Building Briefs – November 2nd

Link Group Ltd’s development at Eastfields, Carntyne has been officially opened by Cllr Kenny McLean, Glasgow City Council’s convener for neighbourhoods, housing & public realm.

The £6.4 million construction of 49 homes for social rent began in March 2016 using £3.3 million funding from the Scottish Government. Built by Bellway Homes, Eastfields comprises a mix of one and two-bedroom flats, three-bedroom houses and two-bedroom bungalows and includes five wheelchair exemplar units.

Each property has been designed to achieve the Building Regulation Silver Standard, with high levels of insulation, solar panels and Air Source heating systems, creating comfortable, energy efficient and economical homes.

Craig Sanderson, chief executive of Link Group, said: “We are delighted to have been supported by the Scottish Government and Glasgow City Council to enable us to build these new, high quality homes. Eastfields has been our first new build development in the Glasgow area for a number of years.”

Cllr McLean added: “It is always pleasing to see new quality homes in Glasgow, all the more so when the homes – like this development in Eastfields – meet the different needs of a range of people. I am also delighted that Glasgow City Council worked with a number of partner organisations to help deliver these homes, and I hope that all the new residents enjoy living there.”

More delays at Boroughmuir High project

The opening of Edinburgh’s new Boroughmuir High School has been hit by further delays and pupils will now not move in until February.

Students had been earmarked to settle into their new classrooms in January but will now not move in until the latter half of the following month.

The move, which follows extensive consultation with the headteacher and wider school community, will see the new school fully operational immediately after the February mid-term break.

Celebration of Aberdeen landmark buildings past and present

Some of Aberdeen’s most recognisable buildings will be in the spotlight when a new exhibition opens this week.

The Art of the Building Warrant will celebrate landmarks including the Tivoli Theatre, Aberdeen University Students’ Union and the Northern Hotel.

The display will showcase beautifully-crafted building warrant plans from Aberdeen’s Unesco-recognised archive and will run from tomorrow until November 25 at 17 on Belmont Street.

Marie Boulton, the council’s culture spokeswoman, said: “The heritage of Aberdeen is a great influence on the future plans for the city and this promises to be a wonderful exhibition which will really capture the imagination.

“Many of the plans on display will be instantly recognisable but there are others that will give an intriguing glimpse at parts of the city which are far less obvious and buildings which have not survived.”

The free exhibition includes plans for lost buildings such as the former police offices on Lodge Walk.

The exhibition is open from 10am-5pm each Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, from 1.30pm-5pm on Wednesdays and 10am4pm on Saturdays.

WSP scoops top prizes at Scottish Civil Engineering awards

Global professional services consultancy WSP has been recognised for two of its projects at Scotland’s top civil engineering awards which took place last week.

The consultancy won the ‘Building’ award for its work on the Edinburgh Gateway station as well as the ‘Infrastructure’ Award for its involvement in the M8 M73 M74 motorway improvements at the annual Institution of Civil Engineering Awards run in partnership with the Saltire Society.

Mouchel, which became WSP in July following its acquisition in October 2016, was initially appointed in 2003 in a joint venture with Fairhust to work on one of Scotland’s largest infrastructure projects to complete the “missing link” in the Central Scotland Motorway Network.

Alongside Fairhurst, Mouchel supported the design of all the major elements of the M8 motorway, the M73 and M74 improvements and the Raith Junction.

Mark Naysmith, WSP UK CEO, said: “Winning both of these awards is a fantastic achievement for our business in Scotland.

“We were delighted to win the infrastructure award for Mouchel’s work on the M8 M73 M74 motorway improvements as the team has worked very hard for the past 14 years on this project so it’s great see that they have been recognised for this.

“The award for our work on the Edinburgh Gateway station is also a superb accolade and a great acknowledgement of the multidiscipline team effort which helped to deliver the project on time and on budget.”

WSP which has three offices in Scotland was the lead designer on the Edinburgh Gateway station which offers rail passengers from Fife and further North the option to transfer directly on to the tram to Edinburgh Airport.

