Building Briefs – August 4th

David Mundell MP visits Ardnahoe Distillery

The Rt Hon David Mundell MP, the Secretary of State for Scotland, met Stewart, Scott and Andrew Laing at Ardnahoe Distillery, on the east coast of Islay, overlooking the Paps of Jura.

The new £8 million distillery is being built by independent Scottish family business Hunter Laing & Co and is expected to start distilling in Spring 2018.

Mr Mundell was visiting the site to learn more about investments being made in the sector and hear about the industry’s priorities for Brexit.

Lovell hails success of supply chain partner event

Over 70 individuals representing sole traders up to large regional contractors and ranging from kitchen fitters to electricians have attended a supply chain partner event in Livingston in July to find out about new work opportunities with partnership housing provider Lovell.

Committed to supporting the local supply chain, Lovell is giving local suppliers the opportunity to bid for new contracts from a current forward order book totaling around £127 million.

Lovell’s plans include building more than 450 new homes this year, an increase of 60% on the number of units completed in 2016. Activity for the whole of Scotland is expected to increase by a further 7% in 2018.

Two major developments in the central belt will get underway in August – namely, a £4.6 million project to construct 37 homes for West Lothian Council at Almondvale Stadium Road in Livingston alongside a £2.9m plan for 20 homes to be built on behalf of North Lanarkshire Council at the site of the former Harthill Primary School.

Wood from US mill used to rebuild Mackintosh Building

Part of the structure of a US cotton mill is being used to rebuild Glasgow School of Art’s Mackintosh Building.

Southern yellow pine timber that was reclaimed in the demolition of the Picker Building in Lowell, Massachusetts, has been used to recreate the Japanese-inspired Studio 58 which was destroyed in the fire three years ago.

Eight beams from Longleaf Lumber were shipped to Scotland at the start of this year and, after testing and shaping, the wood has been lifted into the building in Garnethill.

Building Awards shortlisting for Clark Contracts

Clark Contracts has been shortlisted in the Skills Initiative of the Year category of the 2017 Building Magazine Awards.

The shortlisting follows on from Clark Contracts recent success at the Construction News Awards in July 2017 where they were crowned the winners of the Training Excellence category.

The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on November 7 at the Grosvner House Hotel London.

The Paisley-based construction, refurbishment and maintenance contractor is the only company registered in Scotland in its category of eight joining the UK wide shortlist of 157 organisations across 20 different categories.

Clark Contracts’ entry features the achievements of its Academy in 2016 including its innovative work with Glasgow Caledonian University in developing a new Masters programme and the introduction of e-learning, mentoring, supply chain initiatives and bespoke skills assessments for apprentices.