Building Briefs – August 5th

CMS Window Systems founder shortlisted for top UK entrepreneurship award

The founder and managing director of CMS Window Systems has been named as a Scotland Winner in the prestigious and globally renowned EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2015 Awards.

Andy Kerr, who set up the manufacturers in 2006, now goes forward to the UK final with a chance to be named UK Entrepreneur of the Year at a prestigious event in London in October.

Andy has been at the helm of the company through nearly a decade of continuous growth. Today, the business has a £27 million turnover and employs more than 200 people between its modern manufacturing and recycling facility in North Lanarkshire and additional facilities in Fife.

Andy has built the firm on a sustainability ethos, which extends into every aspect of the business. This includes a commitment to apprenticeships and youth employment, which goes much further than that of most manufacturing businesses, right through to offering an extensive range of products and systems designed for low carbon buildings and operating in a resource-efficient way, with virtually all waste recycled.

Public invited to M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements Project drop-in day event

Scottish Roads Partnership (SRP), the contractor delivering the £500 million M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements Project, is extending an open invitation to communities and businesses of North Lanarkshire to learn about the major construction works currently underway along the A8/M8 from Baillieston to Newhouse, including Shawhead Junction.

SRP is offering local residents and commuters the opportunity to meet with them and hear first-hand how this significant infrastructure project will bring major benefits to the surrounding communities.

An informal drop-in day event will take place from 12 noon to 8pm at the Hilton Strathclyde Hotel, Strathclyde Business Park, Bellshill, on Thursday 13th August, providing an opportunity to view SRP’s plans of the new road layout and an overview of the construction works scheduled for the months ahead.

The improvements will require complex traffic management including speed restrictions, average speed safety cameras, temporary lane and road closures and diversions.

Renovations begin on £2.6m bridge restoration project

Campaigners have welcomed the start of a multi million pound restoration of one of Glasgow’s bridges - after more than two years.

The city council announced in 2013 that it intended to refurbish the Albert Bridge, linking Saltmarket and Crown Street, after it fell into disrepair, with cracks and shabby paintwork.

But problems with a contractor falling into administration and difficulties in finding specialist workers to restore the 1871 bridge meant the £2.6 million project - which was originally intended to be completed by April 2014 - was hit by long delays.

Work has now begun on the structure and scaffolding is in place, with the bridge expected to be completed early next year.

Councillors to visit Creag Riabhach wind farm site

Highland councillors have decided to visit the proposed site for 22 turbines in Sutherland to help them consider the planning application.

More than 200 objections have been lodged against Creag Riabhach wind farm near Altnahara.

Highland Council officers have recommended that the north planning applications committee approve the project.

Altnaharra Estate is working with a private local company on the scheme.

The developers have said Bettyhill, Strathnaver and Altnaharra, Durness, Tongue, and Kinlochbervie community councils support the project.

The Scottish Government has sought Highland councillors’ views on the development before taking a decision on the planning application.

Tweedsmuir wind turbine objection agreed

Councillors in the Scottish Borders have agreed to object to a plan for a wind farm near Tweedsmuir which has been reduced to 14 turbines.

The original proposals could have seen 27 turbines constructed at Whitelaw Brae.

Despite the reduction, councillors have decided to object to the Scottish Government over the scheme.

Planning officials had concerns about the cumulative visual impact and the effect on archaeological sites.