Building Briefs – July 20th

Graham Construction completes pro bono hospice shop revamp

The construction company which built three health centres in Lanarkshire has completed a pro-bono refurbishment of St Andrew’s Hospice shop in Larkhall.

A number of different sections of the shop unit were refurbished by Graham Construction, including painting, rebuilding shelf units and creating new display shelves including units at the front windows.

The project was carried out over the period of a week by a number of employees as part of the company’s commitment to the local community.

Graham completed work on three primary care health centres on behalf of hub South West for NHS Lanarkshire in Wishaw, East Kilbride and Kilsyth.

St Andrew’s Hospice provides specialist palliative care to people living with life-limiting illnesses. It places a focus on supporting patients and their families, with its shop units raising money to drive forward these efforts.

Graham is also preparing to complete Phase 4 of the Monklands Hospital project, which involves the delivery of a further two new theatres. Overall, the company will complete a complex, 12-phase upgrade and replacement of the Theatres/ITU Department to provide seven new operating suites, including two ultra clean theatres, recovery area, reception and relatives’ area.

Oberlanders to carry out appraisal and feasibility study for University of Dundee

Continuing its successful relationship with the University of Dundee, Oberlanders and the SCAPE framework have been appointed to carry out an option appraisal and feasibility study for the development of the School of Business.

This will allow for the appraisal of a number of sites on the city centre campus for the new facility, enabling the school to grow, attract new student and academic talent and develop into one of the nation’s leading business schools.

Jail for plumber who conned DIY stores out of £6,000 in goods

A plumber has been sentenced to eight months in prison after pleading guilty to defrauding DIY stores of more than £6,000 of goods.

Graeme McKay from Carnoustie told the stores that he was acting on behalf of his employers, and then used the goods to carry out work for his own business.

His deception came to light when his bosses were sent invoices by the stores and realised that they had not received the goods.

Perth Sheriff Court heard that McKay had been sacked with immediate effect and was now self-employed.

The 37-year-old previously pled guilty to going to Plumbase at the Inveralmond Industrial Estate, Perth, on December 19, and persuading employees to part with £380 of goods after telling them he was acting for a building maintenance firm at Dundee’s Overgate shopping centre.

He returned to the store on three separate occasions, on January 8, 9 and 15 of 2016 and made the same claims, coming away with a total of £3,949.63 in goods.

He is alleged to have targeted the Dundee branch of Plumbase between March 8 2016 and April 14 that year, telling staff he was authorised to use another person’s account to obtain goods to the value of £2,031.05.

Sheriff Lindsay Foulis sentenced McKay, of Church Road, Carnoustie, to eight months in prison.

Barratt Homes boosts cash at Wishaw Juniors FC

Barratt Homes has won the coveted five-star builder accolade from the National Home Building Council (NHBC) for the eighth year in a row.

To mark the award, the housebuilder has donated to five community groups located in the areas in which it operates.

They have given £150 to Wishaw Juniors FC, which is located close to their Ravenswood development in the North Lanarkshire town.

Scottish Government road works consultation gets underway

A consultation on proposals to raise standards and improve the quality of road works has been launched.

Transport minister Humza Yousaf today announced the start of the consultation which aims to develop the regulation of road works in Scotland.

The Scottish Government wants to hear the views on proposals to raise standards and improve the quality of road works, enhance enforcement and provide additional powers for the Scottish Road Works Commissioner.

The consultation includes recommendations from Jim Barton’s independent review in 2016 of the Office and Functions of the Scottish Road Works Commissioner.

Members of the public will be able to access the consultation via the Transport Scotland website until October 12.

Arts hub plans for Perth primary school

A £3.5 million regeneration project has been proposed which will see the derelict St John’s Primary School in Perth transformed into a home for artists, creative industries, business incubation and community education.

Under the plans, the redesigned building will house workspaces and art studios, meeting rooms, a gallery and a café over three floors.

The former school playground will be brought back into productive use as a community garden.

Once completed Creative Exchange Perth will provide space for 24 artists, 12 creative businesses and generate 20 jobs during construction and operation.

Audrey Carlin of WASPS said the Perth venture would provide the space for home-grown talent to operate and grow businesses, ensuring locally-trained people could stay in the city and contribute to the local economy.

Work on the project will start in earnest early next year and should be completed by the end of the year.

First step to demolish former Longannet power station taken

The first step on the road to demolish Longannet Power Station has been taken.

A request has been lodged with Fife Council for a screening opinion in advance of work to raze the sprawling Kincardine on Forth site, including its iconic chimney, to the ground.

The first stage in the planning process to demolish the buildings has been taken with Shepherd and Wedderburn, acting for demolition contractors BAM, lodging the request.

The firm requests Fife Council adopts a screening opinion that an environmental impact assessment is not needed for the demolition.

BAM, an experienced demolition contractor which has disposed of more than 50 power stations, has been appointed by ScottishPower.

The energy giant has decided the majority of buildings be razed, including the power plant building and chimney stack.

Decommissioning and demolition is expected to take up to four years.

As part of the planning process, a screening report has been prepared to determine if the environmental effects likely to arise from the demolition process may be considered significant.

It has looked at the potential impact on noise and vibration, air quality, drainage and waste, traffic and human health.

The findings from the screening report indicate that the proposed demolition of Longannet buildings would not result in significant adverse environmental effects, nor any significant effects, provided mitigation measures are implemented.

It concluded there is no need for an environmental impact assessment to be undertaken.

A90 Contraflow this weekend at Blackdog

A contraflow will be in place on the A90 at Blackdog this weekend to enable the contractor for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral/Balmedie to Tipperty (AWPR/B-T) project to dismantle scaffolding from a new structure at Blackdog Junction.

The contraflow is expected to be in place from 8pm on Friday 21 July until 6am on Monday 24 July with traffic initially running on the southbound carriageway, before transferring onto the northbound carriageway.

A temporary 40mph speed restriction will be in operation while the contraflow is in place.