Building Briefs – December 8th

Launch of Symington’s first affordable housing development

West of Scotland Housing Association (WSHA), in conjunction with the Contracts division of Mactaggart & Mickel Group, is starting construction of Symington’s first affordable housing development.

The development will comprise of 34 affordable homes for rent as part of a wider new-build development. It will also see the construction of a 3,000 sq. ft. Co-operative retail store for the future benefit of the local community.

The affordable housing is being funded by the Scottish Government in partnership with South Ayrshire Council.

The development will showcase a mixture of property types suitable for the elderly, young people, families and those with restricted mobility. The development is due to be completed by early 2019.

The Symington development is part of a wider growth strategy for WSHA who aim to build 500 affordable new homes over the next five years.

Care home launches in Milngavie

A new care home has launched in Milngavie, East Dunbartonshire, with residents scheduled to move in just in time for Christmas.

CCG (Scotland) Ltd undertook the delivery of Abbotsford House Luxury Suites on behalf of Morrison Community Care Group, a care provider with nearly 30 years’ experience in the sector.

The care home will offer facilities including 24-hour Residential, Nursing and Dementia care to the elderly with a range of facilities including 45 luxury suites, four dining rooms, a hair and beauty salon, and a cinema. Residents can also take in the countryside with a rooftop terrace and private gardens whilst sharpening their skills on a new, private putting green.

Abbotsford House was constructed using a timber frame system manufactured by CCG in their bespoke factory in Cambuslang, CCG OSM. The system is precision engineered to the highest quality standard and thanks to fewer junctions it is incredibly thermally efficient, creating a comfortable living environment for residents.

The news of Abbotsford House launch comes as Morrison Community Care and CCG move on to a second project together with works set to commence on Duntocher House in 2018. Comprising of 75 luxury suites, the new facility will be located in Duntocher, West Dunbartonshire, supporting up to 65 jobs upon its opening in 2019.

Social housing sector making ‘significant’ gas safety progress

Social landlords in Scotland have delivered a “strong performance” in providing annual gas safety checks in tenants’ homes, according to a new report published by the Scottish Housing Regulator.

The Regulator’s report is the outcome of its national thematic inquiry into how landlords meet their annual gas safety duties for 477,000 tenants across Scotland who use gas in their homes. Social landlords must maintain gas fittings and flues in tenants’ homes in a safe condition and carry out safety checks for appliances and flues at intervals of not more than twelve months.

Landlords reported to the Regulator that 99.9% of their homes had an annual gas safety check completed in 2016/17, up from 98.1% in 2013/14. The Regulator’s report highlights how the most effective landlords recognise the importance of gas safety and promote a culture of responsibility.

The Regulator analysed national performance information, spoke with tenants, engaged with a sample of landlords and worked directly with the Health and Safety Executive. The report takes a closer look at six case study landlords and shares positive practice.

Taylor Wimpey recognised as one of the best places to work in 2018

Taylor Wimpey has been recognised for the very first time as one of the best places to work in 2018.

Scoring 4.3 out of 5 overall, the national housebuilder was ranked 15th and was the only private housebuilder to be listed in the top 50 companies by Glassdoor, one of the world’s largest and fastest growing job sites.

Like the other companies included in Glassdoor’s list of the best places to work, Taylor Wimpey employees rated the company based on key workplace attributes such as career opportunities, compensation and benefits, culture and values, senior management and work-life balance.

Innovation top of the agenda as GAP scoops family business award

GAP Hire Solutions is well on its way to achieving its vision to be the UK’s most innovative hire solutions provider after the company lifted the ‘Business Innovation’ award at The Herald Scottish Family Business awards, held in Glasgow on December 6.

The ‘Business Innovation’ award comes after GAP launched its vision in 2014 to be the ‘UK’s most innovative hire solutions provider’. Since then, the company has made several substantial steps towards making a positive impact on the business via the introduction of innovative products and services.

This includes the recruitment of a dedicated business development and innovations manager, who heads up GAP’s Innovation Committee. This cemented GAP’s dedication to innovation and a range of innovative products and services have since followed.

Two of the best as South Ayrshire schools scoop national prizes

A brand new rural primary school and the modernisation of a well-established secondary have gained national recognition.

