Building Briefs – August 3rd

Work is getting underway to demolish the University of Glasgow’s former Maths and Stats building in University Gardens - a prelude to work starting on the Learning and Teaching Hub.

University Gardens has been closed to vehicle access and parking for the last two weeks to allow contractor, Graham Construction, to begin the task.

The demolition process started this week and the UofG will do its best to keep disruption to a minimum. The programme for demolition should last around nine weeks ending mid-October.

£1.5m funding boost for offshore wind

Paul Wheelhouse, Scottish Government minister for business, innovation and energy, was at the Burntisland Fabrication’s (BiFab) yard in Methil, Fife yesterday to announce a further investment of £1.5 million into the Carbon Trust’s world-leading research, development, and demonstration programme – the Offshore Wind Accelerator.

The investment will allow the continuation of funding for projects to explore potential opportunities that offshore wind can offer to Scotland, ultimately leading to a reduction in costs.

The £1.5 million will be used to fund a range of projects to explore the potential benefits of offshore wind for Scotland. Funding will also go to projects designed to facilitate and encourage international collaboration and knowledge sharing between offshore wind developers, in order to tackle some industry-wide problems, and stimulate innovation in the sector.

The OWA programme brings together nine of the largest offshore wind developers in Europe; DONG Energy, EnBW, E.ON, Iberdrola, innogy, SSE, Statkraft, Statoil and Vattenfall.

Construction materials prices up 4.7%

The ‘All Work’ construction material price index increased by 4.7% in June 2017 compared to June 2016.

Latest official statistics show that the greatest price increase over the past year have been in sawn or planed wood, up 13.1%, and in fabricated structural steel, up 12.6%.

Over the same period there has been a 3% fall in the price of street lighting equipment, a 2.2% fall in paint prices and a 1% drop in cement prices.

June 2017 saw a 9.7% increase in brick deliveries, compared to June 2016.

Sales of sand & gravel decreased 7.1% in the second quarter of 2017 compared to Q1 2017, according to the seasonally adjusted data. This followed an increase of 8.5% in Q1 2017. Comparing Q2 2017 to the same quarter in 2016, sand & gravel sales decreased by 1.0%.

AWPR works - Lairhillock-Portlethen road to reopen early

The C13K Lairhillock to Portlethen Road at Rothnick is expected to re-open around two weeks early during week commencing 7 August, as part of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route/Balmedie to Tipperty (AWPR/B-T) project.

This road closure was necessary to enhance the safety of road users and workers while the contractor undertook bridge works and major earthworks in this area.

After the C13K Lairhillock to Portlethen Road opens, it is anticipated that there will be two further road closures at Burnhead, with the U63K Maryculter Road and C5K Lochton to Auchlunies to Nigg Road closing immediately for six weeks. This will enable the contractor to connect the new bridge and new road to the existing road, and to allow utility works to be undertaken.

Diversions for the closures will be sign-posted. Road users intending to travel north on either the C5K or the U63K should join the C5K, the C13K, the B979 Netherley Road, the B9077 South Deeside Road, the C30K Auchlunies Road and re-join the C5K. The reverse journey is required for those intending to travel south on the C5K.

Canadian energy company moves to Clyde Gateway

A Canadian energy company has become the latest occupant at Clyde Gateway’s Red Tree Business Suites, in a move that brings a highly skilled team of seven to Bridgeton.

SHARC Energy Systems is the European arm of Vancouver-based International Wastewater Systems Inc (IWS), which has over 100 years of experience in the heating, ventilating and geo-exchange industries.

The company has taken 974 sq.ft of office space at Clyde Gateway’s serviced offices at Red Tree, Bridgeton on a two year licence. The office will become SHARC’s new European headquarters.

SHARC Energy Systems has designed and developed a new method for extracting waste heat from raw sewage flows. Through heat pump technology, it produces clean, renewable thermal energy for buildings, resulting in vital savings in energy, costs and carbon emissions.

In May 2017, SHARC was awarded £5m of funding from the Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme (LCITP), managed by the Scottish Government, to install its innovative new technology at five locations across Scotland. These include Clyde Gateway’s Shawfield (Magenta) and Dalmarnock developments, where it is proposed that the SHARC technology will be used to heat Clyde Gateway’s commercial buildings.

aBV to start £2.5m waste water infrastructure upgrade in Edinburgh

Amey Black and Veatch (aBV) is to start work on a £2.5 million waste water infrastructure upgrade project in Edinburgh.

The scheme at Haymarket forms part of Scottish Water’s programme of investment between 2015-2021 which will see £29.5m of water and wastewater infrastructure projects across the capital.

A modern sewer will be installed along Haymarket Terrace to increase capacity and reduce the risk of flooding for properties and businesses in the area. The project comprises of four main phases to install a new 1.2m diameter storm storage sewer pipe, starting on Haymarket Terrace at the junction with Magdala Crescent and moving east towards Haymarket Station.

Work will begin on 04 September and will be carried out in phases until the Christmas embargo in December, recommencing in January 2018 with completion expected by early summer.

Police appeal after scaffolding theft in Dumfries

Police are appealing for information after scaffolding was stolen from outside a shop in Dumfries.

The theft happened sometime around 4.15pm outside the Bookers Cash and Carry on Glasgow Road on Sunday, 30 July.

Officers are keen to speak to the occupants of a white Ford Transit van seen nearby at the time.

Constable Gary Bil said: “This theft took place in the middle of the afternoon and I would be keen for anyone who was in the area and seen anything suspicious or the white van to get in touch with Police via 101 quoting incident number PS20170731-1159.”

A75 road resurfacing project to begin

Work is to start on an £880,000 resurfacing project on the A75 road.

The scheme, which will address issues with potholes and structural cracking, will begin on the Westbound Collin Bypass from Wednesday, 09 August.

A total of 1.5km of carriageway will be repaired overnight beginning at 7pm, with completion scheduled by Sunday, 20 August.