Building Briefs – May 11th

A lack of available stock continued to hamper the Scottish housing market in April, despite a rise in sales prices, the latest RICS UK Residential Market Survey has found.

Mirroring the trend seen across the UK, there was a drop in new instructions in April, while new buyer enquiries were unchanged nationally, having failed to see any meaningful growth since November 2016. During April, a net balance of 4 per cent of respondents saw a fall in new buyer enquiries.

In Scotland, anecdotal evidence cites a lack of choice, uncertainty due to the calling of an early General Election and the continued lack of clarity over the terms of Brexit as factors stymying the market.

Looking ahead at the national picture for near-term price expectations, these have eased slightly with the net balance moderating to +4% (from +11%) suggesting that house price inflation is anticipated to slow in the three months ahead. Despite this, the 12-month expectations predict that all parts of the UK will see growth in house prices.

Meanwhile, in the lettings market, the quarterly data shows tenant demand rising moderately*, although momentum does appear to have faded over the past six months. At the same time, landlord instructions were relatively flat leading respondents to expect further modest rental growth at the national level.

Developer to submit alternative plan to convert Kinross Town Hall into flats

Developers behind a plan to convert a prominent Kinross-shire building into flats have revealed the proposal will be re-submitted.

Perth-based MBM Planning and Development, who are acting on behalf of Edinburgh MI Ltd, has confirmed that their proposal to transform Kinross Town Hall, the old public library and post office into nine flats will now feature in an “alternative” plan, following concerns surrounding certain aspects of the first scheme.

Milestone in redevelopment of Fraserburgh building

Work starts this week to redevelop a prominent Fraserburgh building.

At the end of this month work will commence on the renovation of Saltoun Square Council Chambers and the former Police Station in Fraserburgh. The project will result in a newly restored Council Chambers and its merge with the vacant former Police Station next door.

The new facility will house Aberdeenshire Council services, a civic space, meeting space for groups and an Enterprise Hub which, with the development of a support post, will aim to develop and support the town’s businesses, entrepreneurship and innovation.

Eastern Properties acquires land at Broadleys Business Park in Stirling

Cromwell Property Group has announced the sale of 3.2 acres of commercial development land at Broadleys Business Park in Stirling to Eastern Properties (Scotland) Ltd for £720,000.

The site has been sold by Stirling Development Agency Ltd, which is a joint venture between Stirling Council and Cromwell Property Group. Ryden advised the seller.

Eastern Holdings Ltd’s property division, Eastern Properties (Scotland) Ltd, acquired the land for its motor division Eastern Western Motor Group Ltd and has obtained planning consent to construct two new car dealerships on the land (plot 18).

The total investment by Eastern Holdings Ltd in the development of the site, once complete, is in the region of £4 million. It aims to have both dealerships open for business within 12 months, employing around 50-60 staff. Each dealership will be 15,000 sq ft in size, with a total of 331 car park spaces.

Broadleys Business Park is one of the main industrial and commercial estates in Stirling and existing occupiers include FES Ltd, Barbour European, Plumbase, Tile Giant and a number of car dealerships including BMW, Audi, Volkswagen and Citroen.

Final stages of major M8M73M74 works

As part of the M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvement Project, motorists are being advised of the ongoing restrictions and planned temporary road closure at the Shawhead junction in Coatbridge as part of the final works to allow all new and improved lanes to be opened in the coming weeks.

The A725, from the M8 eastbound on-slip, to Whifflet Street (Kirshaws Road/ Hagsmill Road) roundabout, was reduced to a single lane in each direction from 6 May 2017 for approximately three weeks. Temporary traffic signals have been introduced to control the flow of traffic and these will be manually controlled at peak periods to aid traffic flow.

There will also be a full temporary closure of the Shawhead junction from 8pm on Friday 12 May until 6am on Monday 15 May 2017.

This will shut the A725 between B7070 North Road, Bellshill, and Kirkshaws Road/ Hagsmill Road, Coatbridge. The slip roads on and off the A8 All-Purpose Road will also be closed temporarily.

This means there will no direct access between Bellshill and Coatbridge via the A725 and there will be no access on or off the A8 All-Purpose Road at the Shawhead junction.

Access from the A725 northbound to the new M8 eastbound at Shawhead will be maintained during these works.

Signed diversions will be in place on all approaches to Shawhead junction to provide road users with alternative routes, details of which can be accessed via the Transport Scotland and Traffic Scotland websites.

Costain breaks carbon reductions record

Costain has achieved record breaking success in its bid to reduce its non-operational carbon emissions – created by permanent offices and the company car fleet – by 35% by 2020.

As a result of business wide initiatives launched in 2015, including a shift to carbon neutral Green energy tariffs, Costain has lowered its emissions by 14% in just one year – nearly tripling its five per cent reduction target.

The company’s long-term commitment to carbon reductions continues to be commended externally, and, for the sixth year running, has received third party certification from the Certified Emission Measurement and Reduction Scheme (CEMARS).

In addition, Costain has also been nominated for CEMARS Gold Standard for the ongoing reduction achievements.

Hybrid vehicles are now available in every grade of the company car fleet, with all vehicle emissions capped to a maximum of 115gC02/km. This has reduced overall emissions by 12% compared to the previous fleet.

Costain’s switch to carbon neutral Green energy tariffs has also allowed the company to significantly reduce its overall carbon footprint by a record-breaking 41% compared to 2015.

By 2020, Costain aims to put all offices on green energy tariffs to demonstrate its commitment to renewable energies and guarantee zero emissions for Greenhouse Gas reporting. Hybrid and energy efficient lighting towers have also been mandated across the group.

Maxi Construction achieves Integrated Management System certification

Maxi Construction has received certification from Exova BM Trada for its Integrated Management System confirming that it meets the requirements of ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System, ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management System and (BS) OHSAS 18001:2007 Health & Safety Management System.

The scope of the certification covers ‘The provision of Building and Civil Engineering Construction including Design and Maintenance to public and private sector clients’.

Managing director John Aitchison said: “We are delighted to receive this formal recognition for our management system and credit is due to our employees for ensuring continual high standards of performance across all areas of the business.”

Pupils learning from A96 Dualling programme

Transport Scotland and engineers working on the A96 Dualling have taken time out from their day job to assist teachers to deliver a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) programme.

Around 50 pupils from local primary schools this week attended an event in Inverness to celebrate the success of the first year of Transport Scotland’s schools engagement programme on the A96 Dualling.

In the first year of the programme, teachers from twelve schools (10 primary schools and 2 secondary schools) in the vicinity of the Inverness to Nairn (including Nairn Bypass) scheme have benefited from training from specialist educational supplier Primary Engineer, with engineers from Jacobs UK Ltd assisting with presentations, Q&A sessions and class projects.

Building on the success of the first year, the programme is to be rolled out by Transport Scotland to schools in the western section of the A96 Dualling programme between Hardmuir and Fochabers with teacher training from Primary Engineer for local schools with a view to starting the schools engagement supported by the project’s design consultancy, Mott McDonald Sweco (MMS) Joint Venture, after the summer holidays.

The programme will also continue for Inverness to Nairn schools next year.

B9000 Newburgh to Pitmedden Road to close for five days

A section of the B9000 Newburgh to Pitmedden Road is expected to close for five days from Saturday 13 May to enable the contractor for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route/Balmedie to Tipperty (AWPR/B-T) project to complete a temporary diversion.

It is anticipated that the road will close between its junction with the A90 near Fountainbleau and Newburgh from 6am on Saturday 13 May and will reopen on a new temporary alignment at 6am Thursday 18 May.