Building Briefs – March 28th

Representatives from akp Scotland and Aerial Adventures met this month to celebrate the beginning of an exciting project to transform multiple units within the Wintergarden area of The Centre in Livingston.

The site will accommodate new tenants Aerial Adventure and facilitate the installation of the adrenaline – pumping climbing equipment which is to be suspended high above shopper’s heads, set to open this Spring.

This contract follows on from the successful completion of Aerial Adventures East Kilbride venue in 2016, where akp were part of the team whom delivered the aerial assault course and climbing wall at The Hub, within East Kilbride shopping centre.

The £1 million Livingston Aerial Adventures course will give shoppers the chance to climb almost 50 feet above the centre on two unique climbing frames. The innovative ‘HiRide’ structure, located in the winter garden will see adrenaline junkies fly down a zipline, before tackling a 100m obstacle course 50 feet in the air, featuring rolling logs and a swinging bridge.

The mezzanine level 13-metre ‘HiClimb’ will challenge climbers to ascend a frame featuring a variety of different obstacles including foam totem poles, cargo nets, rope ladders and hanging discs. Once climbers reach the top, they can then move onto the ‘HiFall,’ taking participants high into the air before dropping them rapidly but safely back to the ground.

The new project will also include a 600 sq ft, soft play area across three levels for children up to 12 years old, with a separate area for babies and toddlers and a 60-seater café with an additional break out area and spectator seating in the winter garden.

The team at Edinburgh-based Aerial Adventures were also responsible for the original design and operation of the Edinburgh Indoor Climbing Arena at Ratho and it is hoped this new installation will create around 30 jobs in the centre.

Falkirk’s Silk House set for major renovation

In a deal worth over £1 million, Weslo Housing Management has taken over ownership of the former Art School in Park Street, Falkirk known as Silk House.

The building was bought over for private let in the mid nineties and transformed into seventeen one and two bedroom flats.

Acquired by Weslo for mid-market rent, the building will undergo major renovation works, both internally and externally. A £0.5m development programme will see existing tenants benefit from new kitchens, bathrooms, décor, floor coverings and increased energy performance.

The acquisition, which was aided by grant funding from the Scottish Government and supported by Falkirk Council, will be managed by Weslo Housing Management’s private sector subsidiary Weslo Property Management which provides private rented accommodation for tenants in West Lothian and Falkirk. The company also provides letting agency services and factoring for landlords and property owners.

Amenity housing project under way in Coatbridge

Work has started on new housing for older people in Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire.

CCG (Scotland) Ltd is working with Loretto Housing Association, part of Wheatley Group, to create 28 new homes for social rent specially designed to meet the needs of older residents.

The development will be a mix of two, three and four-bedroom flats, including two properties which will be fully wheelchair accessible.

The site, situated between John Street and Muiryhall Street in Coatbridge, previously featured commercial offices.

The homes, which are expected to be complete early next year, will give tenants a comfortable living environment that is complimented by a private, south-facing rear courtyard, communal garden space and a car park.

Consultation to begin on future of North Ayrshire tower blocks

A consultation on proposals to demolish all the high rise tower blocks in North Ayrshire is to will get underway next week.

North Ayrshire Council became the second Scottish local authority to announce proposals to pull down all its tower blocks earlier this month. The council said it could replace five ageing tower blocks in Irvine and two in Saltcoats with modern, state-of-the-art homes as it seeks to ensure its residents can enjoy high quality, affordable and energy efficient housing.

Scotland’s biggest local authority landlord, North Lanarkshire Council, announced its own plans to demolish its even bigger stock of high flats in December following a programme of tower block structural surveys undertaken in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire in June which claimed 71 lives.

The process of engaging with tenants of the North Ayrshire high-rise blocks is due to get underway on Tuesday, April 3.

North Ayrshire Council said its housing staff are primed to speak to residents of all the properties - 369 flats in total across the two sites.

It is hoped that the majority of the one-to-one sessions will be completed within the first two weeks although the consultation will continue after that in an effort to engage with as many affected people as possible.

At the meetings, residents will get the chance to hear in detail the options for the tower blocks as well the potential process for re-housing people if and when work gets under way.

Whatever option is chosen, the investment will be fully funded from council house rental income and will not impact on the council’s revenue or capital budgets.

A report on the outcome of the consultation is expected to be brought before Cabinet this summer, with the next steps to be considered at that stage.

PCA members offered Chartered route for professional development from CABE

Members of the Property Care Association are now able to achieve Chartered status through a collaboration with the Chartered Association of Building Engineers.

Subject to meeting CABE’s stringent requirements, PCA members can attain the professional position of Chartered Building Engineer, awarded by CABE.

Formed in 1925 as the Incorporated Association of Architects and Surveyors, the CABE is a leading body for professionals specialising in the design, construction, evaluation and maintenance of buildings.

CABE was granted its Royal Charter in 2013 and its professional members practise across the United Kingdom, mainland Europe and around the world, working in both the private and public sectors.

The PCA represents the specialist sectors of flood protection, structural repair, structural waterproofing, wood preservation, damp-proofing and invasive weed control, driving high standards of professionalism and expertise throughout the industry.

Transformation planned at Dundee health centre

Lochee Health Centre in Dundee could be set for a transformation costing over £250,000.

The integration joint board (IJB) of the Dundee Health and Social Care Partnership will consider a report on March 30 recommending a better and more effective layout to reflect up-to-date methods of delivering services.

The current building has “poor and confusing” signage and the flow of patients and staff into and around the centre is “restrictive and generally inefficient”.

Members of the IJB will be told that the centre has ”limited ability to share clinical and support spaces, which further limits the resident services’ ability to deliver modern multi-disciplinary models of care.”

The IJB is being recommended to request to NHS Tayside that it releases the provision made within its Capital Plan for primary care developments of £250k plus VAT to enable the required structural changes to be made.