The consultancy which provided multidiscipline services including mechanical, electrical, public health, and communications designs as well as civil and structural design expertise, worked alongside Balfour Beatty and IDP Architects on the station which opened last year.

Projects also recently undertaken by WSP in Scotland include the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, Dumfries and Galloway Hospital and Glasgow 2014 Athlete’s village in Dalmarnock.

£1 million for Rothesay Pavilion

More than £1 million of European funding for the restoration of Rothesay Pavilion will help create new jobs, Economy Secretary Keith Brown has said.

The £1.06 million funding from the European Regional Development Fund will help set up affordable space for small to medium sized businesses to operate and grow their business.

Around 16 jobs are expected to be created and retained through the investment.

Economy Secretary Keith Brown saw progress on the restoration on a visit to Rothesay, he said: “This £1 million European funding will help to re-establish Rothesay Pavilion as a cultural hub for the community, businesses and tourists.

“It will benefit businesses, giving them access to affordable office space which can help them grow and boost the local economy.”

The funding is part of the overall £14 million project to transform the Grade A listed building into a hub with a shop, café, office space and venues for music and theatre. The facility is expected to employ over 30 people and attract more than 70,000 visits every year.

Argyll and Bute Council and Highlands and Islands Enterprise are also providing £1.58 million towards the office space and the wider project received £625,000 from the Scottish Government and COSLA’s Regeneration Capital Grant Fund in 2015/16.

Councillor Gary Mulvaney, Argyll and Bute Council’s Policy Lead for Strategic Finance and Capital Regeneration Programme, said: “As well as being incredibly architecturally important, Rothesay Pavilion is a well-loved and iconic Art Deco building and we are working hard with all our partners to bring it back to life and to its former glory. We are grateful to the Scottish Government for the additional funding which will allow the development of a hub for small and medium sized enterprises as part of the building’s regeneration.

“The Pavilion will be transformed into a community and cultural facility. As well as bringing jobs we will deliver a tourist attraction for the island and beyond.”

City Building swings into action for local charities

City Building, along with their suppliers, are helping to provide a brighter future for thousands of children and young people across Scotland, with a donation of £18,000 to specialist charities.

The Glasgow-based construction firm swung into action, organising a corporate golf day to raise funds for Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland (SBH Scotland) and Cash For Kids, the company’s official charity partners for the year.

A total of 80 people took part in the event held at Sandyhills Golf Club. All teams were from organisations in City Building’s supply chain, 80 per cent of which are small to medium sized businesses (SMEs).

Of the total funds raised, £10,000 has been donated to SBH Scotland, a specialist charity providing personalised care to more than 3,500 children, young people and their families, who are affected by spina bifida and/ or hydrocephalus. The donation from City Building will be used to fund crucial services, such as home and hospital support, children’s play schemes, and health and wellness clinics.

The additional £8,000, has been gifted to Cash For Kids, an organisation helping disadvantaged children in the West of Scotland, which City Building has supported for the past three years.

The golf day, is one of many fundraising efforts undertaken by the construction firm and is part of a wider socio-economic commitment to improve the lives of those living in Glasgow and surrounding communities.

Eva Bolander, Lord Provost of Glasgow, said; “Glasgow has a well-known reputation for supporting charity, and it is wonderful to see so many local businesses come together to raise funds for SBH Scotland and Cash For Kids – two incredibly worthwhile causes.

“Thanks to City Building and all those involved, this one event is set to generate support for thousands of children and young people across the city and beyond.”

Dr Graham Paterson, executive director at City Building, said: “I would like to thank our suppliers for joining us at the event, and for their efforts which helped us raise an incredible £18,000 for two fantastic organisations.”

Richard Donald, assistant director of fundraising at SBH Scotland, said: “We are very grateful to City Building for choosing SBH Scotland as one of its charity partners for the year.

“It is only through the efforts of businesses and individuals alike that we can continue offering personalised care and support to the thousands of people in Scotland who depend on us.”

City Building is one of Scotland’s largest construction companies. In February 2017, it awarded 136 Glasgow-based companies framework sub-contractor status to supply more than 70 construction and trades services.