Building Briefs – October 7th

A new £1.3 million extension is getting young people active at Blackridge Primary School in West Lothian.

Pupils have already been enjoying the school’s brand new games hall complete with modern changing facilities, improving access to sport and healthy activity.

Other works at the school have included improving access to the school through a new main entrance way and reception area, with internal alterations to allow disabled access between the various levels within the existing school.

The project was managed by West Lothian Council’s Construction and Design team, with Livingston-based Maxi Construction appointed to carry out the works.

The project was delivered on time and on budget, with the school council and Maxi staff working closely to address the challenges of working around a live school environment to successfully deliver the project.

Glasgow City Council to guarantee loan for development of East End manufacturing unit

Glasgow City Council has approved an £800,000 guarantee on a loan which will enable a 27,000 square feet manufacturing and engineering unit in the Clyde Gateway East industrial estate.

This loan guarantee will enable the urban regeneration company Clyde Gateway to borrow £1 million towards the construction of the unit, which is expected to attract manufacturing and engineering investment and employment.

The total cost of the unit, which will be located on the Clyde Gateway East industrial estate on London Road, is expected to be just over £3m, and the council’s loan guarantee covers 80 per cent of the £1m loan that Clyde Gateway requires to take to complete the funding.

The council’s funding partners for the unit are Clyde Gateway, Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Government’s SPRUCE (Scottish Partnership for Regeneration in Urban Centres) and RCGF funds.

Competition to design Wester Ross Visitor Information Shelters

The Highland Council has launched an architectural competition for the development of three visitor information shelters at key entry points to Wester Ross; Achnasheen, Lochcarron and Braemore.

The aim is to improve the sense of place and visitor orientation on arrival in Wester Ross and to promote local attractions and amenities.

In recognition of 2016 as the Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design, designs will be procured by a competition via Public Contract Scotland.

The competition will invite architects and landscape architects to submit innovative design proposals. A selection process will include a technical panel and a panel of community representatives and the winning design will be implemented on the ground during 2017.

The shelters will be located on sites which complement the North Coast 500 route and the Wester Ross Biosphere Reserve.

Construction product manufacturers report fourteenth quarter of growth

The Construction Product Association’s latest State of Trade Survey has report continued growth in sales of construction products in the third quarter of 2016.

Sales increased for a fourteenth consecutive quarter, and in the first survey after the EU referendum, manufacturers moved from a pessimistic stance to an optimistic one regarding near-term prospects.

Key survey findings include:

JTC consolidates manufacturing

Dundee furniture maker JTC saw its profits squeezed last year as it embarked on a restructuring process to consolidate its manufacturing on a single site.

The interior fit-out specialist has its head office and design centre function at Camperdown Works on Dundee’s Harrison Road and an ancillary manufacturing base at Manhattan Works on Dundonald Street.

Newly filed accounts with Companies House show the group produced a pre-tax profit of £149,220 in the year to December 31, down from £440,075 a year earlier.

Turnover in the year took a significant hit, falling from £24.3 million in 2014 to £18.9m last year.

In his report to the accounts, director Gordon Linton said trading was “in line with the various markets serviced” and financial resources available were suitable for the group’s needs.

Plans to see North East restaurant demolished for homes

Plans have been unveiled to demolish a former North East restaurant and hotel.

Rocin Ltd wants to knock down the Cammies restaurant building at Cammachmore, between Portlethen and Newtonhill, to build six homes.

The bid comes almost a year after councillors approved proposals to transform the site into a complex of seven, two-bedroom flats without the need for demolition.

But, due to a buyer not being found, Rocin Ltd now wants to demolish the building in a bid to make the plans a reality. The restaurant and hotel closed its doors in May last year.

A statement on behalf of the firm said if plans to demolish the building aren’t approved, the site will remain derelict for a long time. It added the building is currently an eyesore in its present state.

Lovell turbocharges ‘Formula 1 in Schools’ world championship bid

Partnership housing developer Lovell has turbocharged six Livingston students’ bid to become F1 in Schools world champions.

The company joined forces with its supply chain partners and subcontractors to present a donation of over £8,500 to the team from Inveralmond Community High School in West Lothian, which will compete in the global finals of the F1 in Schools competition in America this month (16 to 19 October).

The sponsorship money will help cover the costs of competing, travel and accommodation when the students take on school teams from across the globe at the world finals in Austin, Texas. The team - Zak Brown, Euan Clune, Michael Penman, Lewis Shaw, Kayleigh Speirs and Joshua Whitby - will be Scotland’s only representatives.

Under their team name of Kinetikos, the Inveralmond Community High School students have already been crowned Scottish champions in the F1 in Schools competition, which challenges pupils to design, test, manufacture and race a miniature Formula 1 car, powered by compressed air cylinders. The challenge aims to change perceptions of science, technology, engineering and maths by creating a fun and exciting learning environment.

Lovell subcontractors who contributed towards the sponsorship total were Front Line Construction Ltd, Advance Construction Scotland, Tom Findlay & Co Ltd and Timber Frameworks Ltd.

Dundee railway station project reaches key milestone

The development of the new Dundee railway station and hotel has reached a key milestone.

Works to erect the steel superstructure is progressing at pace, with the main steel arch modules now in place.

The structure is expected to be completed towards the end of the year, with the focus then turning to the installation of the metal decking and concrete floor slab to form the station concourse.

These works will run alongside the construction of the outer shell of the station and hotel.

Balfour Beatty is undertaking the redevelopment on behalf of Dundee City Council.

Staff are working through the night to support the build and installation of the 1100-tonne steel structure modules, ensuring minimal disruption to the rail interface and reducing the construction programme duration.

The construction work is scheduled for completion in December 2017.

AWPR Milltimber junction beams set for delivery

The Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route/Balmedie-Tipperty (AWPR/B-T) project is expected to take delivery of 48 beams in the coming weeks, which will enable the contractor to construct the new Milltimber Junction Overbridge.

These deliveries will include 24 beams between Saturday 8 October and Monday 10 October; and 24 beams between Saturday 15 October and Monday 17 October.

New Rent to Buy homes set for the Isle of Skye

Construction of two new affordable homes will begin shortly at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig on Skye through the Rent to Buy scheme by The Highlands Small Communities Housing Trust (HSCHT).

HSCHT is working in partnership with Sabhal Mòr Ostaig (SMO) to provide two sustainable low-cost homes for rent and then purchase next to the College in Kilbeg. This is the first stage of a wider development which is strongly supported by the Scottish Government, the Highland Council and Highlands & Islands Enterprise.

It is anticipated the scheme will provide a varied range of housing and commercial opportunities over the next few years to enhance the campus facilities and to create a more vibrant, sustainable community.

In addition to the first phase of housing, Sabhal Mòr is also currently about to embark upon a full Feasibility Study and Business Plan into providing badly needed facilities for Sports, Recreation, Health and Fitness for the area, as a critical part of the wider Kilbeg development plan.

Local construction firm, James MacQueen Builders Ltd. who work alongside Skye based architects Rural Design, has been awarded the contract and they are set to begin work on site shortly.

Footpath works to start in Peebles

Work to improve the footpath on Tweed Bridge in Peebles gets underway this weekend.

The old pavement will be removed and replaced on the east side of the bridge between Sunday 9 October and Saturday 15 October. This has been programmed to take place during the October holidays to minimise disruption.

The path will be closed from 7.30am to 4pm each day, when pedestrians will be safely diverted down Port Brae.