Building Briefs – December 9th
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JM Architecture unveils final designs for £12m Moray primary
Edinburgh-based architects JM Architecture have revealed the final designs of a new £12 million primary school in Moray.
Work on the new Linkwood Primary is scheduled to begin early next year, with completion by summer 2018.
Charitable bond investment to fund 80 affordable homes for Dumfries
Eighty new affordable homes will be built in Dumfries as a result of a £6.8 million investment in charitable bonds.
Allia Impact Finance, part of the Allia social investment charity which issues the bonds on behalf of the Scottish Government, has provided Dumfries and Galloway Housing Partnership (DGHP) with a loan of £5m.
The interest on the loan, around £1.8m, will be converted into a charitable donation, which the Scottish Government will give to housing associations for the construction of new social housing.
This loan brings the Scottish Government’s total charitable bond investments to over £47m, which is supporting the development of 661 affordable homes across Scotland, from Orkney to the Borders. As a result of this investment the total amount of charitable donations generated for the construction of new social housing is now an additional £11m.
New lease of life for former Perth bank building
One of Perth’s most high profile empty buildings is in line for a £1 million-plus investment.
The Clydesdale Bank relocated from their South Methven Street base to the High Street more than two years ago.
Their former city HQ has lain empty ever since, joining the adjacent St Paul’s Church and former Clachan Bar and Quality Cafe buildings opposite in a triangle of dereliction.
Earlier this week, Perth and Kinross Council unveiled plans to buy and convert the church into a new public space.
Now an experienced local commercial property developer is providing the Fair City with early Christmas cheer, pressing ahead with the biggest private sector investment in the city centre since the economic crash of 2008.
Businessman Brian Blair’s Verimac Ltd has acquired the building and the company unveiled their plans for the former bank headquarters.
The building offers around 10,000 square feet of floorspace and 16 parking places and the company plans to develop the building into four separate units.
Two large ones will be for let while solicitors McCash and Hunter will continue to operate the ground floor property shop and retain their first floor offices.
High-end office accommodation will form part of the project and before the end of the month the paperwork will be completed on a contract which will see an expanding local business assume occupancy of part of the building.
Work continues on £7.8m Denny town centre regeneration
The centrepiece of the £7.8 million Denny town centre regeneration project in Falkirk, the new Denny Library, was officially opened this week.
The library forms the focal point of the regeneration, which will include 10 shop units, an improved car park and a new community-designed town square once completed.
Work is now underway on the demolition of the remaining remnant of the 1960’s Church Walk block – the octagonal building.
Once completed, the remainder of phase 1 works will finish in summer 2017, with the new community designed town square, completion of the car park and the introduction of five public art pieces.
New Moray homes ‘bring health care into the community’
A new housing development for older people in Moray which puts into practice the latest design and research to bring health care back into the community has been handed over to Hanover (Scotland) Housing Association.
The new development at Varis Court, on Leask Road in Forres was developed in partnership with Health & Social Care Moray (the new Integrated Joint Board involving Moray Council and NHS Grampian) and the Scottish Government and is designed to allow residents to be cared for in familiar surroundings.
In the design, planning and building of the development, Hanover Scotland has put into practice the most up to date thinking and research to create a uniquely modern development suited to the needs of older people who require different levels of care and support.
Features developed in partnership with local health services include:
The design includes large areas of glass, to allow for as much natural light as possible. It also features a striking courtyard at the centre for tenants to enjoy an outside space which is ideal for gardening or events.
There is a large lounge for relaxing, as well as a designated day room where residents can choose to have their meals. There are a number of break-out rooms, these include private areas for peace and quiet and a specially outfitted sensory room.
HES awards over £107,000 towards Ballater Railway Station repairs
Over £107,000 has been secured from Historic Environment Scotland (HES) to help redevelop the former Ballater Railway Station in Aberdeenshire.
The building, which was devastated by a fire in 2015, is set to undergo a £3 million reinstatement programme by the council.
Specialist conservators are to be appointed to recreate the interior of the Category B-listed building. In addition, the swan-necked iron lamps, the porte-cochere (covered entrance way), and decorations, including stained glass, will all be developed. A new exhibition space will extend along the old platform.
The £107,500 HES grant will help repair the historic royal waiting room.
Graham Construction furnishes Queen Margaret Hospital with major donation
Café Aroma at Queen Margaret Hospital, Dunfermline has been fitted with an extensive range of brand-new garden furniture donated by its construction partner Graham Construction.
The café, which was modernised as part of the ongoing £9.2 million redevelopment and enhancement of Queen Margaret and Victoria Hospitals for NHS Fife, benefited from a £2,500 suite of tables and chairs gifted by the construction company.
As part of the work to the Queen Margaret Hospital, Graham Construction has delivered a new dental suite to develop the quality of care available and a state-of-the-art audiology unit offering first-class test facilities for patients affected by hearing difficulties.
It lead the redevelopment of the Carnegie Unit to support NHS Fife’s local community care - part of the authority’s ‘Getting Better in Fife’ model of care which will produce an integrated facility pulling together services which have previously been separate.
Graham Construction has also recently completed a number of new developments at the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy including a new aseptic suite to boost the facilities for controlling and storing prescribed medicines along with the refurbishment of Ward 9, providing a clinical environment available for patients.
City Building painting apprentice is decorated with national award
A second year apprentice painter and decorator with City Building (Glasgow) LLP, beat off thousands of entrants to claim a top spot in one of the sector’s most prestigious trade awards.
Lisa Murphy, 20, took third place in the Johnstone’s Young Painter of the Year national competition.
Respected by the industry throughout the UK, Johnstone’s Young Painter of the Year is a prestigious painting and decorating competition which celebrates young talent, offering eight heats nationwide culminating in a live final at the National Painting and Decorating Show.
After winning the regional heat of the awards, Lisa travelled to Coventry to take part in the national finals of the competition. She had to complete a series of tasks and demonstrate a wide range of skills including her ability to work from a detailed specification, which involved marking out a complex design. Due to Lisa’s outstanding finish to all tasks, she won third place and received an iPad and some painting and decorating tools as a prize.
Earlier this year, Lisa won the Apprentice of the Year prize at City Building’s 10th annual Apprenticeship awards ceremony at the City Chambers, having already collected the 2nd Year Painter and Decorator award earlier in the evening.
Her trophy cabinet also includes the Modern Apprentice of the Year award from the Trades House and she was also placed third in the Scottish Building Apprenticeship Training Council James Birnie award for craft excellence. This award recognises the talents of Scotland’s traditional craft apprentices undertaking any of the traditional four year SVQ level 3 programmes.
Retirement and affordable housing plans lodged for Milngavie
Proposals for a new development that will provide retirement and affordable housing for older people in Milngavie have been submitted to East Dunbartonshire Council.
Developer McCarthy & Stone proposes to build 49 retirement apartments, with access to a shared homeowners’ lounge and landscaped gardens, on land to the west of the fire station on Craigdhu Road.
The site forms part of a larger five acre site that has been identified as suitable for housing in the local development plan.
The development will be overseen by a house manager and security features, include a link to a 24 hour emergency call service.
A smaller block of 12 affordable housing apartments, for people over 55, is being proposed to be built on the same site by Sanctuary Housing.
The builder says its retirement living developments have proven to have a number of wider community benefits as residents use local services and tend to downsize from under occupied, large family homes releasing them for sale.
The planning application is likely to be considered by the council in spring next year.
Eleven Argyll and Bute projects shortlisted for share of £3m regeneration funding
Eleven projects across Tarbert, Lochgilphead and Ardrishaig have been shortlisted to be considered for a share of the £3 million Argyll and Bute Council fund aimed at regenerating the areas, boosting the local economy and creating jobs.
Members of the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands area committee agreed that the projects recommended for possible further feasibility studies and initial design work - which will allow outline business cases to be developed - should be:
A final decision on the shortlisted projects will be taken when members of the council’s policy and resources committee consider the recommendations on December 15.
New council homes ready in Bathgate
A new West Lothian Council housing development has been completed in Bathgate.
The homes on the site of a former pub at Glasgow Road form part of the local authority’s new house building programme, which will see 1,000 new homes built by 2017 across each of the nine council wards.
Constructed on behalf of the council by Lovell, the development includes four one bedroom cottage flats, four two bedroom cottage flats and a two bedroom bungalow.
A new access road and turning circle to Windyknowe Primary School has been constructed on the site as part of the project.
Tennent’s to pour £1m into Glasgow visitor centre
Tennent Caledonian is to invest £1 million into a new visitor centre at its Wellpark Brewery in Glasgow’s East End.
The planning application, currently with Glasgow City Council, unveils proposals to enhance existing visitor facilities with digitally-produced simulation and visualisation content showcasing “The Tennent’s Story”.
Owned by Ireland’s C&C Group, the brewery produces Scotland’s best-selling lager, which has also seen a jump in export sales in recent months.
The new attraction is due to open in the autumn of 2017.
The project is being led by Glasgow-based agency The Creative Cell along with ZM Architecture and The School of Simulation and Visualisation at the Glasgow School of Art. It will focus on telling the story of Tennent’s place in history, culture and sport.
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