Building Briefs – May 27th
Reading time: 12 minutes
Scaffolding firm makes hat-trick of new appointments
Falsework and scaffolding supplier PERI Ltd has strengthened its northern sales team as activity and demand increases following growing industry confidence.
With infrastructure investment in Scotland remaining at an all-time high, according to the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), PERI Ltd has adapted to the needs of the industry by appointing three new sales engineers for its northern sales team. Expanding its reach to cover the North of England to the far north of Scotland, PERI’s team offers a wealth of knowledge and expertise, with the new appointments boasting design and engineering backgrounds.
Heading up the team is regional director Paul Browne. Currently the national president of The Concrete Society, Paul is overseeing the new additions to the sales team and will be utilising their extensive experience to help PERI increase its presence on large-scale building projects.
Ronan Bailey joins as senior sales engineer for the North of England & South of Scotland directly from PERI Canada. With his background in sales and design engineering in Ontario and previously as a formwork designer in Ireland, Ronan’s experience is perfect for Scotland’s exciting construction future.
Paul McGlynn becomes sales engineer for the East of Scotland. Paul has worked as a designer for PERI for over ten years until his promotion to business development engineer last year. Since then Paul has built his understanding of customers’ needs in Scotland and is ideally suited to take this next step as a sales engineer.
Scott McIntyre moves from technical to become sales engineer for the West of Scotland. Scott has worked with PERI for two years as a formwork and scaffolding designer, complementing his previous six years’ experience in the formwork and scaffolding sector.
Decision on £6.3m flats development deal in Glasgow’s West End expected
An area of land needed to complete the missing piece of one of Scotland’s Victorian jewels could be sold for £6.3 million.
On Thursday, Glasgow City Council will decide whether to sell the land in Park Quadrant to Leeds based developer Expresso Property.
It wants to build 111 flats in the internationally renowned conservation area near the city centre.
A plan in 2007 for a £15m housing development of 106 flats and six houses on the same site fell through because of the international financial crisis but the city council put the site back up for sale in October last year.
A report to councillors says: “The site forms the final missing piece of famous 19th century Scottish architect Charles Wilson’s vision for the Park Quadrant classical townscape.”
A total of 11 bids were received for the site which was narrowed down to four with each developer asked to provide a con temporary interpretation of the original architect’s design.
The preferred scheme is for 111 flats over five storeys with a penthouses on the sixth floor.
A 107 space car park will be concealed under a landscape deck which provides amenity space for residents.
If the scheme gets the go-ahead there will be 12 one bed flats, 73 two bed flats and 26 three bed.
Housing plans for former Noranside prison site
A north-east businessman has submitted plans for the first phase of housing at a former Angus prison.
Open establishment HMP Noranside was closed in August 2011, with all the inmates moved to Castle Huntly near Dundee.
Martin Gilbert, the chief executive of Aberdeen Asset Management, was given planning permission last year for 45 homes on the site of the old cell blocks attached to B-listed Noranside House, which will be turned into three properties.
The development will take place in four phases: one – five houses built and a former stable block turned into three houses; two – 18 houses built and offices in Noranside House converted into flats; three – 15 houses built and gardener’s cottage refurbished; four – three houses built in the walled garden.
The first phase will go before Angus Council’s development standards committee for approval before September this year.
Councillors urged to back Dundee Sports Direct Fitness plans
Plans for sportswear tycoon Mike Ashley’s £5 million Sports Direct Fitness store and gym at Dundee’s Stack Leisure Park are expected to be considered by Dundee City Council next month.
The development is to mark a further stage of the revival of the Lochee landmark dominated by the historic Cox’s Stack.
If given the green light, the outlet will become the first in Scotland and is expected to bring 96 jobs to the city.
It is on the site of the former Venue nightclub, which has lain empty for more than 20 years.
Other features of the original Stack park included a Tesco supermarket, cinema, bingo hall, ten-pin bowling hall and bar.
