Building Briefs – December 23rd

HLM awarded BIM certification ahead of 2016 deadline

HLM has passed its (Building Information Modelling) BIM audit.

The architect now joins only a handful of companies to have been awarded the prestigious BIM certification through the BRE BIM Level 2 Business Systems Certification scheme ahead of the UK government’s April 2016 deadline for public sector project compliance.

The certification provides HLM with industry-recognised BIM credentials and enables it to meet the UK government’s requirements for all public sector construction projects to be built using BIM by 2016. It also provides assurance to clients that HLM continues to focus on delivering best value for clients through processes that reduce costs, improve efficiencies and deliver the highest quality results.

Nick Beecroft, HLM director, said: “BIM is essential for the future development of the built environment. Achieving BIM certification allows us to extend our engagement with the public sector and be fully-aligned to work in partnership with both existing and new clients.

“Through the HLM Academy, we will ensure that everyone involved in the design and delivery of our clients’ schemes is fully trained to use BIM and committed to demonstrating best value.”

Redesign of Hawick Community Recycling Centre set to begin

Construction work aimed at improving Hawick Community Recycling Centre will begin on Tuesday 5 January 2016.

A six-figure investment by Scottish Borders Council will aim to improve traffic management of the Mansfield Road facility as well as increase the site’s capacity.

The works will see a one-way traffic flow formed through the site and will keep the public away from the workings of the site. This will reduce the need for the community recycling centre to be closed while skips are being emptied.

Design work by the council’s architects team took place prior to Christmas. The improvements are being carried out by SBc Contracts and are due to be completed by the end of March 2016.

Redevelopment of Strathmartine Hospital close to being sealed

The future of the former Strathmartine Hospital site may be sealed imminently, as a three-month decision-making “hold” has now expired.

Scottish ministers upheld plans to build 198 homes and convert the B-listed main building into 24 flats on September 17.

Developer Heathfield Ltd was told the Scottish Government would not grant consent in principle until a local authority planning obligation or binding agreement is in place.

The three-month window for this is now up, according to the Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals.

Kingdom Housing Association opens new homes in Alloa

An Alloa couple are celebrating Christmas with their son in a new house specially designed and built to meet the family’s requirements after Kingdom Housing Association brought forward construction plans to meet their urgent need.

Earlier this year Kingdom, which mainly operates in Fife, began working in partnership with Clackmannanshire Council on their first joint project at Alloa Road, Tullibody, where 27 new affordable homes are being built.

The Tullibody project started on site in February 2015 and is due to be completed in February 2016. But while the project was on site Clackmannanshire Council identified a family who were in urgent need of specially designed housing and following an options review, the council invited Kingdom to build a house in Alloa, to meet the particular needs of the family who required the home to meet their son’s needs.

Working in partnership with the council, Kingdom purchased a derelict former garage lock-ups site in March 2015 and received funding in July which allowed the site start to commence. Subsidy was received from both the Scottish Government and Clackmannanshire Council, with the balance of the costs funded by Kingdom.

The new property was designed by local architects Bracewell Stirling and Campion Homes built the house for Kingdom. Campion provided additional works, as a community benefit, over and above the contract specification to meet additional needs identified.

Redesigned Dundee care home to fit in with local architecture

Developers of a care home to be built on the derelict former Scottish Water depot site in Dundee say the design will complement local architecture.

Approved earlier this month, objectors claimed the complex at the junction of Pitkerro Road and Stobsmuir Road would tower above their homes, but the firm behind the work say they have adjusted their plans to be more sensitive to the conservation area.

As a result of suggestions at the consultation stage, McCarthy & Stone say the plans were redesigned to create a more traditional building.

The development has also been moved back a metre from Stobsmuir Road, while retaining the same distance from neighbours at the back.

Alterations to the roof and shape of the building were made to reduce its scale and the total number of flats was reduced by two.

Changes were also made to the materials used in the design of the building, including the use of natural slate rather than tile for the roof and changing the windows to timber.

The site is now set to become 41 one and two bedroom apartments designed for people over 60, with a shared lounge, guest suite and 24-hour emergency call system for residents.