Building Briefs – May 29th

Two students to represent Central Scotland in national property awards

A national property award is in sight for Sarah Dar and Alice Gama, winners of the Central Scotland Women in Property Student Awards, run by the Association of Women in Property (WiP).

The young women competed against 10 other regional finalists studying built environment degree courses.

Because the Central belt covers such a wide area, with a number of different Universities participating, WiP decided to put forward two regional winners to the national final.

Sarah studies Civil Engineering at the University of the West of Scotland, while Alice studies Quantity Surveying at Heriot Watt University. Both girls will soon complete their third year and were nominated by their lecturers.

Alongside Sarah and Alice, the following students reached the regional final:

The two winning students each win £300 and a trophy. They will represent Central Scotland at the national Best of Best final and black tie Awards Dinner, which will be held on September 20 at Claridge’s in London, when they compete against 11 other students from across the UK.

Flats plan unveiled for Highland town

Plans have been submitted to create a new housing development in the centre of the Highland town of Dornoch.

London-based Skelbo Global Ventures Ltd wants to turn storage space in its two shops into a courtyard with two new flats on each side, while retaining two existing flats above the shops.

Work is currently being undertaken to convert the 11-year-old Dornoch Stores shop into a delicatessen, and work is expected to take place to upgrade the Hardware shop next door.

Tain-based Blueprint Architecture’s supporting statement says the aim is to create a “beautiful small-scale development of high quality design and the best materials.”

The apartments at the back of the shops would look onto St Gilbert Street.

The courtyard will be built with stone slabs and will be shielded by a 6.5ft-high retaining wall.

Bam Nuttall to build new West Calder pedestrian footbridge

Bam Nuttall is to begin building a new pedestrian footbridge in West Lothian.

The structure, which will be developed next to the existing bridge at West Calder station, is being built ahead of the railway line being electrified by 2019. Work will begin on 04 June and completion is scheduled for December.

The six-month scheme will see new lifts and stairs built, with the existing structure being removed after the new bridge has been opened.

Work will be delivered from the site compound previously used to deliver the A71 bridge works.

In addition, the scheme will be a combination of both day and night shifts with day shift (7.30am – 6pm) works ongoing throughout the project. Night shift works will take place on Saturdays (11pm to 9am) and Sunday to Thursday from 8pm to 6am.

Senior appointments reinforce GVA’S property team

GVA has expanded its property management team in Scotland in response to increasing market demand with two senior appointments and a number of senior promotions.

Graham McPhail and Iain Wallace join as associates with Graham based at GVA’s Edinburgh office and Iain to take up his new role in Glasgow. Both are chartered surveyors and bring collective experience of more than 30 years across a diverse range of market sectors.

Iain has a strong track record in commercial management and valuation development as well as agency, marketing and business development. He joins GVA from JLL and prior to this, has held positions with Henry Boot Developments and DTZ.

With extensive experience in property development, asset management and corporate property strategy, Graham has managed a wide range of portfolios across all market sectors in the UK. He has previously worked with SWIP/Lloyds Banking Group, Stockland Halladale Plc, Unilever Plc and Orange Grove Asset Management.

GVA has also made senior promotions in its Business Space team with Alison Taylor now senior director, Peter Fraser becoming director and Craig Semple taking up the role of associate.

Traditional building skills day to be held in Fife

A traditional building advice and information day is to be held for property owners and residents in Inverkeithing.

Fife Council is hosting the free event to support its drive to secure Historic Environment Scotland Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS) and Heritage Lottery Townscape Heritage (TH) funding for the restoration of Town Centre landmarks over a five-year period.

If the bid is successful, a grant scheme will be set up to help owners with the cost of this type of repair and improvement work.

Dr. Moses Jenkins, from Historic Environment Scotland, will lead the event on maintenance techniques and energy efficiency improvements. The traditional building advice and information day will take place from 9am – 3pm at Civic Centre, Inverkeithing on Tuesday, 06 June.

Topics will include building defects and maintenance, lime pointing and stonework repairs, timber, metalwork, slating, roof and window repairs, and energy efficiency improvements. In addition, the afternoon session will focus on common repairs, title deeds and owners’ responsibilities, and a case study of Cupar, the latest town in Fife to benefit from CARS TH funding.

Work continues on Paisley waste water upgrade scheme

Work is continuing on a £17 million waste water upgrade scheme in Paisley.

Scottish Water and its contractors Amey are working to reduce the frequency of spills from the sewer network into the Espedair Burn and White Cart Water during storm conditions.

Features include installing a new Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) system to improve the river water quality and natural environment of the rivers, as well as a one mile-long waste water tunnel under the streets of Paisley.

In order to install the CSO, Forbes Place will be closed off Causeyside Street-St Mirren Street for around five to six months. Traffic management will be in place.

The project, which got underway last October, is expected to take two years to complete. The investment is part of Scottish Water’s £250m five-year programme to improve river water quality and the natural environment and tackle flooding across the Greater Glasgow area.

Castleforge Partners launch revamped Glasgow offices

Glasgow’s Savoy Tower has been revamped to provide brand-new shared workspaces.

Named Clockwise, the project aims to attract demand for flexible hot-desking, co-working and serviced offices, the kind of workspace ideal for start- ups, events and digital media companies, project teams, small and medium sized enterprises, remote workers, freelancers, contractors and consultants.

Clockwise is part one of major investments in Glasgow’s office market by London-based Castleforge Partners following the redesigned and refurbishment of 58 Waterloo Street and the Garment Factory at 112 Ingram Street.

Glasgow-based interior design and architectural practice c2:concepts was involved in the project.

£500,000 fit out plans submitted for Marischal Square

Plans to spend more than half a million fitting out a unit at Marischal Square have been submitted to Aberdeen City Council.

Mitchells & Butlers PLC, which owns All Bar One, is looking to spend £530,000 for a full fit out of interior including partitions, plumbing and all mechanical and electrical services at the location.

Marischal Square is expected to open in the autumn, with offices and a hotel taking shape on the site of the former council headquarters.

Wills Bros to connect utilities to Highland Rugby Club

Highlands contractor Wills Bros is to begin connecting utilities to a new Highland Rugby Club building in Inverness.

The works are being carried out as part of the ongoing West Link Stage 1 development.

To allow the scheme to be carried out, Bught Road and Bught Lane will be closed for four weeks from the entrance to Whin Park to the roundabout at the Inverness Leisure Aquadome from Monday, 29 May.

Elsewhere, resurfacing works are scheduled to be carried out to a section of the B862 Fort Augustus - Whitebridge - Torness - Dores - Inverness Road from Monday until Friday, 02 June.

Around 1.1km south from the B862 junction with the B852 Dalcrag Bridge – Foyers – Inverfarigaig – Dores Road will be repaired to a point approximately 1.5km north from its junction with the C1064 Inverness – Ashie Moor Road. Work will take place between 9am – 3.30pm each day.

In addition, BT Engineers will start carrying out maintenance work to their apparatus beneath the U1556 Drumchardine Road at Kirkhill on Wednesday, 31 May.

The closure, which affects a section of road 600 metres South East from its junction with the A862 Ardullie – Inverness Road, will be in effect from 9am to 5pm.

Finally, a short section of the U1671 Fort Augustus Old Main Road will be temporarily closed to vehicles from 9.30am to 3.30pm to allow contractors, working on behalf of BT Openreach, to carry out maintenance to their apparatus.