Building Briefs – November 30th

Raising the roof on Stirling curling centre

The construction of Scotland’s National Curling Centre, at Stirling’s Sports Village, is well underway, with the roof being raised this week.

The Centre, a multi-million pound partnership investment from Stirling Council and sportscotland, will significantly enhance curling facilities for both performance athletes and community use.

It will boost the sport in Scotland and further improve the Stirling Sports Village, capitalising on the upsurge of interest in curling following Team GB’s success at the 2014 Winter Olympics and Paralympics in Sochi.

Distillery plans for Highland castle

New plans could see a gin and whisky distillery built within the grounds of one of Scotland’s best-known castles.

Dunrobin Castle has lodged a planning application with the Highland Council to ask for permission to turn several of the buildings within the castle grounds into a new craft distillery, tasting room, shop and warehouse.

If approved, the new distillery, designed in collaboration with Lachlan Stewart Studio, will produce will provide eight jobs for the local community.

Under the plans the castle’s former powerhouse would be transformed into the distillery, while the former icehouse and larder would be turned into a tasting room and a storehouse for botanicals.

Another building on the grounds would be renovated to become the site’s warehouse.

Young joiner scoops top award

A young apprentice joiner has been recognised for his outstanding work by Persimmon Homes.

Kevin Morrison was named the Trade Apprentice of the Year 2016 at the housebuilder’s national Young Achievers awards last week.

Kevin, who lives in Renfrew, followed in his father’s footsteps when he joined Persimmon Homes West Scotland at the age of just 16 in 2013 after completing an SVQ in carpentry and joinery.

His introduction to working on-site began when he joined his father, John, a bricklayer at Persimmon Homes West Scotland, for a week of work experience.

Kevin 19, was keen to follow in his father’s footsteps deciding that joining one of the UK’s largest housebuilders apprentice scheme would give him the experience and training that he was looking for.

Eagle Plant Hire’s apprentice is amongst Glasgow’s best

Eagle Plant Hire officially has one of the best apprentices in Glasgow, after its Business & Administration apprentice, Tiegan Barrie, was named as a finalist in Glasgow City Council’s Apprentice of the Year awards.

Eagle Plant Hire provides plant hire equipment to companies involved in construction such as house builders, civil engineers and utilities.

To accommodate rapid growth in the business, Eagle recently purchased 40,000 sq ft of additional yard space opposite its premises on Gateside Street in Dennistoun, to store its growing fleet of plant hire equipment.

17 year old Tiegan, who is the newest member of the 19-strong team at Eagle Plant Hire, completed her SVQ 3 just five months after starting with Eagle.

Tiegan’s apprenticeship is supported by the Glasgow Guarantee, a legacy of the Commonwealth Games that offers support for training, work, modern apprenticeships and job opportunities for Glasgow people.

Half of Tiegan’s salary will be paid by Glasgow City Council until she completes her one-year apprenticeship in February 2017.

The Apprentice of the Year awards dinner and ceremony takes place today.

Crieff supermarket plan gets green light

The Perth and Kinross Local Review Body has paved the way for a new supermarket in the centre of Crieff by granting the development permission in principle.

The group was determining an appeal against refusal of an Aldi supermarket and another retail unit on land east of Duchlage Farm, Duchlage Road, Crieff.

The company’s initial attempt to gain planning permission was rejected under delegated powers as the site was earmarked for employment use and not a retail outlet in the area’s Local Development Plan.

At the meeting in the Dewar’s Centre the review body was told by planning consultant David Harrison that the application was in principle and was on a site adjacent to an area of land which already enjoyed planning permission for a supermarket.

Review body convener, Councillor Murray Lyall, was told by Mr Harrison there were 22 acres of employment land identified in the development plan in the Crieff area.

Mr Lyall said that he believed they had sufficient information before them to determine the matter and the main issues were the retail policy, the employment land policy and the listed farm buildings on the site.

The review body unanimously agreed to the approval in principle of the plan.

Aldi said they were “delighted” by the decision and would give a clear indication of a timescale for the development in due course.

It is understood the Aldi could create 35 jobs with more in the second retail unit and also during the construction phase.

Public hearing on housing plans for former Aberdeen school

A public hearing into fresh plans to demolish a former Aberdeen school and build more than 50 homes is being held.

Initial plans for the old Victoria Road School in Torry - which shut its doors in 2008 - were dropped in June.

Planning officials had recommended they be refused. More than 260 objections were lodged on the grounds of what was said would be the loss of granite heritage.

Developer Barratt Homes has now revised its plans.

The flats and three-bedroom homes would include granite into certain aspects of the properties.

Richard Jennings appointed managing director at Castle Rock Edinvar

Richard Jennings has been appointed managing director at housing association Castle Rock Edinvar after Alistair Steele announced he was to step down from the role at the end of the year.

Currently head of property at the Association, Richard will take up the post on January 1st 2017 when Alister Steele begins work on a new project with Places for People before retiring in March 2017.

Richard Jennings joined Castle Rock Edinvar as head of property in October 2014 handling capital investment and commercial activities. Before this, Richard was head of development at East Lothian Council. He has strong public and private sector experience, having worked in local and central government, as well as for KPMG and PwC.

Richard has a PhD in Geomorphology from the University of Wellington and a BSc in Geography from the University of Glasgow.

He is a Board member of Volunteer Scotland and chair of the Audit and Scrutiny Committee.

Council to start Fife carriageway maintenance project

Work is to begin on a road maintenance scheme in Fife.

The council will start resurfacing the carriageway on the B945 Queen Street in Tayport on Monday, 05 December.

The three-week scheme will be carried out in phases. Traffic management and diversions will be in place.

Scotland TranServ starts A76 embankment repairs project

Scotland TranServ has started work on a road repairs project in south west Scotland.

The company is stabilising and improving the embankment on the A76 at Auchensell after damage was caused to the site following a landslip.

Complicated groundworks and investigations have so far been carried out to get to the stage where repairs can get underway.

Works include delivering upgrades to the drainage system and safety barrier, eventually leading to the removal of temporary traffic lights.

Transport Scotland has also been working on a further programme to repair the damage done by a landslide further north on the A76 at Enterkinfoot. Ground investigations at Enterkinfoot will take place early in 2017 with the design of the repairs and works to follow.

On the A77 at Cairnryan, ground investigation is complete and initial design work is underway.