Building Briefs – November 10th

Housing minister visits Scotland’s tallest timber building

Housing minister Kevin Stewart visited Scotland’s tallest timber building at a Sanctuary Homes project in Glasgow.

Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) has been used to build a £6 million seven-storey superstructure in Yoker, just yards from the River Clyde.

A sustainable alternative to steel and concrete, the use of CLT for Sanctuary’s innovative block of flats has environmental benefits. CLT also offers innovative builders greater flexibility during the construction process.

CLT was introduced to the UK in 2003. It has been used extensively across the South East of England on buildings up to 10 storeys, but has yet to take off in Scotland.

The innovative Ellerslie Road project received a £2.6 million Glasgow City Council grant. The CLT superstructure will be clad in acrylic brick slips, an innovative lightweight cladding solution replicating a traditional brick appearance.

Being delivered by CCG, Sanctuary’s Ellerslie Road flats will be available for mid-market rent from spring 2018.

Graham Construction installs boat at Dumfries Learning Campus

A maritime themed centre-piece of the newly opened Dumfries Learning Campus has been officially launched by the Lord Lieutenant of Dumfries and Galloway, Sir Malcolm Ross.

Donated by Solway Yacht Club and installed by Graham Construction, an Olympic-class racing-boat is now permanently berthed in the campus’s playground.

It is intended to be an ‘imaginative-learning-environment’ which children can play on. Pupils were given the opportunity to pick a name for the vessel, which has been christened ‘Everest Skye’ after two characters from the popular animation ‘PAW’ Patrol.

The project was the result of a design workshop which took place in the early phases of planning for Dumfries Learning Campus and an approach was made to the local yacht club who immediately suggested gifting a spare racing-boat they owned.

Graham Construction, the company which completed work on the campus then set about including it in the playground, surrounded by blue astro-turf and ocean themed landscaping.

The campus houses the town’s brand-new nursery, primary and secondary schools.

The extensive project contains specialist sports facilities including a six-lane running-track, a rugby-field, 3G pitch and MUGA for football and hockey.

Earlier in the week Graham won one of the industry’s most prestigious awards.

The company was named Major Contractor of the Year at the annual Building Awards, surpassing some of the industry’s biggest names to win one of the evening’s most prestigious prizes.

Richard Irvin boosted by £10m military maintenance deal

Aberdeen-based Richard Irvin Energy Solutions is to deliver maintenance and support at army barracks and military bases in Hampshire, Dorset and Northern Ireland under a new contract worth an estimated £10 million.

Richard Irvin said the two-year deal would see it taking on an extra 100 workers across the three locations.

Awarded to the group’s technical facilities management (technical FM) arm, the new contract builds on existing business with CarillionAmey – the joint venture behind infrastructure and housing services for the armed forces.

Partick flats plan make progress as demolition begins at former care home

Partick Housing Association has received approval from Glasgow City Council to proceed with the demolition and site clearance of the former care home at 32 Laurel Street.

The Association, which plans to build new flats on the site, has appointed Reigart Contracts Ltd to undertake the demolition work.

The contract programme is six weeks and the contractor aims to be off site by Friday 15th December.

A Partick Housing Association spokesperson said: “During the course of the works, the site will be protected and secured using metal heras fencing fixed to the existing site boundaries. The contractor’s site cabin will be located within the site.

“The works involve the hand demolition of the building to a safe height; this will include stripping roof tiles and lowering chimneys. Once the building is reduced to a safe height, machine demolition will commence thereafter ensuring that all rubble is kept within the perimeter of the site and ready for loading onto tippers and taken off-site. The gardens will be cleared of trees, shrubs, all outbuildings and general debris; the ground will be cleared and levelled thereafter.

“With regards to the proposed new build flats, we have held early discussions with Glasgow City Council Planning Department and we will consult with the local community once these are further developed.”

Proposals to build new North Lanarkshire primary schools move to consultation

Proposals to build new primary schools in Bellshill, Newmains and Chryston under the North Lanarkshire Council’s flagship capital investment programme, Schools and Centres 21, moved a step closer this week.

All-party agreement was made at the council’s education committee to carry out public consultations on proposals to build joint campus primary schools for Lawmuir Primary and Sacred Heart Primary Schools in Bellshill and Newmains Primary and St. Brigid’s Primary Schools in Newmains.

