Building Briefs – July 7th

Residents from a newly completed housing development at Lochside in Ayr were proud to show off their new homes as part of celebrations to mark the finish of the £10 million project.

The development, South Ayrshire Council’s largest affordable housing project to date, sees a total of 102 council houses built on the site of the old greyhound track.

The demolition of maisonettes started in February last year and the entire project has been completed ahead of schedule and below budget.

The development which was supported by Scottish Government funding of £4.7m is part of a £17m investment in new affordable housing across South Ayrshire over the next two years.

South Ayrshire Council has worked closely with main contractor Cruden Building and Renewals on the project. As well as employing local traders on the site, Cruden created apprenticeships and also had eight council apprentices working on the houses to give them valuable experience.

Cruden also provided Braehead Primary with sporting equipment and gave materials to Braehead Nursey for a building project.

Abertay University’s £3m renovations to get under way

A £3 million refurbishment of Abertay University buildings in Dundee as part of a £3 million investment will begin this summer.

Morrison Construction has been awarded the construction contract which will see major renovation works carried out on the Kydd Building.

Work is due to begin this month and will include an upgrade to two existing laboratories on the fifth floor, major refurbishment work on the fourth floor and alterations to the third floor.

The most visible change will be a redesign of the south facing façade of the building’s North Wing, which has been designed to “echo the distinctive Abertay campus style” and will also help reduce the university’s environmental impact by improving energy efficiency.

The Kydd Building is home to Abertay’s school of science, engineering and technology and the renovations will upgrade the specialist laboratories and teaching facilities.

It is estimated that over several hundred square metres will be created internally as a result of the works, which will allow for more natural sunlight and greater flexibility of use.

The renovations are the first in a series of campus-wide developments which will see a number of upgrades at the university over the coming years.

New council homes taking shape in Methil

A former Fife Council car park in Methil is making way for more much needed council homes for the area as part of the local authority’s affordable housing programme.

The development at Durie Street is being undertaken by Fife Council Building Services and comprises 15 new council homes for rent.

In total, the development will consist of one and two-bedroomed cottage flats, amenity bungalows and a three-bedroomed wheelchair accessible bungalow.

These properties will contribute to the council’s commitment to deliver modern, fit for purpose, energy efficient homes.

Improvement works at Inshes completed

Road improvements at the busy Inshes junction in Inverness have been completed.

The Highland Council worked with AECOM to carry out Traffic Modelling to find the best solution.

The clearly marked new localised flarings on the approach to the existing roundabout, along with new traffic lights and pedestrian crossings will make the route easier for drivers, cyclist and pedestrians to navigate.

Although the actual resurfacing work was completed a couple of weeks ago, lane lining and the commissioning of a pedestrian crossingwere finalised this week.

The work was carried out by Breedon Aggregates Scotland Ltd.

McTaggart Construction supports Princes Trust

Over recent years McTaggart Construction has supported the work of the Princes Trust and how it can develop the future of the construction industries workforce.

The firm has supported three different programmes on three different sites in Glasgow and East Kilbride.

Princes Trust Get into Home Building

McTaggart has supported the Get into Home Building programme by providing eight work placement from the class of 15. The Mavor Avenue site for Clyde Valley Housing Association provided the ideal opportunity for young people to experience a variety of construction careers.

XL programme

Queens Cross Housing Association’s Leny Street site provided work placement opportunities with McTaggart Group Company ABN plumbing and Electrical service. Through the support of the site team two young people local to the site were given two weeks work experience one of which has continued his placement throughout the summer prior to enrolling at Kelvin College NPA programme.

Team Programme

A key part of the Princes Trust programme is giving something back to the community.

The McTaggart/ Urban Union site at Laurieston is only a few hundred metres from the Princes Trust headquarters in Glasgow. When the young people contacted McTaggart’s to donate materials for the refurbishment of a children’s play area they were only too happy to assist.

