Building Briefs – June 15th

Bellway site manager’s win is as safe as houses

Bellway site manager, George Carty from Cumbernauld Village, has won a top building industry award for his work at The Marches development in Stepps.

George is set to receive the NHBC Health and Safety Award in Birmingham next month at a gala lunch and might have the opportunity to go forward to the UK Final. Only six Scots have been selected for the prestigious award however, George is no stranger to awards as he has collected the NHBC’s Pride in the Job Award on three occasions.

The Health and Safety Award is awarded in recognition of a number of site issues including the protection of tools, appropriate signage and documentation including risk assessments as well as general safety issues on such clear walkways and protective clothing for staff and visitors.

Boiler firm Cochran UK reveals job cuts at Newbie plant

A boiler manufacturer based in the south of Scotland has confirmed plans to cut up to 19 jobs.

Cochran UK employs more than 200 people, most of them at its Newbie plant near Annan.

A spokesman for the firm said: “Unfortunately, we are in a position where we need to make some reduction to our costs.

“We need to make some positions redundant. We are seeking to do that on a voluntary basis.”

He said the move would put the business on a better footing for the future.

South of Scotland MSP Joan McAlpine said she was “very disappointed” by the decision.

She added: “I understand that this reflects the UK market, however.

“I have raised the issue with ministers to see what support the Scottish government can offer.”

Ryden lands double deal with council

The City of Edinburgh Council has appointed Ryden to both its commercial estate management and residential property consultancy services frameworks.

Both deals are for a two-year period, with the option of a two-year extension.

Four firms secured places on the commercial framework - the others being DTZ, JLL and GVA.

Dundee City Council to buy mortgages in bid to tackle homelessness

Dundee City Council has given its unanimous approval for a new scheme that will see the council buy homes from tenants in financial difficulty.

The Scottish Government’s Home Owner Support Fund allows owners with money woes to sell their property to the council and become rent paying tenants.

Under the scheme the Scottish Government will pay a maximum subsidy of 60 per cent of the purchase price for the property set by open market valuation, with the council meeting the rest.

Local authorities can also claim up to £8,500 towards any repairs and checks that might be needed to bring the accommodation up to Scottish Housing Quality Standard.

Any decision on whether to buy a property then lies with the council, who will make an allowance of £900 per property to cover administration costs.

A report discussed by the council’s housing committee estimates that up to 10 requests a year could be made.

Aberdeen’s Bon Accord Baths ‘fallen into disrepair’

Campaigners trying to reopen Aberdeen’s historic art deco design Bon Accord baths have criticised the building being left to fall into disrepair.

The swimming pool on Justice Mill Lane closed in 2008 because of council budget cuts.

The campaigners said a survey had revealed substantial roof damage.

They have now asked Aberdeen City Council to push back the date for planning submissions, to allow for extra survey work to be carried out.

In a statement, the council said it had limited resources, which were prioritised on operational assets.

It is estimated millions of pounds will be needed to refurbish the building.

Young apprentice scoops a top place in national skills competition

First year apprentice bricklayer Jed Smith (aged 20), who works at Taylor Wimpey’s Cameron Gardens development in Bilston, Midlothian, has scooped first place in the 1st year apprentice bricklayer category at Skillbuild 2015.

SkillBuild has been run by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), for over 45 years and sees the very best in construction talent compete against each other to be crowned the SkillBuild winner in their chosen trade. Jed is one of two young apprentices that secured a four year Modern Day Apprenticeship at Taylor Wimpey East Scotland following his participation in the ‘Get into Home Building’ pilot programme that ran at Edinburgh College in August last year.

‘Get into Home Building’ is a partnership between Homes for Scotland, The Prince’s Trust and the CITB, and it is designed to help unemployed young people into careers in the home building industry. This successful programme will be repeated again this year, and Taylor Wimpey East Scotland has confirmed their participation.

£500k investment in M74 improvements

Road users are set to benefit from £500k worth of investment in the M74 northbound between junctions 10 and 8 just south of Blackwood.

Works by Scotland TranServ on behalf of Transport Scotland begin on 18 June 2015 for a 4 day period. This is part of a wider £700,000 programme of works for the M74 this year for the improved resilience of the motorway for years to come.

Upgrade for Keptie Pond path in Arbroath

The path around Arbroath’s much maligned Keptie Pond is being upgraded as part of a near £175,000 community spend.

A £47,000 upgrade of the gravel path to a sealed surface around the pond is the biggest slice of a six-figure investment plan for 2015/16 from the local authority’s cycling, walking and safer streets fund.

The improvement for walkers at the popular beauty spot has come in the wake of renewed calls to tackle weed and algae problems at the one-time boating pond which was a magnet for generations of tourists.

Keptie Pond is one of seven CWSS programmed for 2015/16.

Other fund cash will go to Lordburn Park in Forfar (£14,000) for the upgrade of path and entry points and the improvement of Brechin Castle Centre bus stops (£14,000).

Community links match funding is also being provided for Angus cycle storage provision (£12,500), Brechin community campus active travel route (£44,500), Monifieth cycle routes improvements (£37,500) and cycle space in school (£2,500).