Building Briefs – December 16th

Hampden Park Ltd. has appointed akp to refurbish the Executive Boxes and North Stand Lounges at Hampden Park into new skybox and skylounge corporate hospitality and conferencing facilities.

Akp has started on site with completion due early next year. The £1.4 million project will improve the spectator experience and accessibility within each of the 26 boxes, and enhance the overall feel within the North Stand Lounges with a complete upgrade and refurbishment to be undertaken.

The main focus of the project comprises of the strip out, refurbishment and fit out of each of the 26 Executive Boxes thereafter the complete refurbishment of the North Stand Lounges and associated facilities. New Mechanical & Engineering services will also be installed and connected to the stadium’s existing services.

Akp will be delivering a number of specially designed joinery items to be installed throughout the boxes along with a number of unique furniture pieces to further enhance the new look.

During the project Hampden will continue to operate as normal with private events and functions continuing to take place. The akp team are liaising regularly with the Hampden Events Co-ordinators to eliminate any disruption.

Amey secures deal to deliver £17m Paisley sewer

Amey has been selected to develop a new £17 million mile-long sewer in Paisley.

The project is part of Scottish Water’s £250m investment package for the wider Glasgow area.

Works include installing a 1.5 metre diameter interceptor sewer using a microtunnel boring machine across the Paisley area. In addition, two new combined sewer overflows will also be installed.

It is anticipated the sewer and overflows will help to substantially reduce the frequency of spills from the sewer network into the Espedair Burn and White Cart Water during storm conditions. The project will also help improve the local water supply.

Planning permission required to open high street pay day lending and betting shops

Betting operators and pay day lenders will be subject to increased planning controls on Scotland’s high streets, planning minister Kevin Stewart announced today.

In recognition of concerns raised by communities across Scotland, legislation laid in Parliament this week will help reduce the negative impact betting shops and pay day lenders have on town centres.

The new legislation will mean anyone intending to change the use of a premises to a betting shop or providing pay day loan services is now likely to have to apply to their local planning authority for permission. Previously, some shops or services on the high street could easily be transformed into betting offices without needing any planning permission.

There are currently over 1000 betting offices and pay day lending premises across Scotland.

Cruden maintains commitment to addressing skills gap

Cruden Buildings & Renewals Ltd has demonstrated its commitment to plugging the skills gap within the construction industry as a raft of young people have successful completed apprenticeships and university degrees whilst working for the company.

Twelve employees have completed four year apprentice programmes as joiners, painters, plumbers and are now working on Cruden sites throughout the west of Scotland, whilst two office staff have gained Batchelor of Science degrees in environmental health and occupational health and safety.

Cruden Building & Renewals Limited, part of the Cruden Group, directly employs approximately 300 people including joiners, bricklayers, plumbers, painters and labourers. With more than 70 years construction experience, the company has always invested heavily in maximising local training and employment opportunities across Glasgow and the Central Belt.

This has been further reinforced by the creation of the Cruden Academy which was set up to be the focal point for Modern Apprenticeships, vocational training and life-long learning within the Company.

Cruden’s modern apprenticeship programme employs around 50 apprentices at any one time retain the vast majority of staff when they have completed their training.

Cruden also run a range of additional training initiatives through their partnerships with Action for Children, Young Scottish Enterprise, Princes Trust, Department of Work and Pensions and many more construction skills programmes.

MSPs to spend £1.75m on new lighting at Holyrood

MSPs will spend £1.75 million replacing the lighting in Holyrood’s debating chamber, it was confirmed yesterday.

Officials say the lighting in the chamber, which hosts First Minister’s Questions and debates, is starting to fail and the new set-up will save £350,000 over 25 years.

A Scottish Parliament spokesman said there is a risk that crucial parliamentary business will be interrupted if the works are not carried out.

Balfour Beatty Kilpatrick estimator to join A. Alexander & Son

Balfour Beatty Kilpatrick estimator Iain Muir is to move to Glasgow firm A. Alexander & Son.

Muir will take up the position of estimating & contracts manager in the New Year.

