Building Briefs – May 19th

• HFD Property Management moves to support tenants through Covid-19

The property management arm of HFD Group is offering a package of assistance to tenants, which includes rental support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and extended agreements for businesses with leases expiring during lockdown and its aftermath.

With organisations expected to make a phased return as summer approaches, HFD has also introduced an initiative that enables tenants to maintain social distancing in offices. The company is offering its occupiers additional leases on spaces of up to 50 desks with flexible terms, for as short a period as three months.

HFD Property Management manages 250,000 sq. ft. of serviced offices for 230 businesses at Strathclyde Business Park and Hamilton International Park.

Rosemary Hill, managing director of HFD Property Management, said: “Companies across the country are wrestling with the impact of Covid-19, not only on their businesses and clients but also on how they recommence operations safely and in line with social distancing requirements. We appreciate that even more flexibility is required from office providers to facilitate this and we are proactively offering as much support as we can.

“As such, we are introducing a range of initiatives to support them during this very difficult time. We are offering short-term leases for companies that need additional space due to social distancing restrictions; likewise, if they are experiencing cashflow difficulties. Our aim is to support the businesses we work with through this period, helping them to continue operating while keeping their staff safe.”

• Dundee’s Spaces for People bid approved

All three projects to support active travel and enable social distancing in Dundee during the pandemic have been given the green light.

Financial backing for 20mph zones in central Broughty Ferry, the Perth Road area, Douglas and Fintry; the closure of Union Street to vehicular traffic; and temporary measures to reduce through traffic in areas where there are higher levels of pedestrian and cycling activity have all been approved by Sustrans Scotland.

More than £450,000 has been made available to Dundee City Council through the Scottish Government’s Spaces for People Fund, which is administered by the charity.

It offers funding and support to make it safer for people who choose to walk or cycle for commuting, essential trips and exercise over the coming months.

In total the council was awarded £460,000 from the fund, the bulk of which will be spent on the 20mph zones, with £20,000 to close Union Street to vehicular traffic and £40,000 for through traffic reduction on various routes.

It is hoped that work on bringing in the new measures will get underway in the coming days and be completed as soon as possible.

• Dalmarnock church car park plans withdrawn

A Glasgow church has withdrawn its plans to turn wasteland into a car park for its congregation.

Gateway Church submitted its plans for the land on Dalmarnock Road last November.

The church said that their congregation has grown steadily over the last few years and the need has arisen for additional car parking.

The plans were however withdrawn.