Mochrum Fell wind turbines approved on appeal

An eight-turbine wind farm in Dumfries and Galloway which attracted nearly 600 objections has been approved on appeal.

Falck Renewables is behind the plans at Mochrum Fell, west of Corsock and north-east of Parton.

Dumfries and Galloway Council refused the application in June last year.

The decision was against the advice of planning officers and the company appealed to the Scottish government which has now overturned the rejection.

An earlier plan to build 11 turbines on the site was rejected by the council, which said it was out of character with the surrounding landscape.

However, when revised plans returned to the authority last year they were recommended for approval with a string of conditions.

The council’s planning applications committee still found they would have a “significant detrimental impact on the surrounding area, its landscape character and visual amenity” and rejected them again.

The company appealed against that decision and it has now been successful.

A Scottish government reporter concluded there were “no material considerations” which justified refusal.

Reassurance for Dundee cinema plan

A new cinema planned for the Wellgate shopping centre in Dundee will be going ahead, the company behind the proposal has confirmed.

Concerns were raised last month that the turmoil caused by the announcement of the closure of BHS would potentially sink plans for the cinema to open in the shopping centre.

But, John Sullivan, director of Light Cinemas, said he anticipated that positive news will be announced in the coming months.

While Mr Sullivan admitted he was sorry to see BHS go, he said it would have no impact on the cinema project as far as he was concerned.

The cinema’s blueprint is for a 900-seat, eight-screen multiplex in the north end of the Wellgate.

The plans currently state that the leisure complex would occupy 65,000 square feet.

Light Cinemas revealed in 2014 that it was hoping for an opening date in 2017, but it is unclear if that will still be achieved.

The firm has already invested more than £100,000 in the project.

Work forging ahead on Moray school refurbishment

Work is progressing well on a major refurbishment programme which will result in a vastly improved teaching and learning environment at four Moray primary schools.

Around £21 million is being spent on upgrading Seafield Primary in Elgin, Applegrove in Forres, St Gerardine in Lossiemouth and Millbank in Buckie.

The improvement works include new roofing, windows and doors, external insulation and completely modernised heating and electrical systems.

The interior of the school buildings is also being reconfigured to include a mix of new and refurbished classroom accommodation.

Work began last summer and will continue until next spring.

City Building LLP at the very heart of Glasgow’s Hospice

Glasgow’s City Building LLP apprentices have shown their backing for The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice’s Brick by Brick Appeal to build a new hospice in Bellahouston Park – in bricks and mortar.

The big-hearted staff at the organisation, long-time supporters of the hospice, have raised £10,000 after holding a charity football match, golf tournament, sponsored walks and bake offs.

They pledged to raise the money after joining the hospice’s innovative 50/10 Club – a group of 50 businesses each raising £10,000 to pay for the atrium area in the new build.

The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice provides specialist palliative care for those living with terminal and life-limiting illness. It has outgrown its home, in four townhouses in Carlton Place in the city centre, and is now building a new hospice in Bellahouston Park. Building work starts this summer and patients will move in 2018.

BAM and Edinburgh University play with digital construction

A team of volunteers from BAM Construction has joined forces with students from Edinburgh University’s school of architecture and students from Heriot-Watt University to create a children’s play pavilion in Dalmarnock in Glasgow.

The undergraduate architects, working with children based at the Baltic Street Adventure Playground (BSAP), proposed the project to test their skills in digital fabrication using Wikihouse, an online community led design resource, and at the same time create a practical pavilion which would benefit the community.

BSAP is a community interest company and provides children with complex and unpredictable family lives a safe environment where they can play, learn about risk, and take control while learning essential skills. It is free and although specially trained workers are on site, the children create their own adventure play.

BAM Construction was delighted to be approached by the University to be the construction partner and with the assistance of their supply chain, sourced the specialised plywood and materials required for the pavilion. Ten members of BAM staff then volunteered their time to help clear the ground and assist in erecting the structure.