Building Briefs – January 22nd

Queensferry Crossing to become motorway next month

The Queensferry Crossing will officially become a motorway on February 1, it has been announced.

The road orders have been approved for the £1.35 billion bridge for it to officially become a motorway.

This means there are changes to the type of vehicles that can use the new bridge, with non-motorway traffic no longer allowed access to the Queensferry Crossing, and using the Forth Road Bridge as an alternative.

A new guide has been produced to help road users understand the bridge layout and the new surrounding roads, with more than 25,000 copies distributed around the country.

Traffic Scotland operator manager, Stein Connelly, said: “With these changes coming at the start of February it is important that road users understand who is able to use the Queensferry Crossing and who should use the Forth Road bridge in future. That’s why we are giving them advance notice to make sure they are informed ahead of time and are making the guide widely available in hard copy and online.

“The guide published today sets out what we mean by motorway traffic and what vehicles can use the Queensferry Crossing in future. It also sets out which vehicles are permitted to use the Forth Road Bridge as an alternative route when crossing the Forth.

“While most road users will be completely unaffected by the move to motorway status, I would encourage those who regularly use the Forth bridges, or those who are planning to use the bridge for a journey to read the guide and plan their journeys.”

Calls to demolish fire-hit Aberdeen school

Aberdeen City Council has called for the fire-hit Cordyce School on Riverview Drive, Dyce, to be demolished so they can take it off the authority’s books and stop it becoming an expense.

Councillors will meet next Thursday to rule on the building’s future.

32 firefighters worked through the night to put out a blaze in November which caused extensive damage to the school.

At the time of the blaze, the school for pupils with behavioural issues was not in use and a consultation on its long-term future was under way.

The consultation is now complete and the council is recommending councillors permanently close the school as of April 1 and agree for the main building to be demolished, leaving only two accommodation blocks standing.

If councillors decide to close it, the Scottish Government would have eight weeks to challenge the decision.

Link Group chief executive to retire

Link Group Ltd chief executive Craig Sanderson has announced his intention to retire after 43 years of service at the Association.

Mr Sanderson will step down later this year from the position which he has held for 30 years.

Formed in September 1962, Link is now one of the largest social landlords in Scotland consisting of a group of eight social enterprise companies serving more than 15,000 tenants and other customers.

The Association has eight members of staff when Craig Sanderson started but now employs over 550 staff based in offices across Scotland.

Ross Martin, Link Group chair, said: “Link will embark upon a formal Options Appraisal, which will inform its operational and strategic plans. It will also help to determine how best to build on Craig’s considerable achievements in shaping, growing and leading this dynamic organisation.”

Wheatley Group to recruit 50 Modern Apprentices

Wheatley Group is recruiting around 50 Modern Apprentices to take their first steps on the career ladder on its two-year apprenticeship programme.

The award-winning Modern Apprenticeship programme has seen more than 350 young people join the organisation since 2009. It is run by the Wheatley Foundation as part of their programmes to tackle unemployment in their communities.

The successful candidates will work across Wheatley and its partner organisations including GHA, Cube, Loretto Housing, YourPlace and West Lothian Housing Partnership, while studying for an SVQ qualification. They’ll be able to pursue careers in different areas of the business, including housing, environmental and grounds maintenance, as well as business support services like finance, legal, communications and development.

The Foundation, which is chaired by Scotland’s former Chief Medical Officer, Sir Harry Burns was set up to tackle poverty and disadvantage in Wheatley Group communities.

Young people can apply to the Modern Apprenticeship scheme by visiting www.wheatley-group.com, or emailing their details to ma@wheatley-group.com by March 30 2018.

Positive 2018 outlook for Aberdeen’s office market – Savills

With total annual office take-up in Aberdeen in 2017 surpassing 400,000 sq ft (37,160 sq m) to double 2016 volumes, Savills anticipates 2018 leasing activity in the city will be driven by: infrastructure delivery; improved optimism in the local economy generally; and continued M&A activity in the oil & gas sector.

Activity in 2017 was largely led by occupiers opting to move to quality, open plan offices and with the recent completion of Grade A offers at Marischal Square and Silver Fin, Savills expects this ‘migration to quality’ will continue.

The reality, says the firm, is that older properties, those in a poor location or those unable to accommodate an open plan format will struggle to re-let and many should be found an alternative use, redeveloped or in extreme cases demolished.

The completion of infrastructure in 2018, in particular Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR) will boost leasing activity in Aberdeen across all business sectors, says Savills, as it shrinks travel times across and around the city and opens up new pockets for commercial use. Savills points out a further £4 billion being invested locally in infrastructure including a new outer harbour at Nigg Bay which will accommodate cruise liners; the new Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre; and the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre.

Further still, with Brent Crude oil having remained above $60 per barrel in recent months, Savills says market confidence has improved along with increased economic activity. This has translated into a number of new office lettings for occupiers within the oil and gas sector, demonstrated by Chrysaor’s 48,000 sq ft office letting at The Capitol, Marathon Oil’s 32,000 sq ft new lease on Hill of Rubislaw and Total Oil’s 128,000 sq ft letting of West Campus, Westhill.

Corporate activity in the last 12 months has seen $17 billion of North Sea assets acquired collectively by Chrysaor; WorleyParsons; Neptune; Enquest; Wood Group; Total and Ineos. It is anticipated all of these operators will be looking to maximise output on each of these assets that Savills says could result in increased economic activity in the sector with a positive knock-on impact on the take-up of office space in the area. This will be in addition to an improvement in activity in the city amongst other sectors including workshops, warehouses and residential.

Repair works to begin on dangerous Inverness building

Repair works are to begin on a dangerous building on Castle Street in Inverness.

The Highland Council has served a Dangerous Buildings Notice to the owners of the structure, Duncan Chisolm & Sons, after recent inspection work revealed members of the public were at risk to falling masonry due to the decaying roof impacting on the external walls. A contractor has now been instructed to carry out the minimum works required to make the building safe.

With work is due to start this month, the scheme involves building a working scaffold to the front elevation of the building occupying part of the pedestrian footpath whilst structural work overhead is carried out. It is estimated the scaffold will be in place for around 12 weeks. Temporary disruption to vehicular traffic on Castle Street will occur whilst the scaffold is being erected.

The work is being carried out under the supervision of a structural engineer, building standards, planning officers and the council’s conservation officer. Historic Environment Scotland (HES) has also been consulted.

The council said it will initiate recovery of its costs from the building owners on completion of the works by means of a Charging Order.

Historic wartime site in Inverclyde to be protected

Plans have been approved by Historic Environment Scotland to protect a historic wartime site in Inverclyde.

The Larkfield heavy anti-aircraft battery, featuring a command post, several gun emplacements and a number of associated concrete buildings, was built as part of an extensive system of defences along the Clyde during World War II.

Councillor Natasha Murphy said it was important action is taken now by the council to preserve the site as it has become a focus for anti-social behaviour over recent years.