Building Briefs – June 1st

Ryden has won the mandate to dispose of a significant development site in the heart of Glasgow city centre.

At 1.371 acres, 173 Pitt Street - the former HQ of the legacy Strathclyde Police comprises existing buildings totalling 190,000 sq ft on an entire ‘island site’ and is one of the rarest and largest commercial development opportunities in the city centre to become available for many years. Police Scotland has recently relocated to their new purpose built facility at Clyde Gateway in Dalmarnock, therefore releasing 173 Pitt Street to the market.

Ryden is tasked with devising a disposal strategy and marketing the property to secure best value for Police Scotland. The Scottish Futures Trust is providing strategic support to Police Scotland on the project as part of a wider initiative to assist public bodies with disposal of their surplus assets. Marketing will be launched shortly.

The Pitt Street site was constructed in two phases; the first was a College of Commerce in 1924, however the site was taken over for occupation by the then Strathclyde Police in 1975 and a second phase was completed in 1982.

CIOB launches Ageing Population Survey

The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has launched its: ‘Ageing Population Survey’. The survey, which can be found on the CIOB website, is part of a drive to update existing research on the subject - and gather comment from Fellows and existing Members.

An ageing population presents a number of challenges and opportunities for the construction industry. Knowledge of the ageing population and its effects has the potential to change the nature of the workforce, and positively influence both building design and standards.

The survey can be accessed here: http://ageingpopulation.questionpro.com and is set to close on Monday 22 June 2015. Respondents that complete the survey will have the opportunity to win a Kindle Fire 6” HD tablet.

Craigdale Housing Association bids fond farewell and warm welcome to directors

Craigdale Housing Association director Liz McGinniss has tendered her resignation and left the association after 26 years.

Having her last day on Friday 29th May, Liz leaves with some great memories of working with Craigdale tenants, management committee, staff, contractors, solicitors, auditors and other providers over the years.

The management committee at Craigdale has appointed Anne Marie Brown (nee McCann), the association’s current projects manager, as its new director with effect from today.

Anne Marie left her post as depute director with Dunbritton Housing Association in July last year to join Craigdale and in addition to the wealth of experience she has brought, she is full of enthusiasm and passion for the organisation.

South Ayrshire primary school refurbishment complete

The refurbishment of a primary school in South Ayrshire is now complete.

The £2.5 million redevelopment of Kincaidston Primary School includes a new kitchen area, a new STEM room and upgraded open learning areas.

The classrooms have also been refurbished to modern standards.

New furniture has also been introduced along with the redevelopment of the nursery.

A commemorative plaque was revealed during an event by the school to mark the completion of works.

A75 resurfacing works

Road users are set to benefit from over £360k of resurfacing works on the A75 Layby to Kirtle Water east and westbound which will improve the road surface for those using the route.

The works will see Scotland TranServ carry out the resurfacing work from Friday 5 to Monday 8 June 2015 on behalf of Transport Scotland.

West Dunbartonshire Council meets SHQS target after £81m investment

West Dunbartonshire Council has achieved the national housing standard for more than 9,400 of its homes after a successful £81 million investment.

The project, which is the largest scale housing investment in the council’s history, included replacing 1,700 bathrooms and 800 kitchens and upgrading hundreds of central heating systems. In addition council teams completed 7,300 electrical upgrades and improvements to 2,600 roofs and buildings.

The extensive work has improved the lives of thousands of residents by ensuring their homes are warm, dry and free from serious disrepair. It has also led to full compliance with the stringent Scottish Housing Quality Standards (SHQS) demanded by the Scottish Government in 2015.

This outcome represents a great turnaround for the council which only had 36 per cent of its homes meeting the standard in 2012. In June of that year councillors took the decision to retain council housing stock rather than consider transferring some of its properties to a social landlord, and gave the go-ahead to the major investment.

In addition to the drive to meet SHQS, the council embarked on a regeneration programme which demolished unpopular homes which would be inefficient to have been brought up to standard and successfully replaced them with the Council’s first new build homes in a generation.

Proposal to build affordable homes at Perthshire derelict school

Developers have won planning permission to transform an ageing Perthshire Catholic school into council flats.

The B-listed St Stephen’s building in Blairgowrie closed its doors six years ago when classes moved into the town’s community campus.

The 19th Century John Street property could be turned into affordable homes, after a successful planning bid by Perth-based firm JR Brown Building Designs.

The company said the eight homes – seven one-bedroom flats and a studio apartment – would be aimed at people on Perth and Kinross Council’s housing list.

Paperwork submitted to the local authority stated that the outside of the building would be left mostly intact.

Planners have now approved the proposal on the condition that work begins on-site within the next three years.

New Playground Developed In East Dunbartonshire

A new £50,000 playground has been developed in East Dunbartonshire.

The new facility was funded by the council and includes areas for climbing, rocking, spinning, sliding, and swinging.

There are also areas for both older children and toddlers.

River Clyde Homes welcomes family into new home

A Port Glasgow family has moved into their new River Clyde Homes property after 10 months of watching it being built from the window of their old house.

Nicole Hill’s home is one of 20 new properties constructed at Woodhall Terrace, a £1.24 million development funded by the Scottish Government. The houses are a mix of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom, semi-detached and cottage flats with on-site parking facilities.

The tenemental blocks that once stood have now been replaced by modern, energy efficient homes, in line with River Clyde Homes’ Green Strategy, that are suitable for varying needs and disabled access. River Clyde Homes believe this is another step forward in reducing fuel poverty in Inverclyde.

The development was designed by Barham Glen Architects and was constructed by CCG who were responsible for the housing association’s successful development of 141 homes in the east end of Greenock.

Aberdeen house prices could be used to predict the price of oil

House prices in Aberdeen could hold the key to predicting the future price of oil, according to academics at the University of Aberdeen.

Research carried out by Dr Martin Wersing and Dr Rainer Schulz, from the University’s Business School, reveals that the price of housing in the Granite City can be used to provide a more accurate forecast of the oil price.

Dr Wersing said that information-sharing among professionals working in the city’s oil sector has an impact on the local housing market, which in turn provides an indication of potential shifts in the price of oil.