Building Briefs – June 13th

An environmentally-friendly social housing development has been completed in Kilsyth by Glasgow-based construction and manufacturing specialists CCG (Scotland) Ltd – taking the total number of new homes built by the firm in the area to over 100.

The new development, located on Bogside Road, comprises 39 state-of-the-art semi-detached houses and flats which have now all been let for social affordable rent by Clyde Valley Housing Association (CVHA).

The completion marks the latest in a series of projects delivered by CCG for CVHA since 2015.

In total, CCG has created 121 new affordable homes for the Lanarkshire-based social housing provider, including 20 new homes in Sixth Street, Uddingston, 30 in Patchy Park, Larkhall and 32 in Brunel Way, East Kilbride. CCG is also on site at a fifth project in Bothwell, South Lanarkshire, which, upon its completion in the summer of this year, will see the delivery of an additional 60 units. All of the homes have been delivered using CCG’s own off-site manufactured, enhanced timber frame system.

Student flats plan for former Perth Co-operative Society store

The Inveralmond-based McDermott Group have lodged a change of use planning application with Perth and Kinross Council aimed at transforming the long vacant former City of Perth Co-operative Society store into accommodation tailored to the demands of students.

While it does not enjoy listed status, it is located within a conservation area and for many years the imposing 1904 sandstone property has featured on Scotland’s Buildings at Risk register, with its condition in successive bulletins described as “poor”.

The ground floor of the property on the corner of Scott Street and Canal Street has been used for various retail uses in recent years but floors above have lain empty, with broken and boarded-up windows creating an eyesore viewed from the busy car park to the rear of the premises.

The McDermott Group wants to create 47 student bedrooms, 30 self-contained studios and communal facilities, with a lift accessing upper levels from a main entrance on Scott Street.

Their Glasgow architects, CRGP, have produced a detailed design statement for council planners and neighbouring property owners have been notified of their proposals.

Aberdeenshire Council commitment to new Kintore station

Over a million pounds is being spent to support a brand new railway station at Kintore.

Aberdeenshire councillors on the policy and resources committee agreed to make the significant investment towards the project to build a new station, part of a major Scottish Government Transport Projects upgrade of the line between Aberdeen and Inverness.

Councillors agreed to the spend which will support a bid to the Scottish Stations Fund (SSF) and welcomed the contribution towards the development, described as “transformative” for the community.

It is estimated that a new station will cost in the region of £11 million, with the council and Nestrans submitting around 30 per cent of the total cost. It is hoped that the remaining balance will be secured from the SSF.

The proposed station on the north-western boundary of Kintore will include new double platforms with associated lifts and access requirements, waiting shelters, seating areas, parking and transport interchange facilities. Land for the station and the associated interchange fall within the council’s Local Development Plan. It is anticipated that the project, which will offer a sustainable travel choice, will have a positive transformational effect and build on an already established success rate in rail re-opening and station development.

Upgrading work to create a dual line linking the two cities and improved frequency with new rolling stock will be implemented by March 2019 in one of the biggest projects of its kind in the UK.

It is anticipated that, if supported by the SSF, a new station would be delivered at Kintore by December 2018.

Bid to crowdfund new micro-abattoir on Skye

A crowdfunding campaign is to be launched to raise some of the £1.5m needed to build a small abattoir in Portree, Skye.

The island had an abattoir before it closed several years ago.

Dubbed a micro-abattoir, the new facility would provide a service to local crofters and meat to island businesses.

Skye and Lochalsh Meat Supply Group hopes to raise 5 per cent of the cost of the plant through crowdfunding.

Training award for Raeburn Construction

Kirkcaldy civil engineering groundwork firm Raeburn Construction has achieved Investors in Young People (IiYP) accreditation on its 10th anniversary.

The firm has grown to offering a full range of services and employs 60 people across Fife and Edinburgh.

West Lothian Housing Partnership commits £1.3m to home improvements

West Lothian Housing Partnership (WLHP) is investing £1.3 million on improving hundreds of its homes.

More than 290 homes across WLHP’s communities will receive energy efficient boilers; while 230 customers will benefit from modern kitchens.

General environmental improvements are also planned alongside enhanced entrances and common areas to help tenants feel safer.

It is the most significant investment to be made in WLHP’s homes, and comes as a result of its partnership with Wheatley Group.

And when the five-year programme of work is completed every West Lothian Housing Partnership customer will have an affordable heating system to reduce fuel bills.

The work will be carried out by the social landlord in Boghall, Blackburn, Craigshill, West Calder, Bathgate, Broxburn and Stoneyburn.