Councillors asked to approve Perth flats revamp
Perth & Kinross Council will today be asked to agree proposals to refurbish a row of shops and the flats above them in Perth.
Owned by the council, proposed upgrade work would improve the appearance of the Dunkeld Road property and enhance its overall visual appeal as well as improve parking and pedestrian safety.
The redevelopment would ensure that shop units comply with all current statutory requirements relating to fire precautions, electrical and gas safety, welfare and hygiene, and that the flats meet social housing requirements set by the Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SQHS) and Energy Efficiency Standard.
If approved, detailed design work would begin next month and retail units could be ready for occupation on a rolling basis from as soon as January 2016.
The council will also note the significant investment and improvements made to support energy efficiency in households across Perth and Kinross, and will be updated on further energy-saving initiatives for 2015-16.
Since March 2012 the council has invested £28.2m in significant and innovative work to reduce energy inefficiencies and fuel poverty in households.
Work starts at Monklands Hospital
Work is underway at Monklands Hospital to expand and refurbish the operating theatres and intensive care unit.
The Scottish Government has approved the plan and as a result, construction work on the £19 million scheme has begun at the rear of the hospital.
The seven existing theatres at the hospital will undergo an extensive refurbishment programme alongside the construction of a new build 10 bed ICU. It will be located on the ground floor between the main building and renal/infectious diseases unit.
Businessman hopes to transform former Hook’s Hotel in Kirriemuir
Businessman John Cape has applied to Angus Council for permission to build a shop, four flats, two cottages and a three-bedroom house on the site of Hook’s Hotel in Kirriemuir.
His proposal includes turning the ground floor of the hotel into a retail unit, which Mr Cape hopes he can rent out.
Kirriemuir Community Council has previously called for someone to take on the redevelopment of the building.
MSPs urged to take action over Loch Ness wind turbine plans
Campaigners have urged politicians take action to protect the Highlands from wind farms.
Friends of the Great Glen claim hundreds of turbines could be built around Loch Ness and the Great Glen.
The group says current planning processes do not afford the tourist destination with enough protection.
Figures from Highland Council and Scottish National Heritage show that 500 turbines have been approved or are in planning within 22-miles of Loch Ness.
Friends of the Great Glen wants MSPs to urge the Scottish Government to take steps to designate Loch Ness and the Great Glen as a National Scenic Area and to make an application for the region to be afforded World Heritage protection.
Appropriate steps to discourage further wind-turbine developments and support the restoration of sites damaged by wind turbines should also be taken, the group has said.
The committee has agreed to write to Highland Council, Scottish National Heritage, Scottish Renewables, the John Muir Trust and the Scottish Government.
First Cumbernauld high-rises reduced to rubble
Cumbernauld’s landscape has forever been changed after the demolition of the first high-rise blocks.
Bruce House, Buchan House and Douglas House had towered over Seafar since the 1960s but were brought down in less than a month.
A super high-reach excavator reduced each Allanfauld Road block to rubble by picking them apart. Social housing provider Sanctuary Cumbernauld had hoped to implode the blocks but this was ruled out for technical reasons.
Sanctuary’s £75 million regeneration programme is progressing in partnership with residents, North Lanarkshire Council and the Scottish Government. The demolished blocks will be cleared in the coming months, allowing construction work to begin early next year. The rubble at Allanfauld Road will be crushed and treated before being used to level the site. The regeneration programme’s final homes, at Hume Road in Seafar, are due to be completed by 2020.
Road users to benefit from A725 resurfacing works
Over £60K of upgrading works is being carried out westbound on the A725 Whistleberry Road to Whistleberry Toll which will improve the road surface for those using the route.
The works will see Scotland Transerv, on behalf of Transport Scotland, resurface the route over one evening and every effort is being made to help keep disruption to a minimum during that time.
A total closure of the westbound carriageway will be in operation from 8.00pm on Wednesday 3 June to 6.00am on Thursday 4 June.
Work to start on permanent solution to A82 rock falls
Work on a permanent solution to rock falls along part of the A82 in the Highlands should start next week, Forestry Commission Scotland has said.
The road between Invermoriston and Drumnadrochit was closed in March after two large chunks of stone slid down from a boulder field.
FCS said part of the permanent solution will be putting in place a concrete beam.
A helicopter will be used during the work, which is due to start on Monday.
The project should be completed by mid-July.
Lochaber families to benefit from warmer homes
Works have been completed on 181 homes in the Caol and Lundavra areas of Fort William to install external wall insulation, making homes warmer and reducing the carbon footprint of the Highlands.
The Scottish Government’s Home Energy Efficiency Programme for Scotland – Area Based Scheme (HEEP-ABS) has already saved around 17,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide and is addressing fuel poverty in the Highlands.
Leader of the Lochaber area, councillor Thomas MacLennan, met with representatives of The Highland Council’s energy and sustainability team; contractors E-On Energy Solutions and Lochaber Housing to mark completion of the first year HEEP-ABS Programme works in Lochaber.
HEEP-ABS is intended to assist home owners to improve the energy efficiency of their properties and provide energy and cost savings to individuals. The scheme administered and directed in the Highland region by The Highland Council which has attracted over £12 million to the Highlands for works to all areas.
Forth Bridge closer to becoming World Heritage Site
The Forth Bridge is a step closer to becoming Scotland’s sixth World Heritage Site.
The agenda has been published for the forthcoming annual World Heritage Committee, which will decide whether the iconic bridge is to be awarded World Heritage Status.
The papers for the committee’s 39th session, to be held in Bonn in Germany from 28 June until 8 July, include a draft decision to inscribe the Forth Bridge as a World Heritage Site. It is the strongest signal yet that the Forth Bridge could be in line for a place on UNESCO’s prestigious World Heritage List. This follows a recommendation from official UNESCO advisors at the international conservation body ICOMOS.
Design unveiled for Mortonhall memorial garden
Parents have chosen a design for a memorial to the victims of the baby ashes scandal at Mortonhall.
Four designs were put forward to parents earlier this year to be built at the Edinburgh crematorium.
For more than four decades the ashes of stillborn and premature babies were not offered to parents at the crematorium.
Since the practices came to light in 2012, affected parents have been working with the council.
They have chosen a walled circular garden with beech hedges, birch trees, a stone ball water feature, rocks, a pathway and seating.
It will be built off the existing memorial walkway within easy reach of the main chapel at Mortonhall.
Work will start next month once plans are approved by the transport and environment committee and it is due to be open by November.
Pupils vote BAM top of the class
Pupils at Pire Park Primary School in Govan voted BAM Construction top of the class for transforming an outdoor area to enable the children to create a large scale garden called ‘The Orchard’.
Working in partnership with subcontractor, Land Engineering, staff from BAM Construction donated their time and services to clear the ground and position large wooden planters in preparation for the pupils planting a variety of plants and fruit trees. SCS Group kindly contributed £200 to purchase railway sleepers used to create the planters.
The work took five days and formed part of BAM Construction’s ‘Team Time’ Community Benefits Programme where staff are encouraged to nominate community projects in need of assistance and the company provides them with two days within their working week to carry out the work.
Pupils from the two primary six classes involved in the project also enjoyed a presentation on construction and its relation to maths. A dedication plaque is also being arranged.
Russell Roof Tiles marks half century with celebrations
Lochmaben firm Russell Roof Tiles raised £2,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support at its recent 50thanniversary Family Fun Day.
The event was attended by all 85 staff from the Halleaths factory, their families plus colleagues and their families from the Burton on Trent factories who’d travelled to Lochmaben especially for the event. A total of around 220 attended the celebrations which were all paid for by the company. Activities which included stalls, fun and games such as a bouncy castle, children’s entertainer, hog roast, music and jousting.
The 11 acre Halleaths sites was first founded in 1964 as the Annandale Tile Company and manufactures concrete roof tiles & accessories which are used across the UK. As well as enjoying the celebrations families were given the opportunity to take a tour of the factory.
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