Building Briefs – August 27th

• Two more politicians back SELECT campaign for regulation of electrical industry

Stephen Kerr MP and John Mason MSP have added their names to the trade association’s Wall of Support, which shows those supporting the crusade for Protection of Title.

In his ‘brick’ on the wall, Mr Kerr, MP for Stirling, said: “I would encourage all elected representatives to support this campaign.

“Electricians are highly skilled professionals that undergo a thorough qualification process. That professionalism is vital to ensure work is carried out safely and to the standards required.

“There are far too many instances of shoddy work having dreadful consequences. The success of this campaign will be to ensure that can no longer happen.”

Voicing his support for the #BackTheBrick campaign, Mr Mason, SNP MSP for Glasgow Shettleston, added: “I am very happy to add my name in support of SELECT’s campaign for the introduction of Protection of Title for electricians.

“Having registered tradesmen with recognised accredited qualifications carry out electrical works is essential for both the safety and peace of mind of Scottish homes, businesses and people.”

• Health secretary visits new Golden Jubilee Eye Centre

Health secretary Jeane Freeman visited the new Golden Jubilee Eye Centre yesterday to see how the building is taking shape.

Part of the Scottish Elective Centres’ Programme, the development represents the first phase of NHS Golden Jubilee’s expansion plans and will be open to patients in summer 2020.

Currently under construction by principal supply chain partner Kier Regional Building Scotland, it will have six theatres and an integrated outpatient department and have the capacity to carry out up to 21,000 cataract procedures per year – helping the future demand across Scotland.

The facility will harness the Golden Jubilee ophthalmic model of care which has already allowed the National Hospital to treat more patients and provide an excellent quality of service and patient experience.

Jann Gardner, chief executive of NHS Golden Jubilee, said: “We were delighted to welcome Health Secretary Jeane Freeman to the Golden Jubilee Eye Centre construction site to show how the building is taking shape.

“At a time where we need to meet the needs of a growing and increasingly elderly population, by combining our new facility with our evidenced improved patient experience, we will be able to provide sustainable services in this high demand specialty.

“This means even more patients will be treated faster, providing an improved quality of life for thousands of people every year.”

This second phase of expansion is due for completion at the end of 2021. It will create five additional laminar flow orthopaedic theatres, three endoscopy rooms, two general theatres, a surgical admission and discharge unit and a central sterilisation department.

Brian McQuade, managing director of Kier Regional Building Scotland, added: “The construction of the eye centre is progressing well and complements the strong portfolio of healthcare projects that we are delivering throughout the country.

“As well as providing new facilities for thousands of patients at the Golden Jubilee National Hospital, Kier is creating a range of valuable employment and learning opportunities throughout this project for local residents of Clydebank and the surrounding areas to benefit from for years to come.”

Health secretary Jeane Freeman said: “The Golden Jubilee Eye Centre forms part of one of the elective and diagnostic centres that are being established across Scotland. The network will allow people to be treated more quickly for planned surgery, taking pressure off the other parts of the system that deal with unplanned and emergency treatment. This fantastic new facility will make a real difference to patients across Scotland when it opens next year.”

• Morris & Spottiswood completes new Sky Garden in Leeds

Fit-out specialist Morris & Spottiswood has completed a seven-week project to create a brand new Sky Garden overlooking Leeds city centre.

The contract involved transforming a paved roof space on the ninth floor of the Central Square office building on Wellington Street into a flexible breakout and entertainment space with breathtaking views across the city.

Morris & Spottiswood contracts manager Scott Holt said key elements of the project included the installation of bespoke seating, 96 GRP planters featuring LED rope lighting, and a pergola designed to frame the city skyline.

In order to maintain the roof space’s visual aesthetics, Morris & Spottiswood removed the original paving and laid underfloor cabling between the building’s plant room and the lighting positions. Electrical connections were mounted within IP-rated adaptable boxes, designed to prevent water seeping in, and then concealed out of sight inside the planters.

LEDs were attached to the front of each planter to illuminate the flowers and foliage, and new uplighters installed to pick out the roof’s trees and pillars. Strips of colour-changing LEDs were built into the pillars and crossbeams of the pergola, and additional lights were positioned under the roof’s benches to create a glow effect on the floor. Thanks to new power points, a temporary bar can now be installed on the roof for events.

• North Ayrshire Council adopts new approach at Irvine development

A £3.6 million housing scheme in Irvine has reached the final stage of development with North Ayrshire Council’s Building Services team set to deliver internal works for the first time.

The local authority is currently undertaking one of the most ambitious council housing projects with 1375 homes set to be completed by 2024.

One of the newest projects is the 24-unit development at Dickson Drive which is expected to be complete and ready for new residents by the end of this year.

In a landmark move, North Ayrshire Council’s tradesmen will work with contractor Ashleigh Scotland to complete final stage works including wiring and decorating on five of the properties.

Alongside general needs homes, wheelchair properties and amenity bungalows, the Dickson Drive site will also include two unique ‘sustainable demonstrator homes’. These homes will showcase the latest sustainable design and technology.

The two homes will benefit from features such as integrated solar thermal heating, battery storage and voice control technology. The council will learn from the demonstrator houses and explore the potential of using the technologies in future developments.

• £30m competition launched to test groundbreaking 5G applications in rural areas

The UK Government has launched a £30 million UK-wide competition to spark a tech revolution in countryside communities and help rural Britain seize the opportunities of 5G technology.

Up to ten rural locations will be chosen to run innovative trials of 5G applications and stimulate commercial investment in 5G technology which offers mobile speeds 10 to 20 times faster than previous generations.

The Rural Connected Communities competition is the latest wave of £200m funding to pioneer 5G testbeds across the country which aim to deliver the benefits of the highest speeds of mobile connectivity available.

This technology is already being used in the Orkney Islands to remotely monitor salmon fisheries and improve efficiency of wind farms, and in Shropshire, the 5G trials are showing how farming can be transformed through targeted crop-spraying and soil analysis with drones and tractors.

The new funding will build on projects like these and trial other uses of 5G in rural communities to help drive business growth, enhance lives and encourage innovation.

Yesterday the Scottish Government released its own 5G strategy which sets out how it will work with industry, the regulator and other public sector bodies to make sure all of Scotland – including rural areas – benefits from the technology.

It came as a new report by Deloitte for the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) found that enhanced 4G and 5G capability across Scotland will boost the Scottish economy by as much as £17 billion while delivering other substantial economic, social and environmental benefits.

The deadline for RCC applications is October 25 with the winning projects expected to be announced before the end of the year.

• School leaver Archie becomes a ‘Hardie boy’

Hardies Property & Construction Consultants’ St Andrews office has recruited a local school leaver as an apprentice building surveyor.

Archie Renton left Madras College this summer to start his apprenticeship at Hardies and embark on a career in property.

Commenting on his start to working life, Archie said: “I’m very excited to begin my career with such a well-known local firm. Growing up in St Andrews, I’ve always had a keen interest in the built environment and feel very fortunate to have landed a position with a firm in my own home-town. I’m really looking forward to learning all the technical skills required to become a fully qualified building surveyor.”

Hardies partner Gary Ovenstone added: “We’re delighted to welcome Archie to the firm and have already been impressed by his mature attitude to work, application and eagerness to learn new skills.

“Archie may be the first school leaver we have taken on in St Andrews in recent years, but he won’t be the last. Indeed, Archie joins another seven school leavers to join the firm over the last two years and our aim is to recruit more over the coming years to enable us to train them in the ‘Hardies way’ and give them the skills they need to pursue successful and rewarding careers in the property and construction sector across a range of specialisms.”