Building Briefs – June 4th

New chairman for the Ladder Association

Martin Brooke, sales director at Nottingham-based Bratts Ladders, is the new chairman of the Ladder Association.

He took over from Cameron Clow, managing director of access specialists the Clow Group, at the association’s Annual Members’ Meeting (AMM) at the Moxhull Hall Hotel, Wishaw.

A surplus stock broker and sales agent before joining Bratts Ladders in 2003, Martin is a passionate and committed advocate of ladders as a safe, flexible and effective piece of workplace equipment.

Student flats plan for site of Glasgow’s Jumping Jaks nightclub

Glasgow nightclub Jumping Jaks could be redeveloped under plans to build student flats in Sauchiehall Street.

Developers will ask Glasgow City Council for permission to build on a section of the street, next to the ABC, which also takes in Yates pub.

The owners of the building also own the neighbouring landmark ABC building, a former cinema, now a nightclub and music venue run by the O2 Academy.

Lee Boyd submit plans for Monifieth Church

Lee Boyd Architects have submitted plans for a new build sanctuary and hall for Monifieth Parish Church following the amalgamation of three kirks within the town.

Plans call for the unlisted South Church on the High Street to be demolished to make way for the new build, which relates to a neighbouring tenement by extrapolation of a first floor horizontal band to a single storey plinth.

The completed hall will double as a space for community groups.

Caledonia teams up with JD Sports

Dundee based interior fit out contractor Caledonia Contracts has been appointed to carry out the fit out of a new three floor, 23,000 sq ft, JD Sports unit, in Argyle Street, Glasgow.

The sixteen week project, the largest JD fit out contract for Caledonia, commenced earlier this week.

Commercial director David Johnston said: “We are delighted to have been chosen for this project. Our relationship with JD Sports has gone from strength to strength. Commencing at the beginning with the fit out of a Bank Fashion store in 2007, we have successfully progressed, to being appointed as one of only a few of JD’s Grade A listed contractors in the UK.”

With a scheduled programme of stores set for remainder of this year, Caledonia hopes to continue its successful relationship with JD Sports, and looks forward to fitting out JD’s exclusive branded shoe and clothing shop Size?, in Caledonia’s home city of Dundee, later this summer.

Work starts on 94 luxury new homes in Glasgow’s West End

David Wilson Homes has started work on a new development of 94 homes in Glasgow’s West End.

The Botanics will consist of 75 two, three and four bed duplex apartments alongside 19 three and four bed townhouses.

The development will occupy the site of the former BBC buildings off Queen Margaret Drive and Hamilton Drive, offering views of the River Kelvin and Botanic Gardens.

New Edinburgh teaching block officially opens

A new teaching block at James Gillespie’s High School in Edinburgh has been officially opened.

The new Malala building is part of the £42.8 million James Gillespie’s Campus Project which will see new buildings being developed across all aspects of the campus.

The Scottish Government has provided £20m towards the project.

Morrison Construction are the main contractors on site.

The first phase of the project saw the completion of the new nursery, two new classrooms and a gym at James Gillespie’s Primary School in August 2013. A new synthetic pitch at Thirlestane Road was also delivered.

The second phase involved the development of the new Malala building which will be the main teaching block for the high school.

The building was completed in April and consists of 57 classroom spaces with full-height glazing and four collaboration spaces along with external courtyards. Dining and social spaces have also been developed.

The final phase of works will see the demolition of the remaining buildings from the old high school. This will allow the delivery of the new sports and performance buildings.

The A-listed Bruntsfield House at the centre of the campus is also undergoing a refurbishment.

Housing minister to resign from Scottish Parliament next year

Housing minister Margaret Burgess has decided to retire the Scottish Parliament at the end of this parliamentary term.

The MSP for Cunninghame South told SNP members in Irvine last week that she is to stand down at next year’s elections.

Representing Irvine, Kilwinning and Stevenston since 2011, Mrs Burgess has been Scotland’s minister for housing and welfare since 2012.

Joint Housing Delivery Plan for Scotland published

The Scottish Government’s Joint Housing Policy and Delivery Group has developed a five-year action plan to ensure that all people in Scotland live in high quality sustainable homes that they can afford and that meet their needs.

Published yesterday, the Joint Delivery Plan captures a crucial set of actions which the Joint Group collectively agrees are needed to deliver the vision.

Design team to display Orkney street improvements

Proposals are to be displayed at a public exhibition for a potential street improvement in Kirkwall.

The design team appointed by Orkney Council will showcase its plans for the Broad Street area.

The council has succeeded in attracting £1.5 million in funding commitments from Sustrans and the Kirkwall Townscape Heritage Initiative.

The funds could be used to undertake the improvement works.

The Development and Infrastructure Committee will meet on 26 June to consider the designs and public response.

Talks to extend Borders Railway to Hawick and Carlisle

Transport officials from the Scottish Government have held talks on the possibility of extending the Borders Railway beyond Tweedbank.

Infrastructure minister Keith Brown has confirmed that officers have discussed a feasibility study on linking the rail line with Carlisle, through Hawick.

News of the discussions emerged in response to a parliamentary question tabled by MSP Jim Hume.

The new 30-mile Borders Railway is expected to open in September.

Dumfries archive centre funding bid fails

Plans for a £6.2 million archive centre for Dumfries have failed to secure Heritage Lottery Fund support.

A site at the Ewart Library was picked as the preferred location by Dumfries and Galloway Council last year.

It later agreed to take forward plans for the most expensive of three potential options for the project - including a revamp of Loreburn Church.

However, a bid for lottery funding to support the project has not proved successful.

The scheme aims to create a new home for a vast collection of historic documents currently held by the council in various locations.

The council said the development of the centre could also contribute to local regeneration and cultural tourism.

The project was designed to safeguard the historic documents - some of which date back as far as 1452 - while also improving public access to the archives.

A £6.2m price tag was attached to the option for the development which was finally selected by the council.

Annual running costs were estimated at £250,000.