Building Briefs - November 18

Cunninghame Housing Association achieved success at the prestigious Chartered Institute of Housing Scotland 2015 Excellence Awards in Edinburgh on Friday in the Excellence in Regeneration category for its Vineburgh regeneration as well as for its Excellence in Environment Sustainability.

The Vineburgh Regeneration Initiative was undertaken by Cunninghame Housing Association in partnership with North Ayrshire Council and the local Vineburgh community.

The initiative was delivered over four phases at a cost of £32 million with the initial works commencing in 2009 and completion of the final phase in March 2015.

A total of 287 new homes have been delivered over this time, transforming the previously unpopular area into a desirable place to live.

Transformation of the estate was possible thanks to the ongoing support of CHA’s strategic partners and funders, North Ayrshire Council and the Scottish Government.

The community played a key role from the start through design workshops and consultation events to the formation of a new tenants and residents group which is now active in the area and has now established a firm identity within the community.

CHA’s partnership with the main contractor, Ashleigh Scotland Ltd, across all four phases, allowed the creation training and employment opportunities. A total of 10 full-time trade apprentices commenced at Phase 1 and were able to complete their apprenticeships over the 4 phases.

Integrated and revamped Strathclyde Business School completed

Hypostyle have unwrapped their recently completed upgrade of the University of Strathclyde Business School, which saw the integration and refurbishment of the institution’s Sir William Duncan, SBS and Stenhouse buildings.

The project has resulted in a single Faculty of Business spread across 14,000sq/m of floorspace housing teaching accommodation as well as associated support, servicing, circulation, core and breakout areas.

Centred on the brutalist Stenhouse Building the work has seen exposed concrete overclad with a terracotta and brass shingle cladding system

In a statement the architects said: “Works to The Stenhouse building involved comprehensive refurbishment of the entire building, internally and externally, upgrade to the thermal envelope, completely new services installations, construction of a new principal entrance & access stair to the front and new 150 seat lecture theatre to the university garden side.”

The project is expected to attain a BREEAM ‘Very Good’ rating.

New homes help North Lanarkshire’s wild side

Sanctuary’s regeneration of Cumbernauld’s high-rise blocks is helping neighbouring woodland.

The housing provider is working with Cumbernauld Living Landscape to improve the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s wildlife reserve in Seafar.

Sanctuary’s contractors provided two new gates, a new fence and the ‘missing link’ to complete the health trail’s walking path.

Ian Mackenzie, of Cumbernauld Living Landscape, said: “These improvements were only possible thanks to Sanctuary and its contractors.

“The green network is hugely important to Cumbernauld, both as a place for residents to enjoy the outdoors and as a habitat for local wildlife.”

Deer, badgers and foxes are among the wildlife visitors can see in Seafar. Pine martens may return after the recent work, as they have elsewhere in Cumbernauld.

Ian said: “Managing the woodland can help native species recover.

“The new fence, provided by Cruden Building and Renewals, prevents litter blowing into the reserve.

“The gates, provided by Ogilvie Homes, will help reduce antisocial behaviour.

“Ogilvie Homes also upgraded the path, linking land owned by the Trust and North Lanarkshire Council. This has allowed visitors to stick to a path to do a full walking loop of the health trail.”

Sanctuary’s high-rise regeneration project will see all 12 Cumbernauld blocks replaced with modern, affordable housing.

The first three blocks – Bruce House, Buchan House and Douglas House – were demolished in Allanfauld Road earlier this year.

A9 Dualling - River Spey crossing options unveiled

Examples of bridge options being developed to cross the River Spey near Kingussie will go on display this week as part of the consultation process for the A9 Dualling Crubenmore to Kincraig scheme.

Locals and road users will also get a chance to see and comment on junctions options at Newtonmore and Kingussie.

The options, part of the 18.4 km Crubenmore to Kincraig scheme, go on public display in Newtonmore (18th) and Kingussie (19th).

Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities Keith Brown said: “The Crubenmore to Kincraig dualling scheme is the latest of the dualling design work going on public display this week.

“With construction well underway on the 10km Kincraig to Dalraddy scheme, the first section out of around 128 km to be dualled, we are now seeking views on this challenging section which includes the River Spey and Insh Marshes both internationally important in terms of their protected environmental status.

“The River Spey is a Special Area of Conservation supporting important populations of Atlantic salmon, sea lamprey, fresh water pearl mussels and otter. Any crossing of the river as part of a dualled route will require either a new bridge or an additional or extended bridge to take the extra carriageway. In developing the crossing options at this point we are considering factors such as the local environment, proximity to Ruthven Barracks and its location within the flood plain.

“Before taking any decisions on what is the most practical and suitable bridge design, we want to hear from locals and road users. We will consider all the feedback received before developing a preferred route option for the section between Crubenmore and Kincraig in late 2016.”