Building Briefs - January 26th

Plans for a multi-million-pound centre of sporting excellence in Perth have been revealed.

The city’s college has announced details of an ambitious campaign to harness the legacy of last summer’s Commonwealth Games and create a launchpad for a new generation of professional athletes.

Plans have been drawn up to build the £6.5 million Academy of Sport and Wellbeing in the grounds of the main college campus on Crieff Road.

Fife firm Northsouth Communication collapses with loss of 126 jobs

A Fife electrical and maintenance firm has gone into administration with the loss of 126 jobs.

The news at Northsouth Communication of Lochgelly will be considered a shock coming as it does shortly after the firm embarked on an expansion drive after winning a major ScotRail contract to maintain stations across the Scottish network.

A year ago the firm was on track to almost double annual revenues to £7 million after adding 50 employees to its workforce and moving to larger headquarters.

Thames Water makes move in Scots water market

Thames Water is stepping up its attack on the Scottish water market.

The firm has added four business development recruits to its Edinburgh-based operation in a bid to grab a greater share of the £330million market for business water users.

Thames has grown its site base from 60 to 600 since last May and says it is now aiming to double the number of its business customers with the promise of cheaper water and wastewater solutions.

Whiteburn Projects detail ‘bold’ Dundee housing plans

Whiteburn Projects has released a batch of images depicting its planned residential development of the B listed former Parkview School, Dundee.

This has been sympathetically refurbished ahead of the delivery of ’bold’ new mews homes and apartments within its grounds by Page\Park architects, creating 45 new homes in total.

Finished with zinc cladding and with full height gable windows the properties each has a courtyard facing sheltered balcony on its upper level and private gardens at ground level.

Café plan approved for disused Kelvingrove toilets

Plans to refurbish a disused public toilet block to form a new coffee shop and community hub have been approved by Glasgow City Council.

Masterminded by Cameron Webster Architects of BeanYet, the plan would overhaul the disused public convenience on Eldon Street, next to Kelvingrove Park, whilst introducing a new roof terrace and free mobility scooter hire service.

Welcoming the proposals Audrey Gardner, chair of the Strathclyde group of the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland welcomed the proposals, but called for a window in the main façade to be reconsidered.