Building Briefs – December 7th

• South Lanarkshire pupils create winning name for Lovell housing development

Housing developer Lovell set Glassford Primary School pupils the challenge of coming up with a suitable name for development which is currently under construction close to the school. Comprising of 36 two, three and four bedroom homes, Lovell began work on the development in summer 2018 and it will be opening for viewings early in 2019.

The creative pupils came up with a selection of names and put these to staff at the building site who had the tough task of picking a winner. After much deliberation, the name “Borland Walk” was chosen and signage bearing the new name has now been unveiled at the entrance to the site.

The Glassford Primary pupils proposed a selection of names that would reflect the site’s history and show a connection to the local community. The name “Borland Walk” was suggested because the development site is known locally as the Borlands, named after a minister of Glassford who passed away in 1722. The pupils felt it was fitting to include the word “Walk” in the development’s name to reference a walking trail that runs close to the site.

To thank them for their help in naming Borland Walk, Lovell asked Glassford Primary School what they would like as a prize and the pupils chose a Kindle for the school library.

• Paisley’s Secret Collection hailed at prestigious architecture awards

Industry leaders have praised Paisley: The Secret Collection after it just missed out on the Cultural Project of the Year Award at the 2018 Architects’ Journal Architecture Awards.

The project was ‘Highly Commended’ by the judges for the inventive nature of its aim to revitalise the high street by bringing the area’s historic collections to life.

Scooping the top prize was the third phase of works to remodel Liverpool’s Royal Court Theatre which saw the refurbishment of its basement into an open performance studio capable of hosting a range of events from comedy to jazz.

Paisley: The Secret Collection is the first publicly accessible museum store on a UK High Street and contains thousands of objects which reflect Renfrewshire’s amazing heritage and culture.

The state-of-the-art storage facility is a space where everyone can explore, learn, research and discover hidden treasures in the collection.

Brought to life by Collective Architecture, the project was a key highlight of the work they have carried out transforming buildings using modest budgets to achieve maximum impact.

• Plans approved for Letham Primary School expansion

Plans to expand a Perth school to cope with an expected increase in nursery children, have been approved.

Perth and Kinross Council is extending the pre-school section of Letham Primary to accommodate another 100 pupils at a time.

The project will get the school ready for a Scottish Government initiative which will almost double the provision of free early learning and childcare provision to 1,140 hours per year by 2020.

Council officers have given the go-ahead to proposals for a 5,000 square foot expansion at the south-east corner.

The extension will be built on part of the playground, while a new outdoor play area will also be created. There will also be five drop-off parking spaces specifically for parents of nursery pupils.

The work will be funded by the Scottish Government.

• Construction work on early learning and childcare centre complete

Work on Kilcreggan Primary’s Early Learning and Childcare Centre (ELCC) has been completed.

The ELCC was previously located in an annexe beside the school, however, refurbishments carried out across the school during the summer holidays meant the children were able to move into the main building.

The new centre is directly across from the primary one classroom, allowing a closer working relationship between the children and opportunities for improved transitions.

• Work on £25m Almondbank Flood Protection Scheme complete

Work on the £25 million Almondbank Flood Protection Scheme has been completed.

Almondbank and Lochty have experienced a history of flooding from the River Almond and the East Pow Burn, with serious flooding events taking place in 1993, 1999 and more recently in January 2011.

The completed scheme, which is the result of partnership working between the Council and its contractors Balfour Beatty, consists of a series of flood defences along the River Almond and the East Pow Burn. The defences comprise of flood walls, raised embankments and erosion protection measures.

Two road bridges over the East Pow Burn and a footbridge on the River Almond have also been replaced and raised. The new footbridge was improved further, in association with SUSTRANS, as part of the National Cycle Network. The playing field, known locally as the Cricket Ground, has also been modified to act as a flood storage area and the works have included the replacement of the community sports pavilion.

The impact of the scheme on surface water flooding has also been addressed with additional drainage measures, modifications to road drainage systems and the provision of surface water pumping stations.