Building Briefs – May 13th

Anyone interested in the development of the new primary school being built in Lenzie to replace Lenzie and Lenzie Moss Primaries can now comment on the planning application.

East Dunbartonshire Council, via architect Holmes Miller, has lodged a planning application for the new school which is to be built on the site of the existing Lenzie Moss Primary School as part of the council’s Primary School Improvement Programme.

The application is now online.

James Frew’s green credentials creates a silver lining

Building services company James Frew has received a Silver Award from the Crichton Carbon Centre in recognition for efforts to reduce its carbon footprint.

The Stevenston based business, which provides heating and plumbing services to both domestic householders and public sector organisations, has been working with the Centre on reviewing its processes and delivery of services to minimise its impact on the environment.

Mike Bonaventura, chief executive of the Crichton Carbon Centre, which is a not-for-profit organisation based at Crichton University in Dumfries, presented James Frew with a certificate of achievement.

The Crichton Carbon Centre was founded in 2007 to provide leadership in promoting the transition to a low carbon society.

Dundee councillors to discuss school buildings investment

Almost £600,000 of improvement works to schools across Dundee could be carried out over the next few months.

Members of Dundee City Council’s development committee will be asked to approve a raft of work, including roof repairs and replacement at a city primary school, at their meeting next week.

Tenders include the provision of enabling works to erect modular buildings at Glebelands and St Pius primary schools, early years provision at Sidlaw View Primary School and Woodlea Nursery as well as roof repairs and replacement at Ancrum Primary School.

Planning brief unveiled for former Dundee school site

Developers looking to build at a former school site in Dundee will have a broad outlines of what Dundee City Council expects if the redevelopment guidance is agreed at the city development committee next week.

The draft site planning brief for the former Kingspark school in Gilburn Road suggests a mix of house types and sizes on three quarters of the site, with the other 25 per cent retained as open space for community use.

Housing should front either onto Gilburn Road or onto the recreational area of open space and 75 per cent of them could have three bedrooms or more.

The inclusion of an area of public open space came after local residents were consulted on the plan.

Almost 30 responses were received to the draft, many supporting the retention of open space in the area.

BrewDog raises £5m for expansion

Craft beer company BrewDog has raised £5 million in three weeks in its latest crowdfunding drive.

The brewery set a target of £25 million in its latest Equity For Punks expansion scheme, including plans to expand facilities, open more bars and a craft beer hotel, and further operations in the US.

Story Homes invests £1m in its workforce

Story Homes is investing £1m in its employee development and training over the next three years.

The home builder which has sites in South West Scotland has been expanding rapidly over the past three years and it is investing heavily in making sure it has the right skilled workforce to deliver its ambitious growth plans.

Shelley Hayward has been appointed as learning and development manager at Story Homes to lead this investment. She joins from sister company Story Contracting, where she performed the same role. Previously she worked as a Talent Manager for 3663 First for Foodservice.

Former RBS director to drive expansion of Edinburgh finance group Urbicus

Edinburgh-based real estate finance group Urbicus has appointed a former senior Royal Bank of Scotland director to help drive forward the expansion of its lending arm Castle Capital.

With 30 years of experience from the property and banking sectors, Alison Fyfe will aim to identify opportunities for financing real estate projects throughout the UK.

Working closely with Castle Capital’s director of lending Alan Meikle she will also look to expand business in third party loan acquisitions.

Ms Fyfe spent nearly 20 years with RBS, commanding a number of senior positions and latterly heading the Scottish arm of the bank’s real estate debt restructuring team.

She left the Edinburgh lender last month and will take up her new role in June.

Dundee City Council to spend £500,000 bringing paths up to standard

Dundee City Council is to pump hundreds of thousands of pounds into improving pavements in the city.

The local authority has earmarked £500,000 that will be spent on developing unadopted walkways across the city.

Local councillor Laurie Bidwell said he welcomed the investment, some of which will be spent improving footpaths in his ward of Broughty Ferry.

Abertay Street, Stewart Street and Reres Road were some of the thoroughfares where work will be going on.

Shepherd sponsors RICS Scotland annual dinner

Shepherd Chartered Surveyors is co-sponsoring this year’s Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Scotland annual dinner.

Taking place on 11th June at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Glasgow, the annual dinner provides the perfect opportunity to reflect on last year’s achievements with colleagues and to network with industry professionals.

Coastal protection work resumes at Broughty Ferry

Work has begun on the construction of revetments along Broughty Ferry Esplanade from the Glass Pavilion to Bridge Street.

Tayside Contracts secured the £1 million deal to install the third phase of coastal protection works following the erosion of the sand dunes.

Will Dawson, convener of Dundee City Council’s city development committee, said public access to the beach will be maintained throughout the process but added that the public should take extra care in the vicinity at this time.

Work is expected to be completed by the end of September.