Building Briefs - March 18th

• Business community launches urgent volunteer appeal for Glasgow’s Number One Baby and Family Support Service

The service was founded in 2017, by Audrey Dempsey to help families with babies in the north of Glasgow. It has grown rapidly and operates from a dedicated unit in Forge Street. The team supports the wider needs of families where it helps with anything from furnishing a home to supplying clothing. It is planning on providing a community outreach service as soon as possible this year.

Ms Dempsey said: “Our service was created by eliminating obstacles and identifying the issues and problems that people were faced with when seeking help for hardship and working poverty. Due to the pandemic we are seeing an even bigger demand for our service as so many people have sadly lost their businesses or have been made redundant.

“We rely on donations and volunteers to run our services. If anyone could consider giving a few hours either on a Monday, Wednesday or a Friday, it would be great to hear from them. Thank you.”

Skypark’s strategic lettings advisor, Angela Higgins of Resonance Capital, said: “With spring clearing out under way we have launched a volunteer and clothing appeal for Glasgow’s No1 Baby and Family Support Service, one of our charity partners. As we gradually get back to some normality, many families in the City will not and will need this essential service more than ever.”

To volunteer, please get in touch on 0141 - 230 6856 or email audrey.gnonebfss@gmail.com. Donations of adults clothing and for children of all ages can be dropped off at Forge Street, Glasgow.  Visit Glasgow’s No1 Baby and Family Support Service

• Views of Findochty pontoon virtual exhibition racking up

A virtual exhibition on the replacement of the pontoons in Findochty harbour is under way.

So far, there have been more than 430 views of the virtual exhibition. It sets out the proposed layout for the pontoons, including access from Commercial Street.

The works are being carried out by contractors Strath Civil Engineering, with the pontoons set to provide at least 90 berths and accommodate vessels up to 10m in length. The existing pontoons have been removed, dredging will soon begin within the harbour and it’s expected the 10-week programme to install the new pontoons will begin on May 17, subject to statutory approval.

Feedback is welcomed and can be submitted via an online survey. All responses should be received by May 14.

• Road improvements planned for West Lothian

West Lothian’s road network will undergo a multi-million investment programme in the coming years.

The council will continue to invest in West Lothian’s growing road and footpath network, including town centre street improvements, bridges and street lightening, with over £53 million to be invested by 2028. Around £10m will be invested between April 2021 and March 2022 alone.

An additional £750,000 will be spent next year alone on repairing potholes. This includes potholes that our team have on their planned list of work already, and new potholes that are reported to us.

As part of the £53m package, £4.8m will be spent on flood prevention work in Broxburn, the River Almond and Bathgate. £845,000 allocated for town centres improvements. £16m will be spent on road lighting works. A further £7m will be invested in maintaining and upgrading bridges during this time.

There will also be investment in cycle ways including the Armadale to Whitburn cycle way and footpath/active travel improvements in Bathgate and West Calder.

• CBRE secures new restaurant for St Vincent Street

Real estate advisor CBRE has secured a new restaurant occupier for a high-profile unit in Glasgow city centre, on behalf of the landlord CBRE Global Investors (Shell Pension Fund).

Mowgli Street Food, which offers fresh home cooking-style Indian food, has taken a unit at 78 St Vincent Street, extending to 4,694 sq ft over three levels.  The unit was previously occupied by the Handmade Burger Company, with CBRE handling the lease surrender before the deal with Mowgli was signed.

Mowgli was founded by curry evangelist and food writer Nisha Katona. It specialises in small street food items as well as larger curry dishes, including Goan fish curry, gunpowder chicken and Himalayan cheese toast, with dedicated gluten-free and vegan menus.