Building Briefs – February 8th

Kingdom comes for long-term job seeker Archie

A local man’s 10 year search for a job has ended with success thanks to new Kingdom Housing Association developments in Kirkcaldy and Lower Largo.

Archie Sprunt had been unemployed for over 10 years and had almost given up hope when he landed a temporary construction job on a Kingdom development that last week became a permanent post.

Archie was given a short term contract by Allan Cairns Ltd in late 2015. The firm was impressed by Archie’s commitment and was keen to have him back on their workforce. Kingdom was able to offer support through the Fife Works team and Archie started on site last week.

Kingdom are committed to working with developers and sub contractors to help provide additional community benefits on their affordable housing projects and, through their employability project Fife Works, are able to engage with subcontractors to support them to create job and training opportunities as a result of funding from the Scottish Government’s People and Communities Fund.

Abbotshall Homes are building 15 mid market rented homes for Kingdom in Ferrard Road, Kirkcaldy, and Allan Cairns Ltd as a sub contractor to undertake the Ames taping on the site.

The Kirkcaldy project is on site and due for completion by early June 2016.

Kingdom are due to start on site soon with a further 18 new affordable houses for social rent, at Durham Wynd, Lower Largo site. The project will be built by Lundin Homes.

Kingdom receives funding assistance for its new housing projects from both the Scottish Government and Fife Council. The Kirkcaldy and Lower Largo projects will provide 33 new affordable homes at a total cost of £3.1 million. Part of the costs are met through subsidy and the Scottish Government has provided around £1.7m and Fife Council have supported the projects through £300,000 in funding. The balance of the costs are funded through Kingdom taking out private loans.

Kingdom’s employability project Fife Works receives funding assistance from Fife Employment and Training Consortium and European Social Investment Fund via Opportunities Fife, and this allows them to support employers and individuals who are looking to recruit for or enter the construction industry.

If any employers or individuals would like to find out more, please contact Joanne Aitken or Lynne Dunn on 01592 862304.

Councillors visit new Shetland school site

A group of councillors and senior managers from Shetland Islands Council visited the busy site of the new Anderson High School to see progress on the construction project, scheduled for completion in early autumn 2017.

Mark Clarke, project director with Morrison Construction, escorted the group - Councillors Gary Robinson, Vaila Wishart, Frank Robertson and Theo Smith, along with chief executive Mark Boden and director, children’s services, Helen Budge - around the site and updated them on the current stage of work. The structure of the building is now rising from ground level, with the ground floor slab now in place, and the focus is now moving to the upper floors.

Councillors saw works underway on the first floor slab, to construct supporting structures for the second floor, which will be followed by the top floor of classrooms in due course. Once the main structure of the building is complete, then the lengthy process of external cladding and internal works will begin later in the year.

Construction work on the 100-bed halls of residence, at the north of the site, is currently focussed on the preparation of the ground floor slab, before the arrival of the steelwork frame in the next few weeks. Other ground works such as the completion of road access, car parks and service connections all continue alongside the main work on the school building itself.

Work starts on £10m housing project in Edinburgh

Persimmon Homes East Scotland has started work on a new £10 million housing development in Edinburgh.

A total of 82 homes, including a mix of apartments and town houses, will be built on the site off Stanwell Street in Leith.

As part of the planning agreement, Persimmon will contribute £300,000 towards local transport, infrastructure and education schemes.

Consultation backs visitor centre proposals at Inverness Castle

A recent public exhibition has backed plans to create a new visitor centre at Inverness Castle.

The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS), which occupies the building, has announced plans to leave the castle for a new purpose-built justice centre.

In response, a public consultation was held to propose ideas for the attraction.

With more than 200 responses, the discussion found the large majority of participants support the creation of a museum and a gallery at the castle site and do not support plans to turn the castle into a hotel or other tourist accommodation.

A development group will now be set up with a view of the attraction opening in the early 2020s.

Ayr water mains upgrade completed

Water mains upgrade work has been completed earlier than expected in Ayr, Scottish Water has announced.

The work involved improving around 55 metres of water mains in the Viewfield Road area.

The project began on Monday, February 1 and was estimated to take around two weeks to complete.

However, the scheme was completed on February 5.

The works were carried out by Scottish Water’s partners Caledonia Water Alliance.

Work to begin on new Orkney roundabout

Work is due to begin on a new roundabout in the Orkney Islands.

The structure is being built at the junction of New Scapa Road, the Holm Branch Road and the new Scapa Link Road in Kirkwall.

However, to allow works to continue, a section of New Scapa Road leading to Scapa beach from the Holm Branch Road junction will be closed from today.

Builder supports youngsters to develop in the outdoors

An Edinburgh charity which supports disadvantaged young people across Scotland have secured £1,000 funding from Persimmon Homes East Scotland.

Venture Trust have received £1,000 funding from the hosuebuilder’s Community Champions scheme.

Helping to improve the lives of over 1,000 people each year, Venture Trust provides personal development programs for those who experience chaotic or complicated life circumstances which have negatively affected the opportunities available to them and their overall outlook on life.

Skilled staff take participants on seven to ten day outdoor wilderness courses in order to build confidence, motivation and core life skills.

Providing all the equipment and kit required for participation including fleece jackets and trousers, Venture Trust aim to allow everyone the opportunity to attend, regardless of economic background.

The groups fundraising efforts have so far brought them £2,000 closer to their £11,790 target which will help provide outdoor clothing over the next four years for young people wanting to transform their lives.