Building Briefs – February 5th

Emtec Core & Protect has commenced works at Andrew Melville Hall in St Andrews for Graham Construction.

Andrew Melville Hall is a student halls of residence, constructed in 1967 using prefabricated concrete modules, and is currently being fully refurbished to bring it up to HMO standards.

The contract involves diamond drilling and sawing works to create new service openings in concrete walls and floors throughout the 276 bedroom building, as well as utilising Brokk Robotic Demolition machines for the controlled demolition of existing concrete stairs, ramps and walls.

CMS helps deliver new ‘Garden Hospital’ in Dumfries & Galloway

High performance windows, doors and curtain walling by CMS Window Systems have helped to deliver the extensive new Dumfries & Galloway Royal Infirmary – a 63,500 sq. m ‘Garden Hospital’ designed to meet the increasingly sophisticated healthcare needs of the region’s population.

Designed collaboratively by Ryder and NBBJ for High Wood Health consortium and NHS Dumfries and Galloway, the new £212 million hospital located on the outskirts of Dumfries provides 344 beds, day case and inpatient surgical suites, an emergency care centre, ambulatory care centre, specialist oncology, maternity and paediatric facilities. It is described as the ‘Garden Hospital’ to reflect its pastoral setting and 17 courtyards, which aims to provide an uplifting, therapeutic and person-centred environment.

The building form and choice of materials reflect its rural setting with optimised views and natural daylight. The contemporary facade design references both the rural stone buildings of the area and patterns derived from the surrounding forest. The design considers the wellbeing of patients, staff and visitors as critical to the success of the new hospital. The interior design strategy continues the welcoming and pleasing theme of the exterior by defining and unifying a hierarchy of spaces, each with their own distinct needs. The main entrance atrium is a civic space filled with light with a clear and welcoming reception.

It is the first hospital in Scotland with all single rooms, giving patients a more private and practical space to receive the necessary treatment and recover. Eight ergonomically designed operating theatres are equipped with £30m worth of state of the art equipment.

CMS Window Systems was awarded the main windows, doors and curtain walling contract by the main contractor. This £5m aluminium fenestration brief involved the complete fabrication and installation of more than 420 windows, 35 stand-alone doors and curtain walling covering more than 8,000 sq. m.

Work to renew Merryton Bridge walkway

Work to renew the pedestrian walkway across the Merryton Bridge in Nairn will be carried out by Scottish Water this month.

The work will see the wooden decking replaced on the bridge, as well as supporting timbers where required.

Subject to suitable weather conditions, the work is expected to take place for up to two weeks starting from February 12. In order for the work to take place safely, the bridge will be temporarily closed to pedestrians during this period.

Remediation work at illegal dump in Fort William ‘could cost up to £50,000’

Up to £50,000 could be needed to carry out remediation work at an illegal flytipping site in Fort William, according to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).

Last month, officers from SEPA’s Waste Crime Team led a multi-agency response involving the organisation, Police Scotland and Highland Council, to investigate, and help address, flytipping at the site at Mount Alexander, Camaghael.

With building and construction materials being among the various types of waste that has accumulated at the site for a considerable time, SEPA said it is evident that tradesmen in the area are persistently dumping waste materials at the site to avoid paying the cost of disposal at legitimate waste management sites.

SEPA estimates the costs of cleaning up the site could be as much as £50,000, depending on the types of waste involved. To deter further flytipping, the organisation is working with the local community to seek solutions for restricting access to the site.

In addition, SEPA has started working with Police Scotland to undertake road stops in the Fort William area to ensure that anyone carrying ‘controlled waste’ is a registered waste carrier with the appropriate permits in place. Anyone caught without a permit could face a Fixed Monetary Penalty of £300 or even prosecution.

SEPA officers are also visiting local businesses to gather information, check permits and reinforce the responsibilities and obligations that apply to anyone producing, carrying or managing waste.

Laurencekirk B&B to be turned into care home

A Laurencekirk bed and breakfast is set to be turned into a care home after council officers gave the go-ahead.

Lynda Knight asked Aberdeenshire Council for permission to change the use of the High Street property.

Nobody formally objected to the application.

Consultation to shape Aberdeen’s Local Housing Strategy

Views on the future of housing in Aberdeen are being sought as plans for the next five years are prepared.

Aberdeen City Council is consulting on the Local Housing Strategy (LHS) for 2018-23 and is seeking input from members of the public.

The strategy will outline the council’s aims and aspirations for the delivery of housing and housing services.

The LHS aims to deliver six overarching strategic outcomes: Ensure there is an adequate supply of housing across all tenures and ensure that homes are the right size, type and location that people want to live in with access to suitable services and facilities; Prevent and alleviate homelessness; People are supported to live, as far as is reasonably practicable, independently at home or in a homely setting in their community; Improve consumer knowledge, management standards and property condition in the private rented sector; Reduce fuel poverty and contribute to meeting climate change targets; Improve the quality of housing of all tenures across the city during the development of the strategy’s six broad themes.

The strategy will be presented to councillors in spring 2018 for their consideration. The public consultation survey can be completed online following this and will be open until midnight on February 18.

Scottish Water limits household charges to 1.6%

Scottish Water has confirmed that an increase in household charges is again being limited to 1.6% across all council tax bands, keeping water charges in Scotland among the lowest in Great Britain.

The announcement means the average Scottish Water household charge in 2018/19 will be £363 – less than £1 a day. With charges for 2018/19 in England and Wales also announced today, the current average household charge of £405 is £42 higher than in Scotland.

Between 2015 and 2021, Scottish Water is investing over £3.5 billion in projects the length and breadth of Scotland.

The six-year investment will be made in water treatment works, pipes and networks – providing customers with improved service, enhancing the environment and supporting jobs in the Scottish economy. This is around £1,370 for every connected property. Ongoing projects include: