Building Briefs – May 21st

• Morrison Construction staff raise thousands for Nansen Highland

The Black Isle-based charity, which was selected as Morrison Construction employees’ cause of the year for 2018/19, provides services and support to young people with learning difficulties including specialised training, accommodation and housing support services.

Last week, Morrison Construction staff presented a cheque worth £4,226.14 to the charity, raised through a host of fundraising events including a family fun day, quiz night, bake sales and car washes.

Bart Lafere, director of Nansen Highland, said: “We’re grateful for this donation, which is helping our staff and volunteers in their efforts to make everything they do possible.

“It’s an amazing sum of money that Morrison Construction has raised and we really can’t thank them enough.  We plan to use the funds specifically for replacing and upgrading our computers and IT system.”

Sally Cooper, CSR manager for Morrison Construction, added: “We are proud to play our part in supporting the change-makers, like Nansen, who work so hard to make a difference in our community.

“Nansen Highland is a true force for good, providing a wide range of support for young adults with learning difficulties in the area and helping them to move forward with their lives.

“Thank you to all our staff who have raised such a significant amount to support some of the most vulnerable members of our community.”

• Work begins on £2m council housing project at Newtyle

A ground-breaking ceremony has taken place in Newtyle to signal a start to the construction of the first new council homes in the Angus village for several decades.

The 12 new houses for affordable rent form the latest project in Angus Council’s Strategic Housing Investment Plan which is delivering around 120 new homes for Angus residents each year.

More than £2 million is being invested in the project, which is situated at the end of Dunarn Street.

Communities vice-convener, Cllr Tommy Stewart, was joined by local elected members including the Provost, Cllr Ronnie Proctor, as well as members of the community, officers from the council’s housing service and representatives of the contractor Bancon Construction.

The project is scheduled for completion by spring 2020.

• Perth housebuilders celebrate national industry award

Perth housebuilder Stephen has won a national housebuilding award for its new development in the Highlands.

The family firm was presented with the ‘Private Development of the Year’ (medium) award at the Homes for Scotland Awards 2019 for its development at Tornagrain, half way between Nairn and Inverness.

The joint award, shared with housebuilders ZeroC, was presented at the HFS Annual Lunch in Edinburgh on Friday.

Stephen was singled out in respect of Phase 1A of Tornagrain which, launched in September 2017, saw the construction of 43 homes, a block of one and two bedroom apartments, two and three  bedroom terraced homes and three and four bedroom semi-detached and detached homes.  The first phase enjoys a prime setting, close to the first children’s play area and community tennis courts.

This aspirational new town will ultimately comprise 5,000 homes as well as parks, schools, shops and offices.  Designed to be an enduring and sustainable town building on the architectural and planning traditions of Scotland and the Highlands, Tornagrain will be a model town for the 21st century which fosters a vibrant and successful community.

Managing director John Stephen said: “We are absolutely thrilled to receive such a prestigious award for our early contribution to Tornagrain. Our first phase is central to the development of this new town so it’s particularly significant to be singled out at this stage.

“Tornagrain will undoubtedly be a very special place to live with its strong focus on community and we are delighted to be making such an impact on its development and, most of all, to the lives of those who choose to make Tornagrain their home.”

• New BSI Kitemark helps hardware suppliers get a handle on testing

Business improvement company BSI has today launched a new Kitemark for Building Hardware used in Windows and Doorsets.

As the fenestration market continues to evolve and diversify, it’s becoming increasingly important that hardware suppliers can prove that their products meet industry recognized standards, such as the performance characteristics of the BS 6375 series of standards and the enhanced security requirements of PAS 24: 2016 as part of a system or finished product.

This Kitemark has been developed to provide assurance to fenestration manufacturers that the hardware that is supplied for use on their products has been rigorously tested and will perform as it should when in place on the window or doorset.

• Success for South Ayrshire empty homes initiative

South Ayrshire Council has more than exceeded its targets for bringing empty private properties back into use, new figures have revealed.

The council is committed to providing around 1,000 new affordable homes to be delivered over five years from 2018 to 2023 and bringing empty private homes back into use as affordable accommodation is vital to helping even more people get the housing they need.

So far in the period 2018-19, it has ensured that 37 properties will be occupied once more, exceeding its target of 20.

Working closely with property owners has been crucial to the success of the empty homes initiative. The council offers interest free loans of up to £20,000 for the owners of empty properties to carry out repairs and refurbishments provided properties are rented at affordable rates.

There is also an option for owners who don’t want to become landlords to carry out repairs and then pay back the loan when they sell their property.

• Major resurfacing works in South Lanarkshire

Major resurfacing works are to take place on the A71/72 Garrion Bridge Interchange.

The work to improve the road surface will mean the bridge is closed overnight every night, from 8pm until 5am, from Sunday, 09 June until Sunday, 16 June.

• Road works programme begins in Moray

Seven weeks of major road maintenance works have begun in Moray.

The annual surface dressing programme – which sees bitumen and chips laid to prevent the deterioration of road surfaces through wear and tear – begins on Monday 20 May. Sections of road undergoing treatment will be marked with signs, and drivers should follow the 20mph speed restrictions in place to protect the workforce and minimise damage to the newly-laid surfaces.