Building Briefs – March 3rd

• Dundee House roof works tender to be awarded

The city development committee, which meets on March 9, will be asked to agree the works totalling £327,692 and award the tender to Dundee City Council’s construction services division.

Dundee House opened in 2011 and has won two prestigious architecture awards, including a Royal Institute of British Architects award for architectural excellence.

The works which comprise the renewal of existing brown roof coverings and repairs at fifth floor level are expected to start in spring.

• Government funding to build island homes for social rent

Funding of more than £770,000 has been awarded to the Mull and Iona Community Trust (MICT) to build family homes for social rent in Ulva Ferry on the Island of Mull.

The money comes from the Scottish Government’s Rural and Islands Housing Fund (RIHF), part of a £30 million investment to increase the supply of affordable housing in rural and island areas.

MICT applied to the RIHF for grant funding to contribute to the construction of four family homes for social rent and the associated infrastructure works in Ulva Ferry. These will be built at two sites owned by the community and funded through the Scottish Land Fund in this extremely remote rural location, with two homes in Oskamull and two homes in Acharonich

The project follows on from two affordable homes previously developed in Ulva Ferry in 2017 using significant funds raised by MICT and the community and a grant contribution of £27,384 from Scottish Government. Grant approval has now been agreed for £777,855.94 for the current development. The additional funding means that, on completion, a total of £805,240 from the RIHF will have supported the construction of six new affordable homes and the associated infrastructure works in Ulva Ferry.

The Wee House Company has been selected as the contractor for this project and each home will be constructed as an off-site modular home at their facility in East Ayrshire and then delivered to the sites. It is hoped the homes will be ready for their new occupants in early 2021.

In 2018-19, a total of 9,554 affordable homes were delivered by the Affordable Housing Supply Programme, with 1,419 in remote and rural areas, including 115 on the islands

Housing minister Kevin Stewart said the fund builds on work and priorities set out by the Islands Act to address population decline, tackle climate change, and improve transport, the delivery of public services and digital connectivity.

• New CIOB chief pays visit to Pacific Building

The new chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Building, Caroline Gumble, popped into the Pacific Building headquarters yesterday.

Ms Gumble is just seven months into her post and decided to head out around the country to meet some of the talented teams who keep the construction industry vibrant and successful.

First stop on her tour of Scotland was the Pacific office in Hillington Park, on the outskirts of Glasgow.

Caroline was accompanied by Kate Macbeth, director of marketing and digital, and Lynne McKay, CIOB regional manager for Scotland.

Company chairman Brian Gallacher and managing director Gerard McMahon spent time discussing Pacific’s history and future plans with her.

They pointed to the company’s dynamic and flexible approach to business development and project delivery, and the fact that the future looks extremely positive through the retention and creation of new work streams and client relationships across business sectors and geographical locations within the United Kingdom.

They then gave her a guided tour of the office premises and workshop, where much of the bespoke joinery for larger projects is fabricated.

Such was the warm welcome she received, Caroline smiled as she revealed that she was pleased she had made Pacific her first stop on her tour of Scotland.

• Lovell lends a helping hand for first family to move into a home in 2020

The first house to settle in Scotland in the new decade have moved into their home with the help of Lovell.

The Crighton family moved into their Bowmore with Garden Room home on 25th January at Lochside Grange in Kinghorn. 

The Lochside Grange estate is a selection of 2, 3, 4 and 5 bedroomed properties located close to the North Shore of the Firth of Forth and situated on the Fife Coastal Path in the small town of Kinghorn.

The Crighton family were able to move into their new home in Kinghorn with thanks to the Helping Hands scheme which Lovell offers. The Helping Hands initiative allows those that are looking to buy a Lovell home, will have help from Lovell to sell your current property without any estate agent fees. 

• Four year apprenticeship for painting and decorating students

Two students at City of Glasgow College have each gained a four year apprenticeship with Glasgow-based painting and decorating company Scott Brothers.

Rebecka Taylor and Jaemie Smith were part of a group of six students who initially volunteered to do work experience with the firm. As a result, owner and director, Andy McNicol, offered them each an apprenticeship.

Both students have completed an NPA in painting and decorating and are now working towards their City & Guilds.

• North Lanarkshire Council delivers new homes at Keepmoat development

Successful partnership working between UK homebuilder Keepmoat Homes and North Lanarkshire Council is delivering affordable homes for rent to almost a dozen families in the Clyde Valley.

The move comes as part of the council’s commitment to deliver 5,000 new homes across North Lanarkshire. Keepmoat Homes’ development at The Castings supports this pledge by providing 11 new homes for rent as part a holistic design.

The two and three-bedroom properties have been allocated to local residents through the social housing register which is administered by the council.

This project was supported by Scottish Government grant funding of £649,000.

• Highland Council approves community asset transfers

Two ‘strong’ community asset transfer requests have been given the green light by councillors on The Highland Council’s Communities and Place Committee.

Unanimous support was given for the sale of land at South Bonar Industrial Estate at Bonar Bridge to Kyle of Sutherland Hub; and for the sale of Kinlochewe public toilets, picnic area and parking to Community Out West Trust - both at the value of £1 each.

Kyle of Sutherland Hub requested ownership of around 215m² which adjoins the Hub’s car park at South Bonar Industrial Estate which is currently used informally for parking.

In Wester Ross, Community Out West Trust requested ownership of the Kinlochewe public toilets and adjoining picnic area with parking for around ten unmarked spaces.

Following the closure of local public toilets by the council in 2018, the Trust has operated the toilets all-year-round, under a licence to occupy. The Trust sought ownership to improve local community amenity and to develop tourist facilities.