Building Briefs – October 10th

The Construction Products Association’s latest State of Trade Survey reports continued growth in UK sales of construction products in the third quarter of 2014.

In addition, manufacturers reported optimism going forward and the survey highlights anticipated domestic sales growth over the next quarter and the next year.

However, manufacturers also suffered falls in export sales during Q3.

Landmark saved from bulldozers

The landmark house of one of Scotland’s foremost Victorian engineers has been saved from demolition after a developer offered it a new lease of life.

Sir William Arrol’s former home, Seafield House in Ayr, faced being pulled down after the former children’s hospital was closed and fell into disrepair.

But now it could be restored and incorporated into a residential development after NHS Ayrshire and Arran (NHSAA) agreed to sell it for a nominal sum to Econstruct, Design and Build, an Ayr based development company founded by Robin Ghosh.

New digital role for humble lamppost

Aberdeen’s lampposts are being pressed into service to become the frontline in a digital revolution.

Plans have been unveiled to attach wireless transmitters to the city’s street lamps to provide a powerful citywide wireless network.

Aberdeen City Council has appointed Wireless Infrastructure Group to fund, design, deploy and manage the network, which will be rolled out across Aberdeen over the next five years.

The Accelerate Aberdeen programme is part of a wider Shaping Aberdeen agenda to provide digital systems that will to enable residents to access the best public and private services.

Federation of Master Builders appoints new National President

Dave Bentley has been appointed as the new National President of the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).

Dave Bentley, from Sheffield, was elected at the FMB’s latest Annual General Meeting in Yorkshire and is a well-known figure in the construction sector.

Gary Lewis was elected as the FMB’s new National Vice-President and Jim Gilmour, the former FMB National President, is now the Immediate Past President.

Commercial director appointment at A-Plant

A-Plant has appointment Dave Harris as commercial director, reporting directly to A-Plant CEO Sat Dhaiwal.

Dave has a wealth of experience in the hire industry, having previously held similar roles covering the UK and Ireland. He has also accumulated a great deal of experience in board level roles in other sectors, as he was formerly Managing Director of leading cinema operator UCI Cinemas and Managing Director of travel agency Going Places.

In his new role at A-Plant, Dave has a wide range of responsibilities helping drive the UK strategy forward, developing business with A-Plant’s major customers and becoming involved in merger and acquisition activity.

Campbeltown Town Hall project set to get underway in early November

The £2.2 million project to repair and refurbish Campbeltown Town Hall is set to begin in early November, following an asset transfer from Argyll and Bute Council to the South Kintyre Development Trust.

All funding has now been secured to meet the costs of bringing the building back into use, with Argyll and Bute Council contributing £687,000 from its CHORD regeneration initiative and the Campbeltown Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI). The build costs are around £1.8m, with £400,000 of operating costs for the next five years factored into the total project cost.

The council has been working in partnership with SKDT to develop the project since late 2010, providing advice and guidance throughout the process. In recent months council staff helped SKDT secure over £200,000 from Historic Scotland to bridge a funding gap that has ensured the project can proceed to the next stage.

The trust intend to appoint a local contractor within the next fortnight to carry out the work. The contractor will use their existing staff, new staff and local sub-contractors.

Resurfacing works for A72 begin

A resurfacing and drainage works project has commenced on the A72, just outside Hazelbank in South Lanarkshire.

The work, which started today, is expected to take up to five days to complete. A section of the A72 will be closed between Crossford and the A73 Steels Cross during the project. A signed diversion route is in place for motorists.