Building Briefs - June 5th

LMA Architects this week submitted plans to North Ayrshire Council for the conversion of the former Trinity Church in Beith, Ayrshire into a bespoke boutique hotel and wedding venue.

The development for JNS Hotels will comprise a new 148 cover function suite, a ceremony room for 65 people, bar, restaurant, private dining room for 20 people and number of bespoke hotel rooms.

£1.5m Dundee leisure attraction plans submitted

Plans have been lodged to build a £1.5 million leisure attraction at a disused Dundee market.

The plans set out a complex at the junction of Dens Road with Arklay Street that would comprise a 10-pin bowling, trampolines, slides, a roller glider, a mini-golf course and a cafe — as well as space for eating in and hosting parties.

The proposed development covers an approximate area of 0.6 hectares.

Mr Airlie acquired the site in 2013 and hopes the venture will create about 40 full and part-time jobs.

He has now lodged plans with Dundee City Council which are now live for public consultation.

Plans unveiled for Scotland’s largest data centre

A new data centre has opened just outside of Edinburgh within the Pyramids Business Park in Bathgate.

The 60,000 square feet facility is in the first stage of a three part expansion plan, the final phase being a 250,000 square feet data centre which would bring the total to 500,000 square feet - making it the largest-ever data centre in Scotland, potentially covering 500,000 square feet.

Those behind the project said it will enhance the Scottish market, able to handle its “vast data storage and processing needs as it moves into an increasingly digital future”.

The project is a partnership between property-developer Ashfield Land and technical real estate asset manager TechRE with support from Cushman & Wakefield, Commsworld, Atkins and 3D Reid.

It will work with both the public and private sectors as they become increasingly digital, with cloud-based technology playing a growing role.

Steven McGarva, director at Ashfield Land, which bought the Pyramids Business Park in January 2016, said the company has considered various options for the site’s future, and “it is clear that we need to invest and be at the heart of Scotland’s digital economy”.

Morris & Spottiswood awarded pair of refurb jobs totalling £4m

Morris & Spottiswood have been awarded 2 new projects with the University of Edinburgh – the Edinburgh Cancer Research Centre and Kincaid’s Court.

The ECRC delivers cancer research and improved patient care, bringing together cancer scientists and clinicians from across the University of Edinburgh. The works will include refurbishment works within the ECRC, relocating an existing office space and creating a new wet laboratory space.

Kincaid’s Court is the largest self-catered residence within the University of Edinburgh’s portfolio, with 253 single and 2 twinned study bedrooms, ranging from 4 to 12 person flats.

The refurbishment of this existing student accommodation will take place over 2 phases, with completion in late Summer 2018.

The two refurbishment projects will total just under £4 million.

CBRE Scotland enhances client offering with two new appointments

Property consultancy CBRE has announced it has strengthened its Advisory & Transaction Services and Retail teams with two new appointments.

Eilidh Grant joins the retail team as a senior surveyor and will be based in the firm’s Edinburgh office, while David Reid has been appointed as an associate director in the Advisory & Transaction Services team in Glasgow.

Previously based at CWM Retail Property Advisors in central London, Eilidh spent four years in the Lease Advisory team, progressing from graduate to senior surveyor during her time there.

Her responsibilities included advising landlord and tenant clients throughout the UK including Standard Life Investments, The Bedford Estates, Thomas Cook, Phase Eight and L’Occitane.

Eilidh’s new role at CBRE will see her acting for a variety of occupiers and landlords across Scotland, with a focus on existing high street and shopping centre instructions. She will be working alongside the existing Retail Scotland team of Kevin Sims, Euan McGonigle and Chris Humphrey.

Joining CBRE from Scottish property consultancy DM Hall, CBRE said David brings more than ten years’ agency experience to the Advisory & Transaction Services team. Prior to his time at DM Hall, David spent over five years at James Barr, having advised across all sectors of the commercial property market at both firms. He will be dealing with office, industrial and land agency instructions in his new role at CBRE.

New bridge at Parkhill to open to traffic

A new bridge on the B977 Echt to Balmedie Road at Parkhill is expected to open to traffic on Thursday 8 June around 6am, as part of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route/Balmedie to Tipperty (AWPR/B-T) project.

The new bridge, which will form part of the realigned B977 and carry road users over the AWPR mainline, will generate a number of changes to the road layout in the area, including the removal of temporary traffic signals at the Parkhill Crossroads.

Traffic heading towards Balmedie along the B977 will be able to travel past the Parkhill Garden Centre, over the new bridge to a new T-Junction that links the B977 and the existing Newmachar Church Road. Traffic heading towards Dyce along the B977 should turn left at the T-junction to continue their journey.

Temporary traffic lights will remain at the new T-junction for a short period until works to install safety barriers are complete.

Following the opening of the new B977 bridge, the contractor will permanently close a section of Newmachar Church Road, where it currently crosses the AWPR. The new permanent route for road users will be via the new B977 bridge.

A Transport Scotland spokesperson said: “We would like to encourage road users to exercise more caution than usual in this area as they become accustomed to the changes in road layout. Road users should also be aware that some businesses have new entrances and exits and extra care should be taken at these locations.

“We would also like to remind all road users that works are still continuing in this area and therefore some traffic management measures are still in place to enhance the safety of the local community, road workers and road users.”