Building Briefs – March 4th

• Hardies launches dedicated Energy Service

Headed up by Kevin Webster, in charge of domestic energy services operating out of the firm’s Stirling office and Hefin O’Hare, in charge of commercial energy services operating from the Dunfermline office, the new department offers a comprehensive range of services including Section 63 Assessments, DECs, Energy Appraisals, Energy Audits, Notional EPCs for new developments, Domestic EPCs and Green Deal Assessments.

Danny McArthur, partner at Hardies, said: “We are already a major player in this sector across the country, with more qualified surveyors than any of our competitors and, with our multi-disciplinary service offering across our extensive network of offices, we believe the creation of a dedicated Energy Service gives us the platform to become market leaders and the firm of choice.

“Although introduced in 2007, Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) became a mandatory requirement in 2009 and last for a period of 10 years, which means that a new updated EPC will be required for many domestic and non-domestic properties this year. Our new Energy Department is ready to provide professional energy advice to clients throughout the country.”

Mr Webster added: “In the past, it was recognised that the production of an Energy Performance Certificate was predominantly a necessity when selling or leasing a property, with little or no specific interest of what the property rating was. However, the world is now much more conscious of the environmental and economic impact that a property with a lower rating can have.

“Hardies’ Energy Service can provide a complete energy appraisal of a property, providing not only bespoke energy improvement measures and an action plan that will increase its energy performance, but also reduce the running costs of the premises.

“The benefit of fully understanding the implications of purchasing an inefficient property, including the legal regulatory requirements for owners and landlords, is key. We have the knowledge and expertise to advise clients across all sectors, ensuring that their properties and business investments remain sustainable, while reducing their carbon footprint and expenditure.”

• Rothesay Winter Gardens Discovery Centre reopens after renovation works

The Winter Gardens Discovery Centre in Rothesay has reopened following over £500,000 worth of renovation works.

Significant external repair work was carried out at the Category A-Listed building, including replacement of roof coverings, overhaul of windows and installation of new light fittings. Additionally, metal panels and fixtures were replaced and the exterior of the building freshly decorated.

The work, totalling £510,000, was funded by VisitScotland as owners of the building and a £200,000 grant from the Rothesay Townscape Heritage (TH) programme.

Phase 2 of the Rothesay TH project is a five-year heritage-led regeneration project that will allow property owners to safeguard historic buildings and shopfronts while also developing skills and hosting events celebrating the island of Bute’s heritage.

• Derek MacKay MSP visits McLaughlin & Harvey Glasgow site to mark Scottish Apprenticeship Week

It’s been a busy morning at the McLaughlin & Harvey Construction Ltd Glasgow site offices.

Fair work secretary Derek Mackay met with some of the firm’s senior team and trainees to celebrate the start of Scottish Apprenticeship Week.

Paul Griffen MD said: “We have worked with Glasgow Caledonian University for 20 years sending our trainees on their part time courses, many of these trainees progress to senior roles within the business.

“We currently have 19 trainees studying at Glasgow Caledonian University, three of which are on Graduate Apprenticeship schemes and are performing well. Next year we plan to continue this by sending four more trainees onto the Graduate Apprenticeship schemes in civil engineering and quantity surveying.”

He added: “We have worked closely with the University and SDS in establishing the course content and structure for these course and feel involved and invested in the future of the Graduate Apprenticeship courses at Glasgow Caledonian University.”

• Final phase begins at Berwickshire Housing Association’s Todlaw development

Work is now underway on Phase 4 of Berwickshire Housing Association’s Todlaw development in Duns which will create another 27 energy efficient and affordable homes.

This is the final phase of the Todlaw project which, when completed, will have provided a total of 87 new homes.

It is anticipated that construction will be complete ready for handover in early 2020.

This latest phase, again being built by Hart Builders (Edinburgh) Ltd, will be made up of 11 flats and 16 houses. One of the flats will be fully accessible for anyone with disabilities and the ground floor flats will have level access showers. All the new homes are designed with level entrance paths and wider internal doors making them accessible for wheelchair users to visit.

There will be six three-bedroomed five-person houses, eight two-bedroomed four-person houses, one three-bedroomed six-person houses and one four-bedroomed six-person house.

All houses and flats will have energy efficient gas heating which meets the ‘Gold Standard’ for energy performance.

