Building Briefs – June 20th

Construction work has begun on the new £2.6 million Glenboig link road, North Lanarkshire Council’s first infrastructure project as part of the Glasgow City Region City Deal.

The project will see the road, a roundabout and SUDS basin built between Glenboig Road and Gartcosh Business Park, new cycle paths, footways and lighting, and an extension to Gartcosh Local Nature Reserve.

Works to upgrade existing roads within Gartcosh Business Park, to connect the new link road to Junction 2A of the M73 have recently been completed.

The link road is a key element of the Gartcosh/Glenboig Community Growth Area, which will make land and infrastructure available for up to 3,030 new houses over the next 20 years and attract new investment to Gartcosh Business Park and other locations.

Construction is expected to take 34 weeks and the work is being carried out by Interserve.

Next phase begins on luxury Dundee flats

Foundations are being put in place for the third phase of work on a luxury flats development at Dundee’s waterfront.

Contractor Keltbray Structures have confirmed that construction is under way on the £40 million development at Riverside Drive.

The company said 45 apartments will be built in this latest phase of the project.

Dundee-based developer H&H Properties started work on the flats in 2012 after a catalogue of issues at the site under previous companies.

Based on the site of the former Homebase store, the 202-home development is a major part of Dundee’s £1 billion Waterfront regeneration.

Call for Sites as production of new Borders Local Development Plan gets underway

The first step towards a new Local Development Plan (LDP) for the Scottish Borders begins this month.

From June 26, interested parties can make a Call for Sites request.

This process gives any interested parties the opportunity to submit sites for consideration as part of the Main Issues Report (MIR), which is the frontrunner to the LDP and aims to set out for discussion the key development issues for the Scottish Borders.

Interested parties have until August 7 to make their Call for Sites requests.

Scottish Borders Council is keen to invite and encourage the public to get involved in the MIR process and intends to hold a number of public workshops and events across the Scottish Borders in September, with exact dates and venues to be confirmed in due course.

Further details regarding the procedure and application forms for submitting proposals for the Call for Sites are available at www.scotborders.gov.uk/ldp2.

Tenders published for Stornoway castle grounds regeneration works

The Stornoway Trust and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar have reached an advanced stage in the preparation of tender documents for the capital works elements of the Castle Grounds Regeneration Project.

A future contract opportunity notice will be published and it is anticipated that tender documentation will be published on the Public Contracts Scotland this week. An Information Day and site visit for potential contractors will be held on June 29.

The capital works will be split into two contracts, one relating to the work in the grounds and one for the restoration of buildings. The ground works have an estimated value £2.7 million and will include restoration of the former private gardens, historic features and planting schemes, drainage, works to paths and new facilities including signage within the grounds.

The building works have an estimated value of £450,000 and primarily comprise the repair and restoration of the Boatman’s Tower and the Porters Lodge.

It is hoped that there will be interest in these contracts from local suppliers as well as those based further afield.

New drainage system to be installed at Inverclyde Park

Plans have been approved for a new £400,000 drainage system scheme in Inverclyde.

The project aims to tackle drainage issues at Birkmyre Park in Kilmacolm. Both rugby pitches will have drainage pipes installed under the surface, carrying excess water to the nearest water course (Gryfe Water).

Excess soil water will be carried away using perforated land drainage pipes which are carefully sized to allow very small particles to pass through the slots to be flushed out by the flow of water.

A secondary drainage system – slit trench drainage - will be installed through the use of narrow sand-filled trenches spaced one to two metres apart. A water attenuation tank will also be installed to slowly release drainage water in a controlled discharge before it is allowed to run into the Gryfe Water to minimise the risk of flooding of the water course during heavy rain.

Before any work can begin, contractors have been told to check for badgers, otters and water voles and to ensure measures are taken to protect trees around the site.

Work to begin on new flood alleviation channel in Kingussie

Work is to begin later this month on a new flood alleviation channel in Kingussie.

Contractor McGowan Ltd will develop the channel on land within the Pitmain Estate to divert high flows from the Allt Mor into Loch Gynack, where it will then be released at a controlled rate back into the River Gynack.

The diversion of peak flows will contribute to the hydropower scheme and help to alleviate flooding further downstream in Kingussie.

In addition, the council has signed an agreement with Pitmain Estate to jointly fund the scheme, which is being carried out as part of its commitment to reduce flood risk in Kingussie as set out in the Local Flood Risk Management Plan for the Findhorn, Nairn and Speyside Local Plan District.

Work on £1.5m Carsphairn electricity network upgrade complete

Work on a £1.5 million electricity network upgrade project in Dumfries and Galloway is now complete.

The seven-month scheme was carried out by SP Energy Networks (SPEN) and is part of a £2 million investment plan for the area.

Features included the rebuilding and refurbishment of more than 18km of overhead lines and almost 500 poles in and around the village of Carsphairn.

Overall, the scheme will improve connections, network security and reduce chances of power cuts throughout the local community.

As part of the project, SP Energy Networks donated £1,000 to the Carsphairn Community Trust, which has ambitious plans for the future including looking at renewable energy schemes.

Golfers to the fore for charity

Golfers from the housebuilding industry helped to tee up a generous donation of £5,000 for Cancer Research UK.

Twenty one teams of four recently took part in the 1st Annual Bellway Homes (Scotland) Charity Golf Day at Glenbervie Golf Club near Larbert, Falkirk.

The trophy was won by the group from contractors BS Plumbing.

After a hard 18 holes of golf, the golfers were treated to a three course dinner in the clubhouse followed by the prize giving ceremony.

The companies taking part in the event were: Access Solutions; Advance Construction; Akela Construction; BS Plumbing; Cruickshank & McGrath; Designer Contracts; Impact Signs; James Donaldson Insulation; Jordan Electrics; McDermid Decorators; MES; Neil Moffatt Roofing; Phoenix Decorating Services; R McGuiness Bricklayers; Rowan Timber; Tilecraft; Timber Frameworks Alba; Tough Construction and William Hamilton & Sons.

Darvel Music Company receives funding boost from Mactaggart & Mickel Homes

Ayrshire-based Darvel Music Company has received a donation of £500 from family housebuilder Mactaggart & Mickel Homes’ Building Communities Fund.

The organisation is a community of music-loving volunteers keen to continue a regular programme of musical events since the closure of the Darvel Music Festival.

The much-needed donation will support the company in 2017 to put on 2 or 3 concerts per year, as well as offering free concert tickets to some of the community’s marginalised residents. Since receiving the donations, the company has put two shows on sale at Darvel Town Hall in July and September.

The Building Communities Fund is open throughout the year to applications from charities, community groups, sports teams and schools within a five mile radius of any Mactaggart & Mickel Homes development under construction.

Applications for funding are assessed and awarded by a cross section of Mactaggart & Mickel Homes’ employees.

For more information on the fund and to make an application visit www.macmic.co.uk/BCF.