Building Briefs – June 22nd

A new £46 million mental health and community facility has been opened in Irvine.

The Woodland View facility was built by Balfour Beatty and designed by IBI Group.

The development will provide a range of mental health services for adults including rehabilitation, continuing care, addictions, forensics, and intensive psychiatric care.

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Design features of the 206-bed hospital include corridor seating areas, ‘wander loops’, dementia friendly signage and considered colour artwork.

 

Kincardine Bridge works

Works on the Kincardine Bridge are expected to last six weeks.

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Essential maintenance work to improve the road surface and bridge deck waterproofing on three spans of the A985 Kincardine Bridge will begin at 9pm on Friday, July 1.

This work will be undertaken on a 24-hour basis whenever possible.

During the works one lane of the bridge will be closed and a traffic management system will be in place.

The pedestrian footways and cycle paths will remain open during the works to replace the road surface, bridge deck waterproofing and new expansion joints to the Viaduct Span section of the bridge, north of the Swing Span.

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The maintenance programme costing around £215,000, has been planned in consultation with Fife Council, Clackmannanshire Council, Stirling Council, Falkirk Council, Police Scotland and Traffic Scotland.

 

Historic Environment Scotland grants over £1.7m to repair buildings

Over £1.7 million is being granted to repair historic buildings in Scotland, it has been announced.

Historic Environment Scotland (HES) is awarding the funding to seven projects as part of the organisation’s Building Repair Grants scheme, which supports repair work to buildings of historic or architectural interest.

The list of grant recipients includes:

• West Boathouse, Glasgow - £360,000

• Former Maryfield Tram Depot, Dundee - £500,000

• Lerwick Town Hall, Shetland - £233,855

• Inverness Town House - £361,407

• Garrison House, Millport, North Ayrshire - £16,700

• Lews Castle Porter’s Lodge and Boatman’s House, Western Isles - £250,000

• Former District Court, Greenock - £65,398

The funding marks the third round of investment since HES was created in October 2015.

 

£1m renovation plans for Aberdeen’s ‘William Wallace cathedral’

An iconic Aberdeen cathedral where the left arm of William Wallace is rumoured to be buried could be set for a £1 million refit.

Ambitious plans have been revealed to give St Machar’s Cathedral in the city centre an extensive makeover.

Under the proposals the historic church, which dates back to the 12th century, will have its iconic twin towers, roof, seating and stained glass windows all upgraded.

And a new multi-purpose space would be created along with toilet facilities and possibly a cafe.

The building, which is actually a high kirk and not technically a cathedral any longer, is rumoured to be where Wallace’s left arm ended up after he was hung, drawn and quartered in 1305.

 

Work continues on £8.9m Perth and Kinross primary school project

Work is continuing on a £8.9 million primary school project in Perth and Kinross.

The first brick of Alyth Primary School was laid yesterday by council leader Ian Miller.

The development is being built by Marshall Construction in partnership with hub East Central Scotland.

Main construction work began in January 2016 and the scheme is part of the council’s school estate upgrade programme.

Features include building a modern two-stream facility incorporating the refurbishment of the existing Grade B listed Victorian building.

Once the new build element is completed in February 2017, four months of demolition work will take place to level buildings on the site, creating a new car park with a nursery drop-off area and external landscaping.

 

Scottish Water provides new footbridge for Borders locals

Scottish Water has installed a new walkway for pedestrians in the Scottish Borders as part of a £7.6 million improvements project on the Talla Aqueduct.

The footbridge at Blyth Bridge – located over a redundant water pipe - was installed as a goodwill gesture to the local community following work carried out between February 2014 and July 2015 to upgrade the aqueduct, which moves raw water from Talla Reservoir in the Scottish Borders to Glencorse Water Treatment Works near Edinburgh.

A number of vehicles worked in the area during the project and Scottish Water was keen to thank locals for their patience and understanding.

Bill Elliot, community team manager, worked alongside local residents to enable the installation of the much anticipated footbridge after the completion of the improvement work.

 

CCG to begin two SPA framework contracts

CCG is due to begin two new SPA framework contracts this summer in Scotland.

The company’s Asset Management (AM) business will begin a measured term contract this month with Perth and Kinross Council.

Features of the 22-week contract includes the installation of kitchens, bathrooms and associated services. In addition, repairs will be undertaken to 245 units across 15 areas of the region.

CCG AM will also install its manufactured OPUS Tilt and Turn timber windows to 31 properties for Cairn Housing Association in Falconer Court, Inverness this August.

 

Scottish rents hit record high as LBTT surcharge bites

Rents in Scotland are at a record high of £549 on average per month after the fastest month-on-month growth on record, according to new figures from one of Scotland’s largest lettings agent networks.

The latest Scotland Buy-to-Let Index from Your Move revealed that average residential rents have increased by 1.3 per cent from April to reach the highest they have ever been in Scotland, surpassing the previous record set in July 2015.

The increase means that the average rent in Scotland have seen a 7.9 per cent (£40) upswing from £509 per month in May 2011.

On a monthly basis, rents rose across all of Scotland’s regions in May. Glasgow & Clyde has seen the steepest uplift month-on month, with rents in the region increasing 1.9 per cent from April. This amounts to a £11 jump in cash terms, with typical rents increasing from £538 in April, up to £549 in May.

The smallest monthly upswing in rents occurred in the Highlands & Islands where they increased by just £1. In the South of Scotland, the increase in rents was also marginal, with only a 0.2 per cent uptick leaving typical rents to standing at £514 – the lowest average of any region.

