Building Briefs – May 14th

CGC skydiver brings windfall for Celtic charity

Fundraiser John Patrick landed a bumper windfall for charity after a daring 10,000 feet skydive.

Brave John, who works for Paisley-based City Gate Construction, leapt out of a plane to raise a sky-high £671 to support the good work of the Celtic FC Foundation.

Long-time Celtic fan john took to the skies with 15 other Celtic fans – each undertaking a skydive before landing safely at the site in Glenrothes.

The “Skydive St Andrews” plane soared to an eye-watering 10,000 feet before each made their courageous leap while attached to an experienced skydiver.

The day began with a training session at 9 am but some early overhead cloud added a slight wait for those eager to take to the skies.

By 11 am the clouds had cleared and the skydivers were gifted with near perfect weather conditions ensuring that it was a fantastic day of uninterrupted skydiving.

John, who is a quantity surveyor with MacDowall Street-based CGC, said: “It was a great experience – really fantastic and I’m very grateful to everyone who contributed to the fundraising. The Celtic FC Foundation does the most amazing work in helping people. I feel very privileged to be able to do my bit.”

CGC contributed to the total raised with a donation from the company.

Peterhead police station relocation plans approved

A bid to move Peterhead’s police station has been given the green light by Scottish Police Authority (SPA).

Its members met in Stirling earlier this month to consider plans to house the officers and staff currently based in Peterhead Police Office within a purpose-built extension at Aberdeenshire Council’s Buchan House.

The plans were put forward in 2016 and have since been awaiting approval.

Police front counter staff have been based alongside council staff at Buchan House since November 2016.

Plans will now be progressed to finalise the programme of work.

Councillors approve new Highland academy plans

Highland Council has granted planning consent to the creation of a new Alness Academy on the site of the existing school, providing places for up to 600 pupils.

Designed by JM Architects the school will offer a range of facilities including sports, performance and shared learning facilities.

Built on existing playing fields the phased development will see the existing school knocked down upon completion to allow formation of a grass sports pitch and twin 3G pitches.

Elderpark Housing tenements given new lease of life

Bailie John Kane visited Elderpark Housing last week to officially open the refurbishment of four blocks of flats in Glasgow’s Crossloan Road.

Elderpark Housing was formed in 1975 with a remit to improve properties within the area and one of their earliest projects was a comprehensive refurbishment programme to improve these flats in Crossloan Road.

Forty years on from this refurbishment these have now been completely modernised including reducing the number of flats from 35 down to 31 by removing a third flat on some of the landings to increase the space for residents. Other new features include a utility room in each flat, internal wall insulation, communal wi-fi as standard and a complete makeover of the close and back court areas which retain the existing history.

The contractor for the project was CCG Limited.

The project cost approximately £3.5 million and has been funded 50% through a grant from the Scottish Government through Glasgow City Council’s Development and Regeneration Services with Elderpark Housing investing almost £1.8 million of their own resources.

Affordable homes plan for historic Stornoway building

A 150-year-old seminary in Stornoway could be converted into a block of flats under newly unveiled plans.

The Press & Journal has reported that Lewis Builders plans to convert the B-listed Lady Matheson Seminary into six flats to provide “much needed” social housing in the town.

The developer, which purchased the building from community estate landlord the Stornoway Trust in 2014, said it is in talks with local housing association Hebridean Housing Partnership (HHP) about the project.

The building has spent decades crumbling into disrepair. Elements of the roof and its original stone walling have now been described as “dangerous” and in a state of “imminent collapse” by architects called in by developers.

Their newly published report states that “substantial investment” is required to prevent the complete loss of the historic landmark.

And it adds that a complete “strip out of the interior” is the only viable and safe option for the Stornoway construction firm to proceed with proposals to rejuvenate it.

The seminary design is described as a “rare survival” of the educational philosophy of the Glasgow philanthropist, David Stow, with large single classrooms with a gallery at one end.

The new proposals would maintain the original rooflines, window arrangements and styles, externally exposed stonework and all significant external features.

The developer said it is committed to salvaging important and historically significant features as far as is practicable and will “sensitively” replace elements to match the original wherever possible – including reusing salvaged features.

Community group completes successful purchase of Isle of Ulva

The community of the Isle of Ulva and neighbouring North West Mull have successfully concluded negotiations for the purchase of Ulva Estate.

The North West Mull Community Woodland Company (NWMCWC), which is recognised as a Community Body, launched a bid to buy Ulva a year ago when the present owner Jamie Howard decided to put the estate on the market.

The company applied for a Community Right to Buy under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003.

It now aims to bring about social and economic development of Ulva for the benefit of the community with a key objective being to repopulate the island.

NWMCWC plans to:

Binding contracts were concluded last week and ownership will transfer on June 21.