The green light was also given to progress to the design feasibility stage for the proposal to build a new Chryston Primary School with an annex for Chryston High School on the site of the existing primary school.

The plans are part of phase 3 of the £100 million school investment programme which will see high-quality education facilities being built to provide further opportunities for local pupils.

Further information on the consultation can be accessed here. Responses can be sent by email to the following addresses:

The public consultation ends on 20 December 2017.

Plan for homes in Angus rejected

An application to build five houses in an Angus hamlet has been rejected.

David Maxwell’s bid for the homes on land next to Bucklershead, near Kellas, was refused by Angus Council as the site is just outside the area’s development boundary.

The council also said there was a lack of public interest in building on the greenfield site as there is no social, economic, environmental or operational need for the homes on “prime agricultural land”.

The application, which was for five and six-bedroom homes, also prompted an objection from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, which argued the drainage arrangements were not acceptable.

RGU quantity surveying student awarded David Young Memorial Prize

A quantity surveying graduate of Robert Gordon University has been awarded an annual prize in memory of a former chairman of Grampian Housing Association.

James Valentine, who now lives and works in Edinburgh, was presented with the David Young Memorial Prize at a prize-giving ceremony at the Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and Built Environment this week.

Sponsored by Grampian Housing Association, the prize is in memory of its former chairman and board member David Young, who passed away in 2013.

The prize is awarded annually to the student who completes the best surveying integrative studies project.

James received his prize from Grampian Housing Association’s chief executive Neil Clapperton.

With more than 3,500 homes under management and a turnover of £18 million, Grampian Housing Association provides housing and related services across the three local authority areas in the north-east of Scotland.

Council outlines progress on repairs to dangerous Kelso building

Progress is being made on repairing a privately owned dangerous building which has caused the closure of Roxburgh Street in Kelso to traffic.

Contractors are currently rebuilding the gable wall and have made enough progress to remove a section of the scaffolding today which was needed to keep the building safe, providing wider pedestrian access.

While vehicle access still cannot be provided for safety reasons, a structural engineer is due to visit the site next week and decide if the building is stable enough to allow further scaffolding to be removed and vehicles to return to the road.

Until then, pedestrian access is maintained on the road, with local businesses and shop open as usual.

Scottish Borders Council is directly undertaking the work under powers granted by the Building (Scotland) Act 2003, and is making every effort to resolve the situation as quickly as possible, while also making sure public safety is the priority.

Superglass donates thermal clothes to Shelter Scotland

Stirling-based insulation manufacturer Superglass has donated over £3,000 worth of thermal clothing to housing and homelessness charity Shelter Scotland.

The donation included a range of thermal undergarments, padded jackets and body warmers.

Superglass CEO Ken Munro said: “As the first frosts of winter bite it’s timely to consider those sleeping rough in Scotland. Many people also struggle with fuel poverty and often choose between heating or eating.

“We’re proud to support local charities like Shelter Scotland making a difference in communities across the country.”

Graeme Brown, director of Shelter Scotland, added: “We are grateful to Superglass for thinking of people who are struggling with the cold including households who are in fuel poverty in Scotland and those who are homeless or in bad housing.

“This practical donation of thermal clothing will bring immediate comfort to those who are struggling with the winter weather right now.”

Broxburn company raises £8,700 during charity evening

Keyline’s branch in Broxburn raised £8,700 for Prostate Cancer UK during a charity evening held at Uphall Golf Club on Saturday 4th November.

In excess of 100 Keyline staff, customers and members of the local community enjoyed an evening of fun and games at the fancy dress event.

A silent auction took place, which included signed football tops, golf prizes, boxing shorts signed by Mike Tyson, spa days and football tickets.

To boost the fundraising total a raffle was also held where guests had the chance to win vouchers, Bluetooth speakers, a Smart TV, bottles of alcohol, and much more. All the silent auction and raffle prizes were donated by suppliers and local companies.

Fraser McDowell, branch manager at Keyline in Broxburn, said: “Prostate Cancer UK is Keyline’s chosen charity so we were keen to do something to support such a worthy cause. Everyone really enjoyed the evening and I’d like to say a huge thank to those who attended and helped us raise such a fantastic amount of money.”

Keyline’s fundraising for Prostate Cancer UK will help the charity continue with its ground-breaking research so they can achieve their aim of stopping men dying from prostate cancer.