to be implemented from 10pm on Wednesday 9 August for around 12 weeks, as part of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route/Balmedie to Tipperty (AWPR/B-T) project.

This local temporary diversion is necessary to minimise disruption to road users whilst enabling the contractor to safely undertake works on the new River Dee Crossing where it passes above the B9077 South Deeside Road.

Almost £10,000 of equipment stolen from Aberdeen bypass construction site

Nearly £10,000 worth of equipment has been stolen from an Aberdeen bypass construction site.

Police are currently investigating the theft of two mobile generators, along with a number of hand tools, from the ongoing Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR) project near Dyce.

It is believed the items were stolen between the afternoon of Saturday, July 29 and the following morning.

The incident comes after thousands of pounds of equipment was stolen from another AWPR site in the Netherley area in May.

Ayrshire road resurfacing scheme to begin

Work is to start on a £110,000 resurfacing programme in Ayrshire.

The scheme involves repairing 2.7km of the A77 Grassyards slip road, as well as 1.2km of the On and Off Slips on the A77 Bogend Toll South Bound.

Work will take place overnight on 16 – 17 August at Grassyards, with further work taking place on the A77 Bogend Toll South Bound from Friday, 18 August.

The schemes will be carried out between 8pm – 6am.