Included in the plans is an area of ground which is classed as ‘meadowlands’ and BHA are looking at the possibility of joining forces with local community groups who may be interested in creating an orchard or perhaps allotments.

Although based in Edinburgh, Hart Builders are helping the local economy by using many Borders contractors including A.S. Crawford Groundworks Ltd (groundworks), Scott and Foggon (electrical and photovoltaics), Blacklock and Douglas (roughcasting and plasterwork), Teviotdale Plumbing and Heating (plumbing), Ray Sutherland Roofing Contractors Ltd (roof coverings) and John Laidlaw and Son (scaffolding).

• Future of two Aberdeenshire sites moves a step forward

The future of two sites in Aberdeenshire have moved a step forward following a meeting of the council’s business services committee.

Members agreed to give permission to sell a development site at South Harbour Road in Fraserburgh. The sale had been scrutinised by both the area and policy committee before this agreement was reached. After assurances were sought on the purchaser’s readiness to begin the development (subject to planning approval), the members agreed to give permission to sell the site to George West Ltd.

It has lain vacant for a number of years and the plans under discussion would see it turned into a mixed-use business and retail site, bringing employment opportunities to the town and generating money for the economy. The report to committee said that providing a wider range of facilities may encourage more people to visit the town and could prevent the loss of shoppers to other areas.

An alternative offer for the site was on the table but was earlier withdrawn by the bidder.

Meanwhile, the committee also agreed to refuse the sale of a site in Peterhead. An offer had been accepted in principle back in 2017 for the Glenugie Business Centre and an adjoining property, followed by protracted negotiation to attempt to conclude the sale. It was during that time that the offer reduced substantially, and the councillors agreed not to sell the site to this buyer and to reconsider the options.

A fresh report will go back to the Buchan area committee in future and will focus on options of demolition and site clearing, partial demolition and sale, or the use of the space for affordable housing and carparking.

• HHP contractor makes local library donation

As ten new Hebridean Housing Partnership (HHP) homes on the Isle of Lewis near completion, the project’s contractor has made a donation to the local library.

Calmax Construction Ltd donated £500 to the Sgoil nan Loch library project as part of HHP’s community benefit requirements.

The school has recently revamped their library making it a wonderful space for young learners to read. The £500 donation was gratefully received by the school and had a very positive impact on the project.

• Number of Scottish first-time buyers more than doubles in a decade

The number of first-time buyers in Scotland has grown by more than 50% in a decade, according to research.

Figures from the Bank of Scotland show there were 34,519 in 2018, compared with 22,100 in 2008.

First-time buyers were found to make up around half of all house purchases with a mortgage in Scotland, up from 37% a decade ago.

The average deposit put down by a first-time buyer in Scotland was 15% in 2008, jumping to 25% in 2009. Last year the average deposit dropped to 14%, although property prices have continued to increase.

The £19,952 average deposit put down on a first home in Scotland is just over half of the UK-wide average of £33,352.

Two-bedroom properties have been the first-time buyer’s usual home of choice in Scotland in the past decade, making up more than four in ten mortgages for first homes last year.

• £700K worth of sewer network improvements for Turnberry

Scottish Water is investing around £700k in upgrades to parts of the sewer network in Turnberry, South Ayrshire to help protect the local environment.

Work starts on Monday 11 March and will take place on land west of the A77/A719 junction.

It will involve the replacement of approximately 400 metres of sewer pipe and the installation of two new valve chambers.

The project will be carried out by the utility’s alliance partner amey Black and Veatch (aBV) and is expected to take four months for completion.

• Councillors approve major improvements to Alexandria Library

Plans to enhance Alexandria Library by creating a museum to celebrate the town’s local history and heritage have been approved.

The cultural committee of West Dunbartonshire Council approved the £331k project to create a separate multi-use space built on the first-floor including adaptable seating and two meeting rooms for multi-purpose use. Accessibility will also be improved with the installation of a new lift from the ground to first floor.

The Alexandria Library building, which dates from 1884, is one of the most popular branches in West Dunbartonshire but currently has no access to its first-floor other than a staircase.   The lift to the first-floor will allow all visitors to access the museum space. The plans will create a corridor on the first-floor to connect the lift with the museum and enhance use of what is currently a large activity room, with a temporary  partition wall installed to provide  two distinct bookable spaces if required.

Work is expected to be finished by early next year.