Building Briefs – January 24th

The cost of energy from offshore wind has fallen by 32 per cent since 2012 and is now below the joint UK government and industry target of £100 per megawatt hour (MWh) four years ahead of schedule, according to a new report.

It also shows high industry confidence of continued rapid cost reduction to below levels set by any other large-scale, low-carbon energy source.

The target, set in 2012, was expected to be met by 2020, but wind farms given final investment decision in 2015/16 are already achieving prices lower than this target. This rapid reduction is tracked in the third annual Cost Reduction Monitoring Framework (CRMF) report, delivered by the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult on behalf of the Offshore Wind Programme Board (OWPB).

The industry is now focusing on further cost reduction, growth and job creation, says the report.

Job boost at RSBi with multi-million pound contract

Royal Strathclyde Blindcraft Industries (RSBi) has directly created 16 new jobs as a result of its contract to supply furniture to vulnerable individuals being supported by the Scottish Welfare Fund.

The figures were disclosed last week following a visit by Jeane Freeman, social security minister, to the premises of RSBi, which is the manufacturing division of City Building and one of Scotland’s leading supported businesses. More than half of its 260 staff have a disability, including visual and hearing impairments and learning disabilities.

RSBi was appointed by Glasgow City Council to supply and install furniture to individuals being supported by the Scottish Welfare Fund in 2014. The agreement, worth £6.5 million last year, requires RBSi to design, manufacture, deliver and install a wide variety of products, such as flooring, and furniture, for individuals receiving a community care grant.

In addition, RSBi is responsible for installing all electrical goods, including cookers, fridge freezers and washing machines in designated households. In cases where persons are particularly vulnerable, through old age or illness, RSBi can deploy a fast track delivery service at no additional cost to the council.

Since winning the contract, the manufacturing business has employed an additional 16 workers in a range of positions, from drivers, to floor layers and an apprentice administrator.

Through the contract, RSBi has also facilitated a new supply chain partnership with Spruce Carpets, a social enterprise which works to reduce the amount of flooring waste going to landfills. The Glasgow-based carpet company sells end-of-roll and surplus stock carpets to households, businesses and local housing associations.

£2.1m primary school extension completed in West Lothian

Esh Border Construction has completed a £2.1 million primary school extension and refurbishment programme in West Lothian.

The contractor delivered the improvements at Broxburn Primary in partnership with the council, Haliday Fraser Munro, Morgan Sindall electrical consultants and Currie & Brown.

The project included an extension to the hall, new changing facilities, and refurbishment of the existing nursery school and playground.

In addition, Livingston’s Carmondean and Peel primary schools are also being improved as part of a shared project to increase facilities in all three schools.

Pepler to lead at Watts’ Glasgow base

Building surveying company Watts has appointed Iain Pepler to lead its Glasgow office as it moves to new premises.

Mr Pepler joins Watts after ten years at Capita where he became technical director with responsibility for building surveying throughout Scotland and Ireland.

Some of his previous clients include the City of Edinburgh Council, Asda, Health Facilities Scotland, University of Edinburgh, Scottish Canals and SportScotland.

He is an active member of the RICS Dilapidations Forum steering group in Scotland and a registered Building Surveying Assessment of Professional Competence assessor with the RICS.

Coinciding with Mr Pepler’s appointment, Watts is moving into a new office in Bath Street in mid-February and will be actively growing the team over the coming months.

Abbeyfield Scotland buys Aberdeen homes to aid independent elderly living

Abbeyfield Scotland has acquired five properties from developer Dandara to provide homes for private rent in Aberdeen.

The £2 million investment in the two-bedroom bungalows will allow the charity to offer a dedicated support service aimed at people who are looking to live independently for longer.

The initiative, believed to be the first of its kind in Scotland, will be based at Dandara’s Hazelwood development in Aberdeen’s west end and will be available for occupation from the summer.

As part of the investment, support services provided by Abbeyfield Scotland will be available to residents and in the future, the organisation expects services will be widened across Hazelwood and Aberdeen. Dandara will also market the service to buyers of its properties in Aberdeen.

The charity’s package will offer a variety of services ranging from “light touch” assistance with gardening and shopping through to the provision of personal care.

The services are being developed in consultation with future users. Residents will be able to select the services that they need, with the option to add to these services as their wishes and requirements change.

Community asset transfer legislation goes live

A new law which will make it easier for communities in Scotland to take over land or buildings that are currently in public ownership came into force yesterday.

The asset transfer section of the Community Empowerment Act (Scotland) 2015 allows community-led organisations to request to buy, lease or use any land or buildings belonging to local councils, Scottish Ministers, and a range of other public bodies. They must show how they will use the land to benefit the community. Requests must be agreed unless there are reasonable grounds for refusal.

This is the latest section of the Act which gives more power to Scotland’s communities to have their voices heard in decisions that matter to them, and to take action for themselves.

New director joins Dunedin Canmore

Dunedin Canmore has appointed Alan Glasgow as its new housing director.

Alan succeeds Hazel Young, who took over as managing director of the Edinburgh-based association, which is part of Wheatley Group, last year.

After starting his 22-year career at Glasgow City Council, Alan worked for Glasgow Housing Association – in roles including housing officer and performance co-ordinator – for 10 years before moving to Wheatley Group’s assurance team.

Most recently he was head of housing at West Lothian Housing Partnership and Barony.

In his new role Alan will oversee the teams delivering housing services to Dunedin Canmore tenants in communities across Edinburgh, Fife and the Lothians.

Council applies for nearly £10m of funding

Argyll and Bute Council has applied for nearly £10 million of funding to boost economic growth projects throughout the region.

With over £9m already secured from external sources, such as Historic Environment Scotland, Sustrans and the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport, the council is aiming to achieve more funding to help carry out further improvements.

Projects include upgrading bus infrastructure, town centre regeneration projects, cycling/walking improvements, marina and waterfront upgrades.

In addition to council funding, there are bids in to sources such as the Scottish Government’s Regeneration Capital Grant Fund as well as the European Union’s European Regional Development Fund, with a total ask of £9,636,058.

CGC gives helping hand to school pupils choosing future careers

City Gate Construction (CGC) went back to school this week and gave top marks to pupils choosing their future careers.

CGC was among a number of employers who took part in the “I Can Do Anything Conference” at St Andrew’s Academy in Paisley.

CGC was the only construction firm to take part and the aim was to offer advice on picking rewarding careers in construction.

The company’s senior estimator Alison Joyce and timber preservation manager Jim Barrie both attended and offered tips and useful advice about working in construction and what to expect.

The event was organised for the second year pupils to provide a helping hand as they focus later this year on choosing subjects to study which will define what careers they eventually pick.

CGC supports young people through its much-admired Apprenticeship Programme which provides a firm grounding in construction work.

Apprentices’ learning involves college work and workplace training to equip them with the skills needed for a successful construction career.

Most of the apprentices taken on by CGC remain with the company and go on to take up full-time jobs. CGC is strongly committed to helping young people forge career paths in construction and has pledged to keep on running its apprenticeship programme indefinitely.