Building Briefs - November 17th

• Scotland’s Rising Property Star celebrated at British Council for Offices’ NextGen Awards

The Awards are part of the BCO’s NextGen programme, which sets out to mentor and encourage the next generation of property professionals to become future leaders in the industry, whilst providing a platform for new talent to share ideas.

The country’s top designers, developers, architects and occupiers under the age of 35 were invited to join the BCO for the awards ceremony, which took place virtually for the first time this year. It celebrated the achievements and successes of young professionals in the commercial property sector across the UK, and the individuals who mentored them.

The BCO NextGen Rising Star award recognises an under 35’s outstanding contribution to the office sector in their region. David, who at age 31 is Cooper Cromar’s youngest individual to ever hold the position of Associate Director in the firm’s history, was crowned Scotland’s Rising Star by a panel of local judges. 

The judges were impressed by David’s dedication to learning and development which has seen him rise through the ranks at Cooper Cromar with natural ease and charisma. He has recently taken on the Project Associate role for one of the practice’s biggest and most complex projects, a new European Headquarters in Glasgow for a major financial institution.

After working across a number of sectors in his early years with the firm, David soon gravitated towards the Commercial Office practice after receiving his RIBA Part 3 qualification. He quickly established himself as a natural team leader, supporting peers through their own qualifications while challenging teams day-to-day to work across cross-functional teams to deliver the best outcomes for clients.

• Construction projects boost Dundee economy

Major construction projects in Dundee have boosted the local economy by nearly £100 million over the last few years, with £14m contributed in 2019/20, a new Dundee City Council report reveals.

Councillors were told this week that a wide-ranging capital programme has used 73% of local labour.

City projects include including the Regional Performance Centre for Sport, Waterfront Place, Menzieshill Community Centre, the Earl Grey Building, Balmerino Nursery, the Camperdown Dock to Dundee Airport Flood Protection Scheme and Derby Street housing

The policy and resources committee approved an annual procurement report, which outlines how dozens of employment opportunities, apprenticeships and work experience opportunities have been created across the projects as a result of the council’s community benefits policy.

• Arbroath Flood Prevention Scheme work begins at Hercules Den

Preparatory work marking the physical and visible start of the Flood Protection Scheme in Arbroath is under way.

Project contractor Morrison Construction has been felling trees and clearing the wider scrubland area at Hercules Den throughout this week, which will allow a flood protection embankment to be constructed. Any trees that have been taken down will be replaced as part of a re-planting programme.

Arbroath (Brothock Water) Flood Protection Scheme – is funded by the Scottish Government and Angus Council – and is designed to reduce the risk of flooding from the Brothock Water, which runs through the coastal town, and provide a one in 200-year standard of protection.

• Cruden lends support to Castlemilk nursery to bring learning and play outdoors

Big hearted housebuilder Cruden Homes has generously donated £1,000 to Castlemilk Family Learning Centre as part of its commitment to investing in the local community.

The donation is being used to buy a range of outdoor clothing and equipment to allow nursery pupils to take part in more outdoor learning and play during the colder months.

Shonagh Morgan, sales manager at Cruden Homes, said: “The new homes at Cathkin View and Castlemilk Drive will help create lovely new communities within the area, so it’s great to be able to play our part in supporting Castlemilk Family Learning Centre with their plans to bring more learning and play into the great outdoors for local children.”

The nursery school, which is close to the Cruden Homes’ Cathkin View development in Castlemilk with an exclusive range of two and three-bedroom homes, and also their Castlemilk Drive development which will offer a mix of both private and rental properties, will likely see new young residents soon attending the local nursery.

• £1.17m of town centre improvement projects in Aberdeenshire shown the green light

• New HQ investment to support group growth

Randolph Hill Nursing Homes Group has relocated to a new, larger head office as part of its ongoing expansion.

The company, which operates nursing homes across central and east Scotland, has moved to a new 4000 square foot group headquarters in the Redheughs Rigg Business Park in Edinburgh’s South Gyle.

The move to the new premises follows a number of key appointments within the group to support its ongoing expansion. 

Randolph Hill is also nearing completion of a new, £9 million home in Livingston, which is due to open early next year. The 60 bedroom site in the town’s Kirk Lane will become the group’s seventh home and will create up to 80 new jobs.

• Bids welcome from projects in Sutherland for Town Centre Fund investment

Sutherland County Committee is inviting bids from projects in Brora, Dornoch and Golspie for Town Centre Fund investment with proposals to be submitted by 9am on 30 November 2020.

This invitation follows the announcement made on November 4 at the Highland Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee that extra funding has been made available from The Scottish Government to boost town centres across the region. It was agreed that decisions on spend would be taken at area committee level of which Sutherland has been allocated a grant of £84,156 to invest.

The grant can be spent on council, public, community-based or private sector projects in the town centres of Brora, Dornoch or Golspie. Social enterprises or community organisations will be eligible if they are companies limited by guarantee/shares.

As decided by the Scottish Government, the grant must be for physical projects which means only certain types of projects can be funded. For example, the spending must be of a “one-off” nature and result in the construction or improvement of an asset such as a building or an area of land.

Prospective project sponsors are encouraged to learn more and can complete a form available on the council website to return to regeneration@highland.gov.uk as soon as possible, but no later than 9am on 30 November.

Proposals will be considered at a special meeting of the Committee on 14 December 2020.

• Dundee approves environmental and playground improvements

More than £400,000 of planned improvement works to environmental and playground spaces across Dundee are to get underway in the next few weeks.

Councillors have approved enhancements that include path network improvements, new signage, additional tree and shrub planting, the renewal of park benches and bins, and improvements to drainage and sightlines.

Full details of the improvement projects can be found on the Dundee City Council website.