Building Briefs – June 2nd

Dundee-based James F Stephen Architects has been appointed to work on the city’s flagship V&A design museum project.

The company said it was “delighted” to accept an invitation by project designer Kengo Kuma & Associates’ Japanese practice to provide “executive architect services” on the waterfront landmark build.

It added: “We very much look forward to being involved in this iconic project at the heart of Dundee’s Waterfront regeneration, and to working with KKAA and the other design team consultants through the construction/delivery phases of the museum.”

Law Society of Scotland to sell Edinburgh office building

The Law Society of Scotland has confirmed its plans to sell its current Edinburgh office buildings on Drumsheugh Gardens to an unnamed developer.

The industry body has confirmed it will leave the development towards the end of this year and move to the Atria One building on Morrison Street.

The Law Society, which employs more than 120 staff, has signed a 15-year lease for 19,000 square feet of space on the second floor of the development, which it said will offer more modern and environmentally-friendly surroundings for staff and visitors.

Court of Session upholds planning approval for Argyll fish farm

Argyll and Bute Council’s decision to grant planning permission to Dawnfresh for a fish-farm development on Loch Etive, known as Etive 6, has been upheld by the Court of Session’s Outer House.

Chair of the Planning, Protective Services and Licensing (PPSL) Committee, Councillor David Kinniburgh, welcomed the ruling, saying: “We are delighted at this news; in dismissing the Friends of Loch Etive’s petition Lord Burns shows quite clearly that the planning permission granted to Dawnfresh was entirely right and proper.

“The council’s planning service works to support sustainable economic growth, supporting the ambitions of developers while protecting the interests of the wider community and the environment.

“In granting permission for a development at the Etive 6 site we stipulated, through a section 75 agreement, that this could only happen with the removal of the applicant’s existing fish farm equipment at the Etive 1 and Etive 5 sites, thus consolidating the amount of farming activity on the loch.

“It was argued that this would not be achieved, however, Lord Burns has ruled that, once Dawnfresh complied with the section 75 agreement, no fish farm equipment will exist at the two sites, meaning the farming activity is rationalised.”

In a written opinion on the granting of planning permission and the terms of the section 75 agreement, Lord Burns said: “I am unable to conclude that those decisions are illegal, ultra vires or in any way unreasonable. It is not for this court to interfere in the exercise of the planning authority’s discretion in this regard.”

SNIPEF announces new annual awards programme

Licensed plumbing and heating businesses are invited to nominate themselves for a brand new annual award being launched by the leading trade body representing plumbing and heating businesses in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

In recognition of the importance of professional plumbing, the Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers’ Federation (SNIPEF) will reward one of its member firms with the title ‘SNIPEF Business of Year 2015’. The winning firm will have to show that they have excellent technical skills and ability, they offer excellence in customer service and they are committed to raising standards in the industry.

Also launching is an award for an individual working for a merchant. SNIPEF members are asked to nominate a local merchant sales individual or representative who they believe should be recognised for excellent levels of customer service and support.

Nominations are open now.

Arran Brewery given go-ahead for pub

Arran Brewery has been given local licensing consent to convert the former Bower Bar in Kilburnie into a family-friendly gastro pub.

The building and beer garden to the rear will be called The Weavers in honour of the town’s historic weaving tradition.

Engineering dips again

The Scottish engineering sector has suffered falls in output and order intake for a second consecutive quarter, with the troubles of the oil and gas industry weighing on activity.

Scottish Engineering, publishing its latest survey of activity today, also believes that uncertainty in the run-up to the General Election played a part in the sector’s weakness in the latest quarter.

The survey also shows a seventh consecutive quarterly drop in the Scottish engineering sector’s export orders during the latest three months.

The industry body’s survey shows a second consecutive quarterly decline in employment levels in the sector in the latest three months, although the fall was modest. It also signals a significant fall in optimism.

And, overall, Scottish engineering companies are forecasting further falls in UK and export orders in the coming three months.

Lovell achieves Investors in Young People accreditation

Affordable housing developer Lovell has achieved the Investors in Young People Accreditation, the only people management standard which focuses on an employer’s recruitment and retention of people aged between 18 and 24.

