Building Briefs – March 4th

CMS Window Systems has played a key role in the manufacture and installation of thermally-efficient curtain walling, windows and doors for Emerson Process Management’s new facility at the new D2 business park, Aberdeen.

CMS was appointed by main contractor Bowmer & Kirkland to design, manufacture and install curtain walling, windows and doors for the facility.

The £20 million development, built to replace Emerson’s existing Aberdeen headquarters in nearby Kirkhill, comprises 2,600 m2 of office space, as well as a 3,065m2 service centre with meeting facilities and a customer collaboration suite, and can accommodate up to 200 Emerson personnel. Reflecting this code of efficiency, the facility adheres to exacting thermal performance standards and complying with the latest requirements of current building regulations.

With site development overseen by Miller and construction completed by Bowmer & Kirkland, work on Emerson’s new Aberdeen premises began in June 2014, with CMS joining the project in February 2015.

Conditional sale of land for new Stirling hotel

A conditional sale of land at the entrance of the proposed new Kildean Business Park in Stirling has been completed.

The sale to pub and retail group Marston’s was conducted by Stirling Development Agency – a 50/ 50 joint venture between Stirling Council and property investment firm Valad Europe.

Marston’s already own The Highland Gate family pub restaurant at Kildean and the three-quarters of an acre of land in this latest deal is earmarked for a 38-bed Lodge Hotel.

The deal is conditional on Marston’s getting planning permission for this hotel.

Council plans to spend £6m on cycling in Glasgow

Glasgow City Council aims to spend £6 million over the next three years on improving cycling infrastructure.

The council said the cash would be spent on more segregated cycling routes, traffic calming measures and other safety features.

Councillors approved the Strategic Plan for Cycling 2016-2025 and agreed to the funding on the basis that match funding is sourced from other key stakeholders.

Work to begin on new Perth restaurant

A new multi-million pound ‘family restaurant’ and drive-in coffee shop is set to be built on the outskirts of Perth.

UK pub chain Greene King is behind the project, which will be located at the Broxden Business Park, and claim it will lead to 60 jobs and could attract future developers to the area.

The plan faced opposition from some local residents and was previously kicked into touch by the council, however Scottish ministers overturned the decision on appeal.

Funding boost for Pennywell and Muirhouse regeneration

Pennywell and Muirhouse in Edinburgh is set to receive £1.5 million from the Scottish Government’s Regeneration Capital Grants Fund.

The funding will help to transform the area creating a new heart for the existing and emerging communities. Working with the community, the City of Edinburgh Council will invest this funding into creating a new civic square and public realm, building new links and strengthening existing ties with retail, services and new homes.

This project will also help to stimulate economic growth and create training and employment opportunities.

The council and its development partner, Urban Union, have already committed around £80m to providing around 700 new homes for sale and rent within this area. Work is well underway with completion due over the next few years.

The construction of a new NHS led partnership centre is also set to commence soon, bringing new health services to the area.

South Ayrshire Council agrees £49.8m capital investment programme

Councillors in South Ayrshire have approved a capital budget of £49.8 million for 2016/17.

South Ayrshire Council took the decision to protect essential or ‘life and limb’ services as it agreed a revenue budget of £187.1m – excluding spend on Health and Social Care.

The agreement takes the council’s overall capital investment programme to £152.5m over the next five years.

New projects added over this period include a new Sacred Heart Primary, Glenburn Primary, Ayr Grammar Primary and Nursery, road reconstruction and a new all-weather pitch at Carrick Academy.

Hardies celebrates Safecontractor accreditation

Hardies Property & Construction Consultants has been awarded accreditation from Safecontractor for its commitment to achieving excellence in health and safety.

Safecontractor is a leading third party accreditation scheme which recognises very high standards in health and safety management amongst UK contractors.

Hardies said its application for Safecontractor accreditation was driven by the need for a uniform standard across the business.

Under the Safecontractor scheme, businesses undergo a vetting process which examines health and safety procedures and their track record for safe practice. Those companies meeting the high standard are included on a database, which is accessible to registered users only via a website.

Over 210 major, nation-wide businesses, from several key sectors, have signed up to use the scheme when selecting contractors for services such as building, cleaning, maintenance, refurbishment or electrical and mechanical work.

Glasgow students’ centenary celebration for charity supported by Persimmon

Four students from Glasgow have received a cash boost from Persimmon Homes West Scotland to help run a centenary celebration for Erskine.

Kirsty Tait, Nicola Samson, Emma Somers, and Kirstin Marshall students at Glasgow Caledonian University have received a £250 donation from the housebuilder’s Community Champions scheme to help support their centenary event.

The Scottish themed cabaret evening will take place at Sloan’s Grand Ballroom in Glasgow, on March 13.

The money donated from the builder will help cover the cost of venue hire and decoration costs.

Tickets for the “Bring Yir Kilt” event cost £7 with the line-up including comedians, live music and dance. Tickets can be purchased online http://tickets-scotland.com/sco35.

As part of their course in Event Delivery and Management the four students have organised the event in aid of Erskine, the leading care organisation for ex-Service men and women in Scotland.

Official opening of Glasgow dance school

Bailie Liz Cameron, Glasgow City Council’s executive member for children, young people & lifelong learning, unveiled a plaque to signify the opening of the Dance School of Scotland & Knightswood Halls of Residence.

The residence is built in the grounds of the school and opened to pupils at the beginning of the new school year last August.

The new halls replace the former accommodation at Dalrymple Hall which was two miles from the school and owned by Glasgow University.

Up to 90 pupils will now enjoy the modern, state-of-the-art facilities on offer in the very heart of the Knightswood Secondary school community.

Professionals and pupils experience life at Kier

Individuals from a cross section of businesses swapped their usual surroundings for a day on a building site as they took part in a special ‘Apprentice for the Day’ initiative with hub South West and Kier Construction.

Charlotte McDonnell and Craig Young (both from hub South West), Gary Gray (Skills Development Scotland) and Mark McGuigan (Martec Engineering) worked with Kier Construction on Wednesday 2 March at its Marr College site. The quartet then moved to the Garnock Campus later in the afternoon.

They were joined on site by three pupils from Marr College, who came to learn about the many varied careers available in construction. Flynn Murray, Douglas Rankine and Mac McInnes, all aged 16, joined up with mentors from Kier, PJ Careys and FES to learn about site engineering, quantity surveying, mechanical, plumbing and planning.

The initiative, which was facilitated by Kier, was undertaken as part of Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2016.