Building Briefs – April 20th

Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) has amended its plans regarding the planned replacement of the existing submarine cable that connects Harris to Scalpay and is now proposing to place the replacement cable within the Scalpay Bridge.

The submarine cable which connects Harris to Scalpay is nearing the end of its operational life and SSEN has been consulting on how to replace the cable to continue to provide a safe and reliable supply of power to the islands.

A consultation event was held on 29 March in the Harris Hotel, with a good turnout from the local community, with the views of the local community leading to a change in the proposed installation method.

SSEN is encouraging anyone with an interest in the proposal to provide feedback before making an application for a marine licence, which is required before the cable can be replaced.

The consultation closes on 10 May 2017.

European showcase for Angus Port investment

Montrose Port Authority has signed off on a new multi-million-pound project to upgrade two more quaysides.

Senior officials from the Angus port will reveal full details of the £5.2 million plan when they travel to Belgium next week for Breakbulk Europe, the largest cargo and break-bulk industry conference in the world.

The event will give senior port officials the chance to meet thousands of delegates face-to-face and sell the merits of Montrose as both a cargo-handling port and a base for oil and gas operations and future decommissioning.

The upgrade programme will strengthen and deepen berths seven and eight on the north side of the harbour.

The work – which will start in the autumn – will allow the quaysides to take larger vessels alongside.

The development will also include the provision of a new heavy-lift pad to complement similar facilities on the north quay.

The upgrades follows on from previous investment of around £15m over the last few years to refurbish other berths at the port.

That work has already resulted in improved cargo volumes through the port and, despite the slump in the crude price over the past two years, increased interest from oil and gas operators.

Council to discuss proposals for former Ellon Academy site

A number of proposals have been unveiled to redevelop the former Ellon Academy Site and Annexe in Aberdeenshire.

Aberdeenshire Council will meet next week to discuss a range of plans which were drawn up following discussions with partner organisations.

Potential ideas include developing;

Both housing proposals would provide a mix of accommodation types to meet identified housing need in Ellon. At the council meeting, members will be asked to provide comments on the proposed rationalisation of properties in the town and to agree that further business cases for the various proposals be taken forward.

In addition, members will discuss a report which provide a summary of the initial proposals. Each proposal will be subject to its own business case scrutiny, but collectively form an approach to the redevelopment of the site and redevelopment of the town centre.

British Drilling Association urges main contractors to ensure subcontractor drilling compliance

Following in the wake of recent survey findings indicating lack of knowledge of relevant Technical Standards for the drilling industry (EC7), the British Drilling Association (BDA) is urging main contractors to check and ensure compliance of its drilling contractors and avoid issues of safety, quality and best practice.

Concern about drilling subcontractor compliance comes as a UK survey into the Ground Investigation Industry, run jointly by the Association of Geotechnical and Geo-environmental Specialists (AGS) and the BDA highlights a lack of knowledge of Eurocode 7, the technical standards for the industry.

Green light due for Aberdeen harbour expansion

Large-scale infrastructure works ahead of a £375 million expansion of Aberdeen harbour are expected to be approved by Aberdeen City Council.

Officers at the local authority have recommended councillors accept a raft of new works around Nigg Bay at today’s meeting of the planning development management committee. Included in the plans are huge road and drainage works, installation of cycle lanes and footpaths and miles of land surveys to be conducted.

The new plans come as a section of Greyhope Road in Torry is being shut for three years to allow for construction of the expansion.

The road will be closed to drivers from the bottom of Greyhope Road, where it meets St Fitticks Road and the Coast Road, up to Girdleness Lighthouse.

The closure will be in place from April 17 until the completion of the construction works in June 2020.

CBRE’s head of rating relocates to Aberdeen

Property consultancy CBRE has announced that its head of rating in Scotland, Brian Rogan, has relocated to the Aberdeen office to focus on assisting clients in the North East with the Business Rates Revaluation appeal process.

The 2017 Business Rates Revaluation has already caused concern for North East businesses facing large increases in their bills, and these concerns became real on 1st April when the new valuations took effect.

Brian was previously based in CBRE’s Glasgow office and has specialised in rates appeals for more than ten years.

Last year Brian successfully led a landmark appeal against the Grampian Assessor for a number of CBRE’s oil and gas and professional services sector clients which occupy office premises in Aberdeen, on the basis that the local economic downturn was a Material Change of Circumstances (MCC) and as such rates bills should be reduced.

The Grampian Valuation Appeal Committee announced in January that it had awarded a 16.5% reduction in rates with effect from 1st April 2016. That decision has however now been appealed and will go before the Lands Valuation Appeal Court (a division of the Court of Session) later this year.

Worsley Plant appoints new operations director

Worsley Plant has announced the appointment of Adrian Nixon as operations director with immediate effect.

Mr Nixon joined Worsley Plant as the service engineer for the crushing and screening equipment. During this role he gained a good foundation for material processing which has led him to further his career moving from field service to general manager.

He has been committed to Worsley Plant since he joined in 2004 and has been instrumental in its growth.

Prior to joining the company, Adrian had over 10 years of experience as an agricultural engineer.