The achievement highlights Lovell’s successful work with apprentices and graduate trainees in Scotland and recognises the company as an employer of choice for young people.

The accreditation followed a rigorous assessment of the way Lovell recruits young people, supports its young employees and helps them progress in their careers.

T in the Park contractors unearth ancient roundhouse at new site

Contractors working on the new T in the Park festival site have unearthed a 3000-year-old roundhouse.

The ancient remains were found at Strathallan Castle Estate on Friday while staff worked to prepare the site for the upcoming festival.

Work was halted when the discovery was made and an archaeological expert from Perth and Kinross Council was called in to evaluate and register the site.

T in the Park will take place at Strathallan Estate near Auchterarder for the first time this year from July 10 to 12.

Kingdom Housing Association marks beginning of Tullibody project

Kingdom Housing Association has marked the beginning of its first affordable housing project in Clackmannanshire with the presentation of a cheque for £1,000 to the Delph Pond Forum which is improving the natural environment in Tullibody.

The 27 new homes being provided by Kingdom will meet a range of housing needs in the area and have been designed to achieve Building Regulations Silver Standard of Sustainability and Secured by Design Standards. The specification includes Mechanical Ventilation and Heat Recovery Systems which will improve energy costs, improve indoor air quality and create a healthier living environment. Energy monitoring meters are also being installed to raise awareness of energy use.

Twenty-seven new homes will be built for social rent at a cost of nearly £3 million on the site at Alloa Road as a successful outcome of Kingdom working in partnership with

Clackmannanshire Council.

The Scottish Government is providing £1.7m towards the overall costs of £2.9m.

The project has been designed by Bracewell Stirling Architects and is being built for Kingdom by Campion Homes.

Completion of the homes is scheduled for February next year.

Engineering businessman leaves £8m fortune to family

A businessman who ran one of Scotland’s most successful engineering firms left an £8 million fortune in his will.

Marcus Tiefenbrun died aged 60 in December last year. He was the managing director and owner of Castle Precision Engineering.

His published will has shown he left instructions for his £8,028,926 estate to be passed to his wife Raymonde and their two children.

Legal papers show the bulk of his wealth was made up of £6.3 million in Castle Precision shares.

He had a £10,000 stamp collection and a £775,000 boat called Crystal Stranger.

The rest was made up of a stocks and shares portfolio that included £8,000 in BAE shares, £6,000 of shares in drinks giant Diageo, and £7,000 in Unilever.

Dundee to discuss council housing improvements and Home Owner Support Fund

More than £1.6 million of improvements to council houses across Dundee are set to be discussed by councillors next week.

Dundee City Council’s housing committee will be asked to award a number of tenders including window replacement and external concrete work.

Window replacements at more than 100 homes in the Douglas area, along with roof replacements at four cottages in Clement Park are recommended to go the council environment department’s contract services division with concrete work at houses across the city to be awarded to Forfar company Anderson Specialist Contracting.

The housing committee meets on Monday, June 8.

River Clyde Homes tackles fuel poverty in Inverclyde

Over 80 Port Glasgow homes are enjoying being connected to the gas network for the first time and are already benefitting from cheaper fuel bills and more efficient heating.

A partnership between River Clyde Homes and Carillion means that mains natural gas has been delivered to customers in the Park Farm area. The new gas network has allowed the outdated electric storage heaters to be replaced with new, highly efficient gas fired combi-boilers and radiators.

The initial pilot project, reaching 83 homes, is now complete. It is hoped the network will be expanded across all 2200 River Clyde Homes’ properties with electric heating.

Work to begin on major 96-turbine Kilgallioch wind farm

The renewables firm behind plans for a major wind farm in the south of Scotland has confirmed that work will start on the site next month.

ScottishPower Renewables’ Kilgallioch development will straddle the border of South Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway.

The company has signed an agreement with Spanish firm Gamesa to supply turbines to the site near New Luce.

Delivery of the 96 turbines is expected to begin in February 2016.

The site is expected to be completed in early 2017.