Building Briefs – September 1st

Glasgow Airport’s £3.3m extension project unveiled

Transport minister Derek Mackay MSP visited Glasgow Airport yesterday to officially open the airport’s newly extended east pier.

The £3.3 million project, which was completed earlier this summer, has introduced a series of improvements to the main terminal building allowing the airport to accommodate an additional 750,000 passengers each year.

The project got underway in November 2014 and involved the construction of a two storey, 1,400 square metre extension to one of the airport’s three piers. As well as creating new boarding areas for passengers, it also brings the total number of Code E stands, which enable the airport to accommodate larger aircraft for long haul services, to six.

With the east pier now complete, Glasgow Airport has invested more than £25m in enhancing its facilities during 2014 and 2015. This includes a major refurbishment of the international arrivals area, modernisations to the main check-in hall, the landscaping of a new public space at the front of the terminal, and general improvements to the airport’s road network.

The work was undertaken by Balfour Beatty.

Work on new £1.2m sports hub for Cupar kicks off

Work to create a £1.2 million community sports hub in the heart of Cupar has begun.

The aim is to replace the outdated facilities at Duffus Park, which are considered no longer fit for purpose, while also providing an opportunity for a range of other sports to be played on the site.

The present clubhouse is on Provost Wynd, more than a mile from the pitch at Duffus Park, and the work will bring the two together. It will also cater for increased demand for youth rugby from more than 250 children.

Much of the fundraising for the new hub was done by club members, who received the backing of rugby legends Doddy Weir and John Beattie.

A new café planned for the site has been welcomed, while meeting rooms will also be created, along with eight self-contained changing rooms with showers, dedicated accommodation for officials, medical and physiotherapy facilities, disabled access and a community recreation area. It is intended that proceeds from the sale of the clubhouse in Provost Wynd will go towards funding the inside of the new facility.

Scottish draft budget to be delayed

The Scottish Government’s draft budget for 2016-17 will not be published until after the UK government’s spending review in late November, it has emerged.

The draft budget – which is usually published in September – has been pushed back due to uncertainty over the block grant for Scotland, which will be affected by the outcome of the UK spending review.

The delay means the Scottish budget could be fast-tracked through the Scottish Parliament in December or January, prompting protests from opposition politicians that it would undermine the process of scrutinising the budget.

The budget delay will have also have an impact on local authorities, who typically agree their own local budgets in February.

St Kilda visitor centre one step closer

Plans to build a world class visitors’ centre telling the story of St Kilda have taken a vital step forward.

The facility, proposed for Mangersta in Uig on Lewis, could attract thousands of visitors each year.

St Kilda, which lies 41 miles off the Outer Hebrides, is one of only 28 out of 1,000 sites throughout the world which has dual world heritage status. St Kilda is the only one in the United Kingdom.

The history and heritage of the archipelago continues to fascinate, but access is difficult and boat trips are often cancelled due to rough seas.

Now a site at Mangersta has been acquired and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has given funding for a detailed brief for the centre.

The project is being led by a community group with the Gaelic name of Ionad Hiort – St Kilda Centre group – which has explored potential markets as well as content and interpretation with a team from the Glasgow School of Art.

Iain Buchanan, chairman of the Ionad Hiort steering group, said plans to build an iconic world class visitor centre telling the story of the islands are taking a crucial step forward.

Tay Road Bridge walkway resurfacing

After a successful two year trial anti slip surfacing is to be permanently laid along the 1.5 mile length of the Tay Road Bridge central walkway.

The glass reinforced plastic panels will be installed by Raynesway Construction Ltd in a 10 week contract costing £463,995.

Work is expected to start in week beginning Monday September 7.

First minister sees Pollokshields regeneration plans progress

First minister Nicola Sturgeon joined past and present residents of a Glasgow housing estate yesterday to celebrate the demolition of problem deck access housing.

The Pollokshields Deck Access flats have been plagued for decades by dampness, poor sound and heat insulation, and security problems. Local residents have campaigned for over 10 years to have them demolished and replaced by better housing.

Ms Sturgeon, who is the local MSP for the area, was joined by residents to press the button on the start of the demolition of the unpopular properties. Phase 1 of the demolition programme will affect 15 and 19 St Andrews Drive and 20 St John’s Quadrant.

Dem-Masters Ltd has been commissioned by Southside Housing Association to demolish the first phase of the properties over the next four months. The start of the demolition will mark the beginning of a £26 million regeneration programme led by Southside Housing Association and supported by the Scottish Government and Glasgow City Council.

The programme will see the 272 sub standard houses demolished in three phases over the next four years and replaced by 153 new energy efficient homes. The regeneration plans will also include a new community facility.

Aberdeen City Council assists private owners with essential housing repairs

Aberdeen City Council is helping property owners make essential repairs to flatted buildings in an initiative that is improving the city’s private housing stock.

The local authority can assist in situations where the majority of owners in a block are trying to complete works but there are a minority of owners who either cannot or will not contribute their share of costs.

Members of the council’s communities, housing and infrastructure committee were given an update on the use of enforcement funding for maintenance of privately-owned buildings during 2014/15 at a meeting last week.

The enforcement funding initiative, which was approved by councillors in August last year, helps owners complete common repairs and maintenance work.

The council can help to convene “stair meetings” with individual owners and also meet the costs of the reluctant owners if necessary to facilitate repairs in common areas such as roofs, gutters and stairwells.

So far, it has committed £522,750, which has enabled works with a value of more than £2.9 million to be carried out.

There is a further £778,850 set aside from the fund to assist the owners of 49 flats and shop units to participate in common repairs, which will have a total value of £2.9m.

In total, the council has earmarked about £1.3m. The upfront funding from the council is repaid by any private owner who has not paid their share.

Kirriemuir roadworks latest

Work on the repair and maintenance of roads in Kirriemuir town centre is continuing with attention turning to the north section of High Street today.

Phases one and two in St Malcom’s Wynd and Glengate are now complete. The latest section of work focuses on the cobbles and will take two to three weeks to carry out.

The final stage of the project, in the southern section of the High Street is also scheduled to take two to three weeks.