Building Briefs – January 9th

• CMS Window Systems named finalist in major industry awards

The company is shortlisted in the Specialist Contractor of the Year (turnover over £25m) category in what is the only national awards programme recognising the best specialist contractors from across the UK.

The winners, who will be announced at a special ceremony in London in March, will be decided by a panel of more than 60 judges, made up from the country’s largest construction firms and the leaders of many major projects.

As a UK-wide window, door and façade supplier to many of the country’s main contractors and developers, CMS Window Systems has established a loyal and growing client base for its aluminium building envelope solutions. Its current major façade projects include BAM Construction’s prime Atlantic Square mixed-use development in central Glasgow and the prestigious Capital Square commercial scheme in the heart of Edinburgh’s business district.

Providing turnkey solutions using Kawneer and Metal Technology systems from its state-of-the-art factory near Glasgow, CMS is ideally positioned to deliver complete envelope packages for all kinds of commercial, public sector and residential projects, large and small. With BIM Level 2 design capability and a highly skilled in-house team providing design and value engineering expertise, CMS is increasingly becoming the supply chain partner of choice for many main contractors and clients.

• Budget delay will have ‘profound consequences’ for social housing crisis

The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) has warned that the continuing uncertainty around Scottish Government investment in housing post-2021 is preventing the building of desperately needed affordable homes.

With the UK Government revealing this week that it won’t set its Budget until March 11, the Scottish Government has said it cannot produce its spending plans until after that and has acknowledged this will have “profound consequences”.

On the delay, SFHA chief executive Sally Thomas said: “We accept these are exceptional circumstances but there remains a significant, and increasing, demand for social housing, with around 160,000 households on waiting lists. Clarity is vital to prevent an escalation of this crisis and we are seeking urgent talks with decision-makers to discuss.

“Good progress has been made with the current housing programme, but the lack of certainty on government investment from April of next year is already seeing housing associations suspend plans to build. Without support, some developments are not viable.

“There must be continuity to enable our members to build and maintain great homes, in great places, for the people of Scotland.”

• Dundee tennis court floodlighting

Baxter Park is set to receive floodlighting at its recently upgraded tennis courts if approved at Dundee City Council’s neighbourhood services committee next week. 

Over £47,000 could be spent on upgrading the tennis courts through funding from a partnership agreement with Craigie Community Sports Hub.

The tennis courts previously received an upgrade in July 2019, which saw new specialised tarmacadam surfaces and fresh paintwork carried out. Additionally, new fencing and infrastructure was implemented at the site.

The floodlighting installation works are expected to be completed in April 2020.