Meanwhile, in Edinburgh & the Lothians, rents continued their upward trajectory, rising 1.7 per cent (£11) from April, pushing the typical rent in the region to a record high of £662 per month.

The East of Scotland has seen rents increase by 1.7 per cent (£9) month-on-month. This has raised the average rent in the region to £522 – the highest level since November 2015.

In the longer term, rents are only higher in two of Scotland’s regions year-on-year. In Edinburgh & the Lothians, rents have soared 11.6 per cent (£69) year-on-year. This is the fastest growth on record powered by the growing proportion of higher paying jobs in the area, compared to the shortage of homes. The South of Scotland has also seen an increase in rents over the year, with a 0.9 per cent upswing. Average rents in the region are £4 higher than May 2015.

Glasgow & the Clyde has seen the steepest decline in rents annually. Typical rents in the region have dropped 3.2 per cent (£17) year-on-year.

Tenant arrears in Scotland have also climbed for the third successive month.

The proportion of late rent increased to 12.5 per cent of all rent due in May, compared to 11.6 per cent in April. On an annual basis, tenant arrears have worsened too, with late rent standing at just 8.8 per cent in May 2015.

 

Essential resurfacing programme to begin in North Ayrshire

An essential resurfacing programme is due to begin in North Ayrshire, Scotland TranServ has announced.

Workers will carry out repairs to the road surface, as well as reinstating road markings, on the A738 at Kilwinning from Sunday, 26 June.

A full closure of the route between Howgate and Bridgend will be implemented from 6am–6pm in order to carry out the project safely. Diversions will be in place.

 

Apprentice scholarship launched for UK construction firms

A new apprenticeship scholarship programme has been launched to give two construction firms the chance to benefit from the placement of an apprentice who will be completely funded to work for them for 12 months.

The initiative is being launched by construction audit, contract and payroll provider, Hudson Contract, to celebrate its 20th anniversary and also provide opportunities to two young apprentices hoping to take their first steps on the construction career ladder.

Hudson Contract will sponsor the apprentices by covering their salaries for up to a year, firms can be in with a chance of gaining one of the apprentices by visiting www.hudsoncontract.co.uk/scholarship/ and describing in up to 100 words how an apprentice can benefit their company.

 

Residents vote in favour of new Tullibody South Campus

A public consultation has revealed residents in Tullibody are in favour of developing a new school and community campus in the region.

Clackmannanshire Council received 438 responses over proposals to build a new Tullibody South Campus, including Abercromby Primary School, St Bernadette’s R.C. Primary School, a nursery and a locality hub.

Overall, 81.8 per cent of respondents were in favour of creating a new Tullibody South Campus, with 81.3 per cent in favour of building the facility within the grounds of Abercromby Primary School.

The Scottish Government has confirmed the project will receive funding from the Schools for the Future Programme.

 

Mud building revival in Carse of Gowrie

The ancient tradition of building with mud is to be revived in the Carse of Gowrie.

Schoolchildren will be among those to try their hand at reviving the art, which was once the prevalent means of building in the area.

Errol play park has been chosen as the site for a new mudwall shelter as the village is home to several such buildings.

The tradition of building walls with earth is one that can be found across Britain, wherever clay soil is present.

In Scotland, the three main areas were Dumfriesshire, Angus and the Carse of Gowrie.

 

CMS helps Glasgow children find the spirit of adventure with £1000 anniversary donation

Window, door and curtain walling designer, fabricator and installer CMS Window Systems has made a generous donation to a community-led children’s adventure playground in Glasgow’s East End after it was nominated by its client Balfour Beatty to receive the fourth instalment of CMS’s ‘ten donations for ten years’ anniversary initiative.

The donation was made as part of a year of support by CMS for ten charities dedicated to improving the lives of people in ten communities in which the business operates. Balfour Beatty nominated the Baltic Street Adventure Playground in Dalmarnock to benefit from CMS’s 10-year anniversary charity programme; across the year, the firm will make ten donations of £1000 each to causes nominated by its most valued customers.

Established in 2013 by the art and architecture collective Assemble and arts organisation Create, Baltic Street Adventure Playground is a free-of-charge supervised adventure playground for children up to 12 years.

The venture aims to connect local families and children to build a sense of community, and actively support children’s physical, social, emotional and developmental well-being. As well as climbing frames, swings and tunnels, the playground has a vegetable garden, a campfire and an abundance of materials and tools for the children to utilise during the construction of their own dens and hide-outs.

 

PAS Foundation receives recognition from Scotland’s housing industry

The PAS Foundation received welcome support from Scotland’s housing industry this week, when Homes for Scotland chief executive Nicola Barclay presented the Foundation with a donation of £6,500, raised at the Homes for Scotland Annual Lunch 2016.

The presentation took place at the PAS Foundation office on Princes Street, Edinburgh.

The Homes for Scotland Annual Lunch and Awards took place at the EICC on Friday 20 May 2016. A record-breaking 1,100 guests took part in the largest single gathering of industry representatives and their guests. This year’s prize draw supported the work of two charitable organisations the PAS Foundation, as well as Habitat for Humanity.

The PAS Foundation supports primary and secondary pupils and young adults to become involved in placemaking to become more active and involved citizens. They discover how to engage in the debate, design and development of sustainable and inclusive places and to make their voice matter.

The PAS Foundation supports – and aims to further –basic rights of young people to engage, understand and shape the places where they live.