Funds handed to Aberdeenshire town regeneration projects

Work on two projects to the north of Aberdeenshire have been given a financial boost, with the allocation of ‘Regeneration Strategy’ money.

Aberdeenshire Council’s policy and resources committee agreed to spend £150,000 on the Peterhead Retail Project and a further £25,000 on the Macduff Harbour Study.

The project in Peterhead will provide enhanced support to town centre business owners and the community interested in developing the retail area at Clerkhill Road. Legal issues over the ownership of the land have resulted in development activity in the area stalling and the funds released would allow owners the tenants to prepare a scheme for redeveloping the heart of the Clerkhill area.

The project in Macduff will provide the funds required to develop a business case to establish the best course of action for the development and expansion of Macduff Harbour and its wider impact on the surrounding town. Options include a new basin and the deepening of the existing basin.

In March 2015 a new ‘Regeneration Strategy’ was approved by the council’s Infrastructure Services Committee to concentrate on regeneration efforts in Fraserburgh, Banff, Macduff and Peterhead. Three of the four newly established Development Partnerships have now met, with the fourth meeting imminently, and are working to agree action plans. These plans would establish clearly how each would spend their allocation of funds and would report back in to Policy and Resources.

The two projects above were deemed to be ready to be progressed immediately and as such the committee stepped in to provide the backing required to allow then to get off the ground.

New homes complete for Hebridean Housing Partnership on Lewis

The latest phase of Hebridean Housing Partnership’s (HHP) ongoing new build development programme has been handed over by contractors.

The four-home development at Habost, Ness on the Isle of Lewis was delivered by Calmax Construction Ltd through a partnership between HHP, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and the Scottish Government.

As part of HHP’s Community Benefit requirements, Calmax donated £600 to the local historical society Commun Eachdraidh Nis.

The four properties are named ‘Slighe Na Caimbeil’ in memory of local residents who were killed during the first World War. The name was chosen by Councillor Mackay in consultation with the local community.

The houses are insulated to very high standards and have air source heat pumps which provide extremely efficient and economical heating in off gas areas.

Chance to view Viewforth High School demolition plans

As completion of the new Windmill Community Campus in Kirkcaldy draws near, a public information event is being held to give people the chance to see proposals for demolition work at the old Viewforth High School facility.

The event is to be held in the existing school on Monday June 20 between 4pm and 7pm, with demolition due to start in September.

Progress on Huntly flood scheme

A £3 million scheme to protect Huntly from flooding has been given a boost with news of a dedicated team to work on the project.

Aberdeenshire Council’s policy and resources committee agreed a “shared service arrangement” with Moray Council, which will result in a dedicated site supervision team being created, working with the contractor to deliver the construction elements of the important scheme.

It will be led by a project manager who will manage the contract, delivering the works to budget, programme, and quality. The project itself will include work to replace culverts, construction of embankments and water storage options.

The committee agreed the terms of the shared agreement, allowing both authorities to begin working together to source the on-site team in the coming months.

It is hoped that the team can start work on site in August, and the project is estimated to take eight months to complete.

Top artist makes donation to Mackintosh Appeal

Best-selling Scottish artist John Lowrie Morrison has handed over a donation of £20,000 towards the restoration of the Mackintosh Building at Glasgow School of Art where he spent five years as a student.

He announced an ongoing commitment to support the Mackintosh Campus Appeal, pledging a percentage of the proceeds from his new exhibition, ‘Doon the Watter - to the Isles’, which opened on Saturday at MacGregor Fine Art in Glasgow. The show is a major exhibition of new work inspired by family holidays and study trips on steamers down the Clyde.

1st year completed for sponsored students at Midlothian’s two new schools

It’s the first year down for Hardies Property & Construction Consultants two sponsored students, Kirsten O’Connor and Laura Falconer, both from Dalkeith.

The latest two young people to benefit from Hardies student support scheme, Kirsten and Laura, both students at Napier University, have been gaining vital work experience in Hardies offices in Edinburgh and Dalkeith. Of particular significance to them, coming from Dalkeith, has been their on-going work experience at the area’s two new Primary Schools at Gorebridge and Bilston, which are under construction now.

The two girls also come into Hardies offices to complete work, so that they are experiencing the office environment too and can network with other Hardies colleagues.

Hardies, which has fourteen offices throughout Scotland, has always put the support of young people in the industry at its heart. It also operates an approved RICS APC (Assessment of Professional Competence) programme which employs recent graduates and allocates them a supervisor, mentor and counsellor who supports them throughout their two year APC training period. Many graduates who originally came to Hardies through this scheme are still with the firm.