Building Briefs – January 22nd

The first of two glazed canopies designed by AHR Architects as part of the overall St Enoch subway station refurbishment in Glasgow is almost complete.

Creating striking new entrance points to the redesigned Subway concourse and platform, the counterpart canopy is currently under way by Graham Construction and the full station refurbishment will be completed later this year.

Commissioned by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport, St Enoch is one of seven Subway station refurbishments that AHR is undertaking in Glasgow and forms part of a major modernisation plan for the entire Glasgow Subway network. AHR has been responsible for the overall design approach across all the stations and St Enoch is the flagship city centre station.

The new canopies at St Enoch replace outdated ‘pop-up’ entrances at the north and south ends of St Enoch Square. AHR’s designs have created a new form of canopy particular to the Glasgow Subway, inspired by the19th century cast and wrought iron structures in which Glasgow excelled and which were exported from the Clyde all over the world – glasshouses, station roofs and palm houses (such as the Kibble in Glasgow Botanic Gardens).

Ellon Academy Community Campus access road named

Ellon Academy Community Campus reached a milestone this week as new infrastructure providing access to those using it was named by local community members.

The new access road off the B9005 (South Road) to the campus has been named Kellie Pearl Way.

The pedestrian bridge over the River Ythan that will link the new campus with Ellon will be named ‘Boatie Tam’s Brig’.

The origin of the road’s new name comes from one of the largest freshwater pearls discovered in the history of the Scottish pearl industry, which was found in a tributary of the River Ythan in 1621.

The pearl was then presented to King James VI, who incorporated it, along with other precious stones, into the crown used for the Scottish coronations of Charles I in 1633 and Charles II in 1651.

The name of the new pedestrian bridge also has a local connection as it is to be named after Mr Tom Pirie, also known as Boatie Tam.

Mr Pirie, who died in 1992, operated a small boat that ferried people from one side of the Ythan to the other at a time when there were limited crossing points.

A community engagement exercise spearheaded by Aberdeenshire Council’s Formartine Area Office brought together local councillors and community councillors, council officers and pupils and staff from Ellon Academy to come up with the names for the two major pieces of infrastructure.

New Gorbals Housing Association to deliver new homes

Plans have been submitted for new infill housing on the site of twin demolished tower blocks at Glasgow’s Sandiefield Road.

Delivered by New Gorbals Housing Association and designed by Elder & Cannon architects, the scheme is part of a wider redevelopment of the block including new housing association offices and a health centre with the housing expected to be the first element to be delivered.

Construction work is expected to get underway in the autumn.

Council submits planning application for Torvean Golf Course Project

Highland Council is to submit a detailed planning application tomorrow for the new Torvean Golf Course, as part of its project plans for enhanced sports facilities in the city, made possible with the building of the Inverness West Link.

The planning application in principle for the Torvean Golf Course, Sports Hub & Parkland Application was granted on the 14th April 2014.

The project delivery is conditional on the council obtaining the statutory consents to build the Inverness West Link road and funding being approved by the council at its meeting in March 2015.

The construction of the West Link requires a reconfiguration of the Golf Course and an estimated investment of £1.3 million is the minimum required to relocate the golf holes to enable the building of the road.

Additional enhancements to the golf course have been developed as part of the proposals, in a greater ambition for the City of Inverness, thus enabling further economic development in the area.

The planning process for the enhanced sports facilities will include a public display of the Canal Parks Rugby Club proposals at the Inverness Aquadome on Tuesday 27th January 2015 from 10am until 8pm.

Council homes boost for North Lanarkshire

Work is well underway on the former Belvidere Primary school site in Bellshill as the land is transformed into a brand new council house development.

The £2.2 million scheme will see 20 new homes created by North Lanarkshire Council. It will include a mix of two bedroom cottage flats and bungalows being built, with the site expected to be finished in the autumn.

The Belvidere site is part of the council’s £172m ‘Building for the Future’ new build housing programme, which is delivering 1,150 new council homes across North Lanarkshire by 2020.

Preparation work on the site began in November last year.

The properties are designed to be energy efficient and adaptable for tenants with disabilities. The development will also have Secure by Design accreditation from Police Scotland and have an ECO homes rating of at least ‘good’, ensuring the properties are energy efficient and economical to heat.

The development is being carried out by affordable housing developer Wates on behalf of the council.

The Scottish Government is contributing £1m towards the development costs of the Belvidere Road project.

New director leads building consultants to exciting future

Property consultant CBRE has appointed Roddy Morrison as director and new head of building consultancy in Aberdeen.

Mr Morrison has a wealth of experience from a career in both property and construction spanning almost 30 years.

He has joined CBRE from rival firm Knight Frank, where he was an associate.

In his new role, he will be focused on bolstering the reputation of CBRE’s Granite City-based building consultancy team.

His experience to date has been mainly focused on design and project monitoring and management for office and industrial work as well as health and safety management, with a particular specialism in the oil and gas sector.

In addition to his role at Knight Frank, he has held positions at WGT Building Management and Chesterton.

Homes plan for former site of Victorian mansion

Plans have been lodged for six luxury homes on the woodland site of a former granite Victorian mansion.

CALA Homes North wants to build on land formerly occupied by Edgehill House, in Milltimber.

The firm has submitted the detailed planning application for the five-bedroom, granite buildings to Aberdeen City Council.

The original Edgehill House is thought to have been demolished in the 1950s and was replaced in the 1960s with a one-and-a-half storey home.

It too will be knocked down if the new plans are approved.

CALA Homes hopes to begin work by the summer.

Decision on Blairgowrie landslide pathway delayed

Efforts to reopen a popular tourist trail have been hit by delays.

The historic Oakbank Road in Blairgowrie has been fenced off since it was damaged in a major landslide two years ago.

Officers from Perth and Kinross Council had called for a permanent closure but the local authority has agreed to consider a compromise proposed by the town’s community council.

It has called for clearer warning signs, alerting visitors to the potential dangers, but also want the route to be available to the public again.

It was hoped that council officers would revisit the route in March to consider a fresh way forward and their report was expected to be considered by councillors later that month.

Yesterday, members of the council’s environment committee heard that the visit had been delayed.