Building Briefs – July 3rd

CMS Window Systems helps deliver new era of education in North Ayrshire

A comprehensive package of aluminium windows, doors and curtain walling by CMS Window Systems has helped to create a world-class learning campus in the North Ayrshire town of Largs.

The new £52 million, 2,000-student Largs Campus developed by North Ayrshire Council in conjunction with infrastructure partnership hub South West is North Ayrshire Council’s largest ever investment in a single project. Designed by JM Architects, the state-of-the-art learning facility accommodates the new Largs Primary School – which replaced two primary schools, Brisbane and Kelburn – as well as housing Early Years nurseries, St Mary’s Primary School and the town’s relocated secondary school, Largs Academy.

Delivered by Morrison Construction via a design, build, finance and maintain contract, Largs Campus is equipped with the widest range of facilities including two theatres, a gym hall - which is among the largest in the UK – and art classrooms with balconies that enable outdoor working with views along the Ayrshire Coastline. Externally, students benefit from a synthetic 7-a-side pitch and a multi-use games area. as well as having access to the extensive sports pitches at the neighbouring sportscotland Inverclyde national sports training centre.

CMS Window Systems was tasked with manufacturing and installing an extensive mix of aluminium windows, doors and curtain walling in a contract valued at £1.3m. This was manufactured to the architect’s specification using a variety of Metal Technology systems which ensure the fenestration delivers multiple aesthetic, thermal performance, comfort, safety and security benefits over a long, low maintenance service life.

Dalry bypass project reaches major milestone

The £31.2 million A737 Dalry Bypass project has reached a major milestone.

The A737 Dalry Bypass project involves the construction of a new bypass to the east of the town of Dalry and associated junctions to connect to the A737 trunk road.

The first of two phases over the River Garnock has been launched.

Irish contracting joint venture (JV), Farrans Roadbridge, pulled a 650T double girder from the assembly area over the River Garnock towards the Glasgow/Ayr railway line.

The project is on target to be completed next year.

Councillors back proposals for South Ayrshire school campuses

Significant progress has been made on the proposed development of shared school campuses and educational facilities in Maybole and Prestwick.

South Ayrshire councillors backed the proposals, subject to funding being agreed.

The proposals outline a new campus in Maybole to be built in the grounds of Carrick Academy, with plans to be open for August 2021.

Cairn Primary School and Gardenrose Primary School will merge to become a completely new school located at the new campus. The Early Years’ Centres for both these schools will also merge.

St Cuthbert’s Primary School will also continue to operate as a stand-alone school, located on the Maybole campus.

In Prestwick, Glenburn Primary School and St Ninian’s Primary School will share a new campus to be built in the grounds of one of the existing schools.

Opening at the start of the 2021/22 school session, the new campus will also include an Early Learning Centre, merging the existing centres at Glenburn and St Ninian’s.

Both campuses could also feature outdoor classroom facilities, multi-use games halls, social areas for play and even allotments.

A lengthy consultation process was undertaken showcasing a majority support for the two campuses.

Senior appointments at BAM Construct UK

BAM Construct UK has announced that Rod Stiles has been appointed as regional director of BAM Construction in London.

He will continue to serve as a member of the senior management team of BAM Construct UK in his new role.

Prior to this appointment, Rod Stiles was director of BAM Construction in the Midlands since 2014 and has reshaped the region’s work profile significantly, attracting new clients such as Jaguar Land Rover and Tata Technologies. Prior to his role in the Midlands, Rod spent ten years in senior roles in the South East.

David Ellis has been appointed as regional director of BAM Construction in the Midlands and has also been appointed to the senior management team of BAM Construct UK.

Dave joined BAM in 1996. His career progressed through engineering and site management roles, and he was appointed as a construction director in 2013. He has led many high-profile projects including at present Three Snowhill and several schemes for our client Argent at Paradise Birmingham.

Both appointments took effect on 1 July 2018.

Handover marks completion of Demondale regeneration project

The completion of Angus Council’s regeneration of Demondale in Arbroath was marked on Friday with the handover of four newly built homes in Noran Avenue.

A transformation of the area has taken place over the last 12 years or so, with a succession of housing renewals and environmental improvements. The aim is to enhance the physical landscape and surroundings in Demondale and provide a better environment and better opportunities for people living there.

The latest homes were completed by Bancon Construction and handed over to the council earlier in the month. They replace older, less attractive buildings with brand new, energy-efficient homes that will better meet the needs of current waiting list applicants.

The regeneration project has improved the quality of amenity space in Demondale, through better parking and landscaping that complement the new homes. These areas will be readily available for local people to use to take forward initiatives as part of the council’s sustainable food strategy - a high priority for the Arbroath Locality Partnership.

Two of the newly-build properties are suitable for households that have medical needs, in accordance with the council’s Local Housing Strategy target of having 20% of new-build affordable housing suitable for particular needs.

The new homes will also contribute to the ambitious target to provide over 600 new supply affordable properties in Angus over the next five years in partnership with the Scottish Government and a number of housing associations operating in the area.

Dundee flats plan given planning permission

Plans by Hillcrest Housing Association to build a block of flats on the site of a car park and derelict land in Dundee city centre have been given the green light.

Work on the four-storey block containing a total of 24 homes for social rent at Candle Lane will start by the end of this year.

The plans, drawn up by Jon Frullani Architect, were submitted to Dundee City Council on behalf of Hillcrest.

The new development will have seven parking spaces, six dedicated to ground floor properties and one dedicated to electric vehicles.

Cairngorms Local Development Plan changes agreed

The Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) has agreed a number of changes for the new Cairngorms National Park Local Development Plan (LDP).

Following a recent Main Issues Report consultation, planning manager David Berry revealed the new changes to the plan at a CNPA Planning Committee meeting last week.

He said: “There are some changes recommended in response to consultation comments, including a limited number of new site allocations that are considered appropriate to include in the next LDP, subject to a short consultation on these during August.

“Furthermore, with regards to settlements, there are some changes required with new information available to better inform us. We propose to extend the boundary – although not the capacity – of the H1 site in Ballater to take account of new flooding information and changes are suggested in Dalwhinnie and Braemar, also as a result of new information from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. And in Carr-Bridge we propose to reduce the capacity of the Carr Road site to 36 dwellings.”

Despite some changes, the preferred options outlined in the MIR will be used as the basis for the plan.

Eleanor Mackintosh, convener of the CNPA planning committee, added: “I would like to thank the team for their hard work in going through each and every submission in detail and taking this report back to the planning committee. The debate in the room today has been really good with regards to site allocations, housing needs and how we ensure protection for the Park’s special qualities. I look forward to the next stage in the process when we will be presented with the proposed LDP, which will go out to consultation towards the end of 2018.”

Borders Building Design Awards judging underway

Judges are touring the Borders this week to assess entries for the area’s Building Design Awards.

A total of 26 building projects were entered into this year’s awards from across the Borders.

They included entries in all four award categories - residential and commercial new builds, works to existing buildings and buildings that contribute to their setting.

Having narrowed down the entries to a shortlist, the judges are spending this week visiting the sites before making their final decisions.

The three judges are Hugo Burge of Marchmont House which previously won a Building Design Award, David Suttie of the Royal Town Planning Institute and Stuart Henderson from the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland.

The winners will be announced in autumn 2018 in an awards ceremony at Marchmont House.

The awards intend to promote good building design in the Borders and to strengthen links between builders, architects, council planners and other professionals in the industry.

A certificate and cast aluminium plaque will be presented to the winner in each category and, at the judges’ discretion, commendations may also be made.