Building Briefs – October 19th

Persimmon Homes employee stretched to the limits

An award-winning member of the Persimmon Homes East Scotland team has been pushed to the physical and mental limits by climbing Ben Nevis and completing a thrilling course of energy-sapping challenges in the same week.

Ryan Barker, a senior architectural technician at the Bathgate office, joined colleagues in completing a gruelling hike to the top of Ben Nevis, the team raising more than £3,500 for Marie Curie Nurses.

But that was only the start of a frantic week as, just a few days later, 29-year-old Ryan completed the ‘Executive Stretch’ course for personal development at Redford Barracks in Edinburgh.

The programme of activities on the two-day course – designed to enhance personal development through problem solving, quick thinking and fast decision making – included pushing a Range Rover through a minefield and spending an evening in an open ditch.

Ryan was selected to receive an Outstanding Leadership award in addition to his group being awarded a Runners Up award on the final day out of eight other teams and revealed the lessons he learned in the team-building exercises will hold him in good stead in his professional and personal life.

hub North Scotland shortlisted for Scottish Business Awards

hub North Scotland has been shortlisted for a prestigious business award.

The organisation has been selected as a finalist in the RBS Customer Focus category at the upcoming Scottish Business Awards which will be held at the EICC in Edinburgh on November 12.

The RBS Customer Focus Award recognises businesses that best demonstrate that the customer is at the heart of everything it does, with hub North praised for its community project work across its operational territory in Scotland.

East Dunbartonshire Council house surveys bring good news

East Dunbartonshire Council has carried out its biggest ever survey of its houses to find out how many of the authority’s homes complied with Scottish Housing Quality Standards (SHQS).

The SHQS requires homes to be energy efficient, healthy, safe and secure, free from disrepair, of a tolerable standard and have modern facilities.

A total of 37 per cent of homes (1,338) were surveyed by an Independent Surveyor across different locations, property types and property ages with the initial outcome suggesting that the council’s stock is of a good overall standard.

East Dunbartonshire Council has spent £43 million over the last ten years in bringing its homes up to standard and plans to spend a further £81m over the next 30 years – an average of £22,124 per property.

The capital programme, which is one of the largest scale housing investments in the council’s history, included new kitchens, bathrooms, roofs, windows & doors, heating systems and undertaking electrical rewires.

Property firm LSH to have new Glasgow HQ

Lambert Smith Hampton (LSH) has revealed plans to move to a new head office in Scotland - just days after signalling plans to double the size of its operations north of the Border.

The property management company has agreed to 10-year lease on a 4,763 square foot office in Glasgow’s Bothwell Street.

The fifth floor premises, which will be leased at a rate of £18 per square foot, will undergo a major refurbishment by landlord Town Centre Securities before LSH moves in.

Free talk to be held on traditional building maintenance

A free talk on traditional building repair and maintenance is to take place in the Scottish Borders this week.

The event will occur on Wednesday, 21 October at 8pm in Currie Memorial Public Hall, Lilliesleaf.

It has been organised by Selkirk Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS) in association with Lilliesleaf, Ashkirk and Midlem Community Council.

The talk will discuss traditional buildings suffering from defects as a result of lack of maintenance, which left unchecked can develop from minor issues into costly major repairs or rebuilding works.

Inverclyde to invest £180,000 in play park upgrades

Inverclyde Council is to invest £180,000 on improvements to a popular play park.

The site is located in Greenock’s West End on the corner of Fox Street and Newton Street.

The council will upgrade the park and install a high quality multi-use games area (MUGA) measuring 15 metres by 24 metres.