Building Briefs – May 8th

Video - Time-lapse shows first six months of Viewforth High School build

BAM Construction has released a time-lapse video documenting the first six months of its work on the new £21.5 million Viewforth High School in Kirkcaldy.

The project is the last school to be delivered under the Building Fife’s Future Framework, following on from the highly successful Dunfermline and Auchmuty High Schools which opened in 2012 and 2013.

The new building, set to open in August 2016, could cater for between 600 to 1,000 pupils, a significant increase on the current Viewforth’s capacity of 400.

Union Hanover Securities to bring its Urban Villa to Aberdeen

Union Hanover Securities is to press ahead with its second Urban Villa branded hotel in Scotland on Aberdeen’s John Street, part of a nationwide roll-out of the chain that includes a establishment at Edinburgh’s Fountainbridge.

The £35m development has been designed by Covell Matthews Architects and will incorporate a Tesco store and restaurant in addition to 182 rooms on the site of a disused granite tenement block.

Holiday Inn Express opens at Aberdeen Airport

The 193 room Holiday Inn Express at Aberdeen Airport opens its doors today.

The hotel is located within a 5-minute walk through our linked covered walkway to Aberdeen International Airport and within easy reach to four key business parks – ABZ, D2, Aberdeen Gateway and Prime Four. The hotel is also close to Dyce railway station and the city centre.

Construction firms urged to take part in security poll

Construction firms throughout the UK are being called on to give information about their security needs.

The trade body for the private security industry has launched a survey aimed at finding out more about how building companies buy and invest in security measures.

According to the British Security Industry Association (BSIA), the results of the poll will make it easier for the construction sector and security providers to work together.

The findings of the survey, which will be available online until June 12, will eventually be used to set up a campaign targeted at helping security buyers improve procurement decisions.

Questions cover topics as broad as the impact of the economic recession on security spending and the main factors that influence buying decisions.

It is also hoped that representatives from other sectors of the economy, such as retail, transport and healthcare firms, will get involved in the poll, helping the BSIA to get a bigger picture of emerging buying trends.

Major investment to transform Agnew Park in Stranraer

An £800,000 investment package has been earmarked to transform a public park in Stranraer as part of a wider regeneration of the town’s waterfront.

The cash will be used to provide a new cafe, play spaces, enhanced lighting and environmental improvements.

A total of £54,000 may also be reallocated to pay for new playground equipment, in a proposal to be put to councillors next week.

It follows a public consultation on playground plans in March.

The Big Lottery’s coastal communities fund has contributed £400,000 to Agnew Park’s regeneration, a sum that has been matched by Dumfries and Galloway Council.

BRE Innovation Park to host green homes showcase

BRE Innovation Park in Ravenscraig has been chosen as the venue for today’s green homes showcase organised by Home Energy Scotland to look at energy efficiency standards in social housing.

Taking place within the context of more stringent standards set by the Scottish Government for private sector properties and social landlords, the latter of which will be implemented by 2020, it will give landlords and homeowners an overview of what is required to remain compliant.

During the event tours will be offered of several completed properties on the site, including a recreation of a traditional four-in-a-block home, refurbished to meet the new standards and Applegreen’s energy efficient home built using off-site construction methods.

A77 Bankfield roundabout resurfacing

Road users are set to benefit from £80k of resurfacing works on the Bankfield Roundabout on the A77 beginning Monday 11 May.

With the road surface coming towards the end of its operational life, the Scotland TranServ team, on behalf of Transport Scotland, will resurface the roundabout benefiting motorists who use this route each day with a smoother quieter journey.

More than half a million pounds has been invested in Ayrshire’s trunk roads since January 2015; improving these vital trunk roads ahead of the busy summer tourist season.

City Building gives makeover to hospice charity shop

Two young apprentices from Glasgow-based construction company City Building have put their skills to good use to give a fresh new look to a charity shop in Govan.

Lee Raeburn (21) and Barry Scott (20) are both apprentice painter and decorators with the company and recently redecorated The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice Shop unit at the Govan Shopping Centre in preparation for its opening.

Lee and Barry spent two weeks working on the project which involved painting the full shop unit, filling, taping and re-coating to give the store a fresh look.

The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice provides care and support to terminally ill patients and their families in Glasgow, helping them to achieve the best quality of life possible.

This project is just one of the many ways the company has supported the hospice in recent years. City Building have also committed £10k to the brick by brick appeal, which aims to raise funds for a new hospice in the city. In addition to this the company assists with every fundraising event the hospice holds committing staff, time and resources to aid with the set up and removal of equipment.