He told SCN: “I’m delighted as I’ve missed the day to day involvement of general M&E contracting and without being too corny, I’m really looking forward to the new challenge in the New Year. I’ll be working with the estimating side, dealing with material and sub-contractor procurement and also managing contracts from inception to handover.

“Alexander is solid contractor which has come through the recession well and has an established and loyal customer base, so it’s a really excellent opportunity for me.”

Edinmore Contracts opens new office in Motherwell

Grangemouth-based property repair firm Edinmore Contracts has expanded its regional presence by opening a new office in Motherwell.

The new premises in Draffen Street signals the start of a new recruitment drive by the insurance contractor.

The company is looking to take on up to 30 new staff over the next few months.

CPO’s to be drawn up for £26.4m Berryden Corridor project

Compulsory purchase orders (CPO) are to be drawn up to proceed with the £26.4 million Berryden Corridor Improvement Scheme in Aberdeen.

A recommendation to start the process was approved by the council on Wednesday.

Officers will continue to attempt voluntary acquisition of buildings on the route. Staff will then submit the completed documents to a future local authority meeting for resolution on making the compulsory purchase orders.

Derelict buildings on Powis Terrace have been selected for demolition over the coming weeks, which will allow work to proceed on the major investment scheme.

It is one of several projects worth a total of £560m, including the third Don crossing, the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route and the A96 Dyce Park and Choose and Link Road.

Once completed, the Berryden Corridor Improvement Scheme will help alleviate traffic congestion around the city.

Five most fuel poor UK cities are all in Scotland, report finds

Scottish cities have been ranked the five worst areas of the UK for fuel poverty.

A map published by MoneySuperMarket.com to chart the problem shows that Dundee topped the table as the most fuel poor city with 28 per cent of residents spending more than 10 per cent of their income on heating their home – followed by Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Falkirk.

According to the research, people who are in fuel poverty in Scotland fall short in paying their yearly energy bills by an average of £437 a year. UK-wide, the shortfall is less, at £371.

However, despite the huge expense, parts of the UK are wasting over £100 a year on inefficient boilers, bulbs, and insulation, as well as by leaving household electronics on standby, the study said.

Fuel poverty capital Dundee is ranked fifth for energy waste, with a potential household wastage of £115.

Equality watchdog to investigate ‘chronic’ lack of accessible housing

A major new inquiry starting is to investigate the chronic lack of accessible and adaptable housing available for disabled people in Britain.

Following research which found that approximately 1.8 million disabled people require suitable housing and approximately 300,000 do not have the adaptations they need in their existing homes, the Equality and Human Right Commission will investigate the provision of accessible and adaptable housing, and the effect it has on disabled people’s right to live independently.

The terms of reference for the inquiry were published yesterday, while calls for evidence will begin in early January. The inquiry will report in early 2018.

Options for surplus Helensburgh regeneration funding approved

Helensburgh’s regenerated town centre is to be enhanced after Argyll and Bute Council’s Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee agreed 12 further improvements - funded from the allocation of just over £650,000 surplus CHORD funds.

Members agreed that the funds left over from the original town centre initiative would be used to improve James Street with the installation of granite paving and replacing the pavements in East Clyde Street, Maitland Street, West Princes Street and John Street.

The committee also gave the go-ahead to work to improve the Maitland Street car park by installing lighting, resurfacing, re-designing and marking parking bays, stabilising the boundary wall and installing a parking meter.

The West Bay Esplanade will be enhanced and flood prevention work will be commissioned in West Clyde Street.

Finally, the town’s award-winning Outdoor Museum will be expanded.

Miller Homes helps students build future careers

Aspiring students at a number of colleges and universities across the UK are being given an opportunity to lay the foundations for a career in the housebuilding industry thanks to an initiative by Miller Homes.

The housebuilder is working with six further and higher education establishments to provide students with a greater insight into the varied career opportunities which are available within the industry and provide invaluable hands-on experience.

Design students at Edinburgh College, Teesside University, the University of Central Lancaster (UCLAN), South Staffordshire College and Oxford Brookes University will have the opportunity to take part in a competition to create the design for a room within a local Miller Homes development whilst construction students at Leeds Beckett University will work on a project developed around construction standards in new build homes, with one student receiving a year-long internship with Miller Homes.