Building Briefs – May 6th

Wates Living Space first to achieve gold TPAS accreditation in Scotland

Wates Living Space is the first contractor organisation in Scotland to achieve the TPAS accreditation under a new assessment process launched in 2014.

TPAS Scotland developed the accreditation to recognise best practice in tenant participation. Contractors complete a self-assessment framework explaining how they, together with their partnering landlord clients, involve tenants and residents. They have to show evidence of how they comply with key competencies in resident involvement through ten separate criteria. Each submission is scrutinised by a TPAS panel for verification and semi structured interviews conducted with tenants, contractor staff and the contractors’ clients.

Student accommodation plan for former Strathclyde University offices

Michael Laird Architects has submitted plans on behalf of KR Developments to build a two storey extension to the existing Alexander Turnbull Building, transforming it from office space to student accommodation in the process.

Located on Glasgow’s George Street within Strathclyde University’s city centre campus the scheme will necessitate removal of the existing roof and chimneys to carve out 83 en-suite studio bedrooms, gym, TV room and study.

Dundee set for 30 new homes

Construction will start this month on 30 new homes in Dundee.

Land on Whitfield Loan will be transformed by InverTay Homes which has received verbal confirmation from Dundee City Council to go ahead with its plans.

The semi-detached homes, which will be eligible for the Scottish Government Help to Buy scheme, have received “exceptionally high” interest, according to director of management at InverTay Homes, Edward Wighton.

Visitor attraction plan for Perthshire

Perthshire outdoor activities company Nae Limits has unveiled proposals for a major visitor attraction near Pitlochry.

A new cafe, which launches this weekend, will form the first phase of a much wider development plan for the area, said project leaders at the Ballinluig-based firm.

Nae Limits, which has been operating in Perthshire for more than 16 years, will open its new outlet Rivers Meet on Saturday at the site of the Allium Garden Centre, which closed its doors at the weekend.

A planning application for the 16,300 sq ft activities centre was approved in March.

Perth building could be converted into 29 flats

A former Perth nurses’ home could be turned into flats.

An application has been submitted to Perth and Kinross Council that shows plans for 29 new homes at the premises on Taymount Terrace.

The building would house a variety of one and two-bedroomed flats, along with a three-bedroomed penthouse in an annexe.

Designed by James Millar around 1929, the property was once home to 64 nurses from the nearby Perth Royal Infirmary.

Chamberlain Bell is the firm behind the application.

Watt Brothers reveals expansion plan

Family owned department store Watt Brothers is planning for a major expansion drive which will create hundreds of jobs.

The independent retailer currently trades from eight locations and intends to open in Port Glasgow and Irvine while another four sites are under consideration.

The business also wants to increase the floorspace at its smaller stores in Clarkston, Ayr and Livingston.

It is hoped at least two new stores will be up and running before the end of this year.

Work starts on £1.5m West Lothian HQ expansion

Commercial refrigeration specialist Capital Cooling has embarked on a £1.5 million expansion in West Lothian following an upturn in demand.

The move will more than double the amount of warehouse space at the firm’s Broxburn head office, where it will also create a research and development centre that will include two testing chambers, a photo studio and demonstration area.

Work on the project, managed by Bathgate contractor CM Steel Buildings, is due to complete in September and the facility will be fully operational the following month. As well as roof-mounted solar panels, the site will feature LED lighting to cut energy costs.

Perth sport academy secures planning permission

The University of the Highlands and Islands has secured planning permission for a Clague Architects designed academy of sport and wellbeing within its Perth campus.

The £6.5 million centre will offer facilities for hair and beauty training as well as sport and academic uses with the potential for some community access.

Work is scheduled to commence this summer for completion by autumn 2016.

Event to reveal proposal for new council housing in Methil

Fife Council is giving people the chance to discuss a private developer’s plans for a proposed new affordable housing development at the former Bowling Green in Wellesley Road, Methil.

A drop-in event for members of the public to view and comment on the proposal will take place at Methil Library today between 4.30pm and 7pm.

The proposal is for 12 council homes, made up of two-bedroom cottage flats.

If approved, the council intends to purchase the homes from NAStech Construction to rent to council tenants. They would contribute to the council’s wider affordable housing programme that aims to deliver 2,700 new homes by 2017.

Fife Council’s Affordable Housing Team is keen for local residents to come along to the drop in event to get their feedback on the proposal.