Building Briefs - July 7th

Eleven staff from Ogilvie Group have completed a challenge to climb three mountains and over 11,000 feet in 24 hours to raise £2400 for UK charities.

A team from across the Group’s Geomatics, Fleet and Construction businesses completed the gruelling Three Peaks Challenge, climbing the three highest peaks in the UK, one after the other. They started at Ben Nevis in Scotland, then drove straight to Scafell Pike in England and finally on to Snowdon in Wales.

The money will be shared with the Motor Neuron Disease (MND) Association, Marie Curie Cancer Care, The Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice and the Willen Hospice.

Mark McGarragh, Managing Director, Ogilvie Geomatics who led the initiative, said:

“It was a really tough challenge and at times really grueling, but everyone in the team is really proud to have raised so much for charity. We set ourselves a target of 24 hours and managed to complete the challenge with 20 minutes to spare.”

Ogilvie Group is 60 years old and employs around 400 people across its various business operations in the UK.

Bovis Homes toasts record sale numbers

Housebuilder Bovis Homes has said it completed 1,525 homes in the six months to the end of June, a record number of first half completions for the business and two per cent up year-on-year.

The Kent-based firm added that its average selling price lifted six per cent to £220,000, reflecting the buoyant housebuilding market which is growing on the back of the recovering UK economy.

For private sales the price rose from £240,000 to £264,000.

Findhorn beach hut campaigners plan court action

Campaigners against plans to build a row of 30 colourful beach huts on a stretch of shoreline in Moray hope to take their fight to the Court of Session.

Moray Council approved the proposals for Findhorn in May.

Planning officers had recommended refusal, warning the huts could harm the beach’s character.

There were also 175 letters of objection, mainly from local residents.

Objectors are taking legal advice.

They ultimately hope to secure a judicial review.

Council development officers had said the huts could significantly enhance the area’s tourism appeal.

The plans were approved by eight votes to six.

£10m Alyth windfarm scheme wants to use local labour

Windfarm developers are offering Perthshire businesses up to £10 million worth of contracts.

The team behind the 11-turbine Green Burn project, near Alyth, has teamed up with Perthshire Chamber of Commerce and Perth College to secure local labour for the scheme, which has yet to secure planning permission.

Christian Wilde, head of UK development for project leaders ABO Wind, gave a presentation to delegates at Perth College, outlining what contracts could be available during the construction phase.

The 3MW turbines are earmarked for land at Shieldrum Farm, about three miles from Bridge of Cally.

A planning application is expected to be lodged in the coming weeks and if approved, the building phase could last for up to 18 months. Residents will get the chance to have their say on the plan once details have been submitted to Perth and Kinross Council.

BenRiach Distillery Company to invest £25m in business

The BenRiach Distillery Company has announced plans to invest more than £25m in the business over the next two years.

The move will include a “major” investment in additional warehousing capacity.

The announcement came as the Edinburgh-based company reported record pre-tax profits in its 11th year in business.

Young people in Shettleston, Glasgow, are set to benefit from a teambuilding trip partly funded by affordable housing developer Lovell.

The Shettleston Community Growing Project has organised the weekend trip with the help of a £110 donation from Glasgow-based Lovell, which is currently building 29 homes for Shettleston Housing Association locally.

The new amenity flats will be located on Fernan Street.

The donation was raised through a quiz competition for the trip, which has been arranged through the Growing Project’s Smelly Welly Club.

The club runs holiday and after-school gardening activities for children and young people at the Growing Project’s community garden site in Eckford Street.

Lovell regional director Alan Taylor said: “We’ve all been impressed by the work of the Shettleston Community Growing Project and are delighted to have been able to contribute towards the weekend trip for the young gardeners.”