Building Briefs – October 13th

Novus Property Solutions has successfully delivered a range of internal alterations at a North Ayrshire primary school during the summer holidays.

The works began in the final two weeks of the summer term, with operatives from Novus hard carrying out extensive upgrades including the creation of a new staff resource base, a new library and two new classrooms at Castlepark Primary School.

North Ayrshire Council has utilised Novus’ services in the past and the firm’s long experience of delivering refurbishments in the live environment helped to inform the plans for the school.

Before the students left for their summer holidays, work began on new partitions, internal doors and screens, as well as mechanical and electrical alterations, and the project team from Novus delivered a short health and safety talk to ensure everyone using the school building could do so safely.

Novus has previously delivered similar alterations at St Andrews University, Glasgow Caledonia University and George Watson’s College, and the team is on schedule to complete the £80,000 programme of works in time for staff and pupils of Castlepark returning in mid-August.

New cancer therapy centre to be developed at Loch Lomond

A former outdoor education facility at Loch Lomond is set to be transformed into a cancer therapy centre.

Councillors have approved plans to transfer the lease of Ardlui outdoor centre to cancer charity Rainbow Valley.

The decision will allow the group to develop the building at McGregor’s Landing into a residential centre of excellence for holistic therapies to support people affected by cancer.

The charity is planning to spend over £2 million to transform Ardlui into a therapy facility. It will provide information and education, alongside complementary therapies, delivered via residential and day courses.

The centre, which is set to open in 2017, will adopt an open door policy to reach out to the local community.

West Dunbartonshire Council is supporting the venture by offering the centre rent-free for the first 18 months.

Brexit vote hits Scottish house prices for second consecutive quarter

House prices in Scotland have fallen for the second quarter in a row, latest figures have revealed.

According to the Halifax House Price Index for the three-months to September, the average Scottish house now costs around £150,000.

The gap between the average cost of a house in Scotland compared to the £214,140 price tag for the average UK home is now at its widest since 2005, the Halifax said.

This means Scotland has now replaced Northern Ireland at the foot of the HPI UK regional house-price table.

The data also suggests the housing market south of the border has cooled in the wake of the UK vote to leave the European Union.

UK house prices suffered their first quarterly fall in four years at a rate of decline that was the fastest in over five, the Halifax reported.

The building society said the cost of the average house in the UK had fallen 0.5 per cent since the vote for Brexit at the end of June. In contrast, the second quarter saw 1.6 per cent growth.

Prices fell in five of the 12 regions.

Conversely, the latest survey of its members from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in Scotland (RICS) found the number of surveyors reporting price rises had increased by a third on the previous month.

The number of surveyors predicting future price rises also increased, with 14 per cent more saying there will be an upward curve during the next three months.

Federation of Piling Specialists welcomes new associate members

The Federation of Piling Specialists (FPS) has welcomed Atkins and Byland Engineering as new associate members as part of its on-going strategy to fully represent the geotechnical contracting sector.

The two new members; Atkins – one of the world’s leading design, engineering and project management consultancies - and Byland Engineering – an independent geotechnical consultant, with a particular specialism in the design and optimisation of piling and ground engineering schemes - bring with them a wealth of knowledge and experience of working within their geotechnical specialism, knowledge that will be put to good use by the FPS in setting standards and crafting guidance in the future.

Since its launch the FPS Associate Membership has grown to include companies from the majority of sectors of the wider geotechnical contracting industry.

Their addition strengthens the Federation’s knowledge and representation base giving it a more authoritative voice in the construction sector. It also helps the FPS lobby more effectively at industry and government and European levels on issues such as training and fair payment.

Dunedin Canmore brings affordable homes on stream three months early

Dunedin Canmore is set to deliver 21 new homes for affordable rent in Midlothian three months ahead of schedule.

The two-bedroom houses, at Corby Craig Road and Walk in Bilston, were scheduled for January 2017 but will now be available to rent from November 2016.

The quality affordable homes which have been built by developer Taylor Wimpey will be let by Dunedin Canmore, part of Wheatley Group. They will be available for mid-market rental for people on a modest income and will cater for couples as well as young families.

The homes let by Dunedin Canmore will provide part of the affordable housing provision alongside Melville Housing Association’s existing 28 homes and a further 149 homes for private sale by Taylor Wimpey.

Section 75 agreement paves way for over 100 new Aberdeen homes

Plans to create more than 100 homes in Aberdeen moved forward this week after a section 75 agreement was signed between developers CALA Homes and Aberdeen City Council.

Section 75 agreements are used to secure vital funding for infrastructure such as roads and schools.

The development of 107 houses at Friarsfield Road/Kirk Brae will also include a further 12 affordable flats.

Cults, Bieldside and Milltimber Community Council initially objected to the development due to the “domination of large detached 4/5 bedroom houses”.

Concerns had been raised that there wasn’t a large enough provision of affordable housing, and that the increase in properties would put additional pressure on local schools.

The area of land is part of a larger site identified in the local development plan as being suitable for up to 280 homes.

The new proposals for the development would be a mix of detached, semi-detached and terraced properties.

Taylor Wimpey start work on Greenlaw Mill

Work is due to being on Taylor Wimpey East Scotland’s development of new homes and apartments at Greenlaw Mill, off Mauricewood Road in Penicuik.

In a programme of significant earthworks, roadworks and groundworks, the land and surrounding area will be prepared for the construction of the first phase of the development of new homes.

Greenlaw Mill will eventually feature 422 new homes, as well as 36 apartments in a wide-mix of two-, three-, four-, and five- bedroom family homes and apartments.

Section of A7 to close for improvement works

A stretch of the A7 road from north of Stow to the Midlothian boundary is to close to allow resurfacing and patching works to be carried out.

The closure, from 8am to 4pm on Friday 28 and Monday 31 October, and Tuesday 1 to Friday 4 November, will allow improvements to be made to various sections of the road, including the Heriot bends which will be resurfaced.

Access will be available to local residents under guidance of sentries located at either end of the closure while electronic signage will be put out in advance to warn motorists.

Plans approved to build new South Lanarkshire War Memorial

Plans have been approved to build a new War Memorial in South Lanarkshire.

The council will develop the structure alongside the current cenotaph at Bothwell Road Park in Hamilton.

The project came about following a request by families seeking a way to formally recognise the sacrifice of those who have died since 1945.