South Ayrshire Council marked a double success at the recent Education Buildings Scotland Awards at a prestigious ceremony in Edinburgh. The awards celebrate excellence and achievement in the design and innovation of educational buildings across Scotland.

Marr College won the ‘Project of the year’ category. The £37 million project to transform the 1935 building began in spring 2015 when new all-weather facilities opened for use in June of that year. By December 2016 the new technical wing and the refurbished side of the Marr building became available. Finally, 2017 saw the opening of the south wing of the Marr building and the new PE block, helping to adapt the 20th century building to meet modern needs. South Ayrshire Council delivered the project with development partner, hub southwest, Kier Construction, and BDP architects.

Tarbolton Community Campus won the ‘Innovation in delivering a sustainable education facility’ category. The new £8.2m project opened in March, 2017. The building combines Early Years and Primary education, alongside a community centre and library. Biomass boilers and photovoltaic cells in the design also help to reduce running costs for this new community hub. South Ayrshire Council delivered the project with development partner, hub South West, and Morrison Construction.

The new Ayr Academy was runner-up in the ‘Inspiring Learning Spaces’ category.

CCG undertakes bathroom works with Abronhill Housing Association

CCG Asset Management has commenced a new contract with Abronhill Housing Association to install new bathrooms at 15 properties in Cumbernauld.

The AM Site Team will be on site for a two-week duration.

CCG Asset Management manager, Stephen Riley, said: “We are delighted to be awarded this contract with Abronhill Housing Association. Whilst we have worked in various areas in Cumbernauld over the years, Abronhill Housing Association is a new client for the AM Division. Although the project is only 15 units, CCG`s approach to quality and customer care will be the same as any of our larger sized projects.”

Abronhill Housing Association said it was “delighted” to have awarded its most recent bathroom replacement programme to CCG.

The Association added: “The contract is for 15 bathrooms to be refurbished in our properties and we look forward to developing a good working relationship with CCG.”

Hawick public invited to help shape flood protection scheme

Members of the public are being invited to come along to the Hawick Flood Protection Scheme’s first Community Vision Working Group meeting next week.

The meeting is scheduled to take place on Wednesday 13 December in Hawick Town Hall from 6.30pm to 8.30pm and is open to all local residents and businesses who would like to find out more about the working group and potentially sign up to be involved in the development of the detailed design of key scheme features.

The Community Vision Working Group will work with the project team to look at how the local landscape can be tailored to meet the needs of the community once the flood protection scheme is completed.

A Traffic Management Working Group will also be set up with key community stakeholders, focusing on minimising potential impact to traffic and pedestrians during the construction period.

Both groups will look to draw on local knowledge and use the collaborative working model that has been so successful for several other Council projects, achieving multiple benefits and opportunities for the local community at key areas. The Community Vision Working Group will initially focus on Common Haugh, Little Haugh, Mansfield Road, Duke Street, Weensland and Volunteer Park/Wilton Park area.

Councillors gave preliminary approval to the Hawick Flood Protection Scheme – which will defend over 900 properties from a 1 in 75 year flood event – last month.

The scheme is expected to go before councillors again later this month for a final decision, after which the scheme would be published for a second time.

If a final decision approves the scheme, the third and final step will follow in early 2018, when the project will become operative, assuming there are no legal appeals against the scheme. This will then mean the council can take forward the works.

Homeless Jesus statue installed in Glasgow city centre

A sculpture depicting Jesus as a homeless person sleeping on a bench has been installed at Nelson Mandela Place in Glasgow.

Homelessness charity Bethany Christian Trust joined Glasgow City Mission for the unveiling of ‘Homeless Jesus’ outside St George’s Tron Church.

Sculpted by artist Timothy Schmalz, the sculpture is of a person sleeping on a park bench covered in a blanket, with pierced feet. The hope is that this striking statue will draw awareness to the plight of so many who sleep rough in the city and throughout Scotland

Planning permission for the sculpture was granted earlier this year.

https://twitter.com/HowsonOfficial/status/938139445576065024

Scottish artist Peter Howson has made a painting of a homeless Jesus that will be shown alongside the statue.

Glasgow priest Father Willy Slavin helped bring the sculpture to Scotland. He was contacted by Mr Schmalz in 2015, and took the idea to the Glasgow Churches Together association.

The cost of the project was £25,000, with money raised through local churches and pro bono work.