Building Briefs – November 25th

• Taylor Wimpey inspires next generation

Errin Hendry-Giles, one of its trainee technical management trainees, has also been teaching Primary 3/4 about STEM and how all four subjects play a key role in the construction industry.

Neilston Primary School’s Skills Academy is a new way of delivering the curriculum to the young pupils in the school, allowing them time to focus on five different pathways.  It gives the school and pupils the opportunity to work with five local partners, and Taylor Wimpey West Scotland is proud to be the sponsor of the design and manufacture aspects of Skills Academy. 

As well as providing financial support, Taylor Wimpey’s team is visiting the school throughout the year to demonstrate the skills required on a building site, discuss the process of building a house and offering pupils an insight into what it takes to be an engineer.

• Inverurie Market Place demolition to proceed

Aberdeenshire Council is to proceed with plans to demolish the former Market Place School in Inverurie, with works likely to take place in early 2020.

The building was subject to an unsuccessful application for a Community Asset Transfer (CAT) by the Garioch Partnership, and a recent appeal decision by Scottish Ministers means that the council can now proceed with demolition works.

The building has incurred significant holding costs for a number of years and the site remains strategically very important for the council. It opens up exciting opportunities to support the delivery of the Council Plan as well as ambitions for the wider town centre as part of the council’s Workspace project.

Council officers have extended an invitation to meet with the board of Garioch Partnership, to support the further development of their business case for a third sector hub in the town. The current business case, independently assessed as ‘moderate to weak’ by the Reporter, was the main reason that both the Asset Transfer request and the subsequent appeal were turned down. 

Officers remain keen that in partnership the plan for a third sector hub can be developed into a project which is clear and sustainable in the best interests of the community.

• Restaurant plan for empty Glasgow funeral parlour dismissed

Plans to create a restaurant and three-bedroom flat out of a vacant funeral director premises in Glasgow have been rejected.

The change-of-use application was submitted for a building on Shettleston Road.

Glasgow planners said the flue ventilation serving the restaurant would have an adverse impact on the amenity of residents because of cooking odours.

• Skypark launches urgent charity appeal for Christmas volunteers

Skypark, one of Scotland’s premier business locations, has launched its Christmas appeal to support Glasgow’s No1 Baby and Family Support Service.

The appeal, called Give a Gift, is asking tenants and the wider public to donate a warm jacket, toy or stocking filler for children and young adults up to the age of 17. The charity is also appealing for volunteers to help collate Christmas gift packs for children that need them the most.

Glasgow’s No1 Baby and Family Support Service was founded in 2017 by Audrey Dempsey from her garage to help families with babies in the north of Glasgow. Within two weeks, the service grew with the help of Sharon Devlin who runs the donations intake and Carol Ann McGurk who looks after referrals.

The team of three now supports the wider needs of families in need and has grown four fold, operating from a dedicated unit in Forge Street where it helps with anything from furnishing a home to supplying clothing.

The charity also offers an events room where service users can choose an outfit for a job interview, a school prom or a family gathering and it is planning on providing a community outreach service in the New Year. 

Skypark’s Christmas Appeal will run a donation drop off point for tenants and businesses in Glasgow as well as the public.

Donations can be dropped off at Skypark reception until 29th November 2019. For more information please visit Glasgow’s No1 Baby and Family Support Service.