Building Briefs – November 30th

The Tay House office building on Bath Street in Glasgow is to receive an extensive refurbishment to 50,000 sq ft of its office space.

The £2 million project, being advanced by owner Regional REIT’s asset manager London & Scottish Property, includes new mechanical cooling as well as the incorporation of additional showers and cycle storage facilities in the basement.

This significant part of Tay House, with its huge, column-free, open area includes one floor of 30,000 sq ft which spans the M8 across to Charing Cross. The refurbishment is expected to complete in early April 2016 at a time when there is limited space available for large scale occupiers in the city centre.

The refurbishment to the office follows the major upgrading and extension to the main entrance and the letting of the top floor to the University of Glasgow.

Glasgow University reveals £165m development pipeline

The University of Glasgow has shared its estate strategies and development plans at an industry event.

Speaking at the Building Live conference, Ann Allen, director of estates and buildings at the University of Glasgow, revealed the university has acquired 14,500 acres of land and has £165m to spend on construction projects.

Allen said: “We don’t have the same market volatility as others have. At University of Glasgow, we have money to spend. You’re looking at a sector with funding there. It’s a huge opportunity.”

Scone could grow by up to 1,000 homes

One of Scotland’s largest villages could be about to get even bigger with fresh plans tabled for up to 1,000 new homes.

A developer has revealed a masterplan for the north of Scone that could lead to a huge population boom.

Construction firm A&J Stephen wants to build between 700 and 1,000 houses across acres of farmland behind Spoutwells Drive and Angus Road.

If successful, the first phase of 100 homes could begin as early as next year. But the overall project will hinge on a decision on Perth and Kinross Council’s proposed Cross Tay Link Road, which will link the village with the A9.

Last year Perth-based A&J Stephen won planning permission to build a new supermarket at Scone, despite some opposition from residents. It will host a consultation event next month to gauge residents’ views on the housing scheme, ahead of the submission of a planning application in the New Year.

The consultation by A&J Stephen – whose homes are envisaged below – will be held at Scone’s New Church Hall on December 8 between 2pm and 8pm.

South Lanarkshire appoints Lovell for £2.1m multi-storey upgrade

Housing refurbishment firm Lovell has been appointed by South Lanarkshire Council to carry out £2.1 million of improvement work to transform a multi-storey block of flats in Cambuslang.

Work is set to begin early in 2016 on the 40-week programme for Kyle Court, off Main Street in the town centre, which will make the tower block warmer and more energy-efficient, lowering fuel costs for residents. The transformation is part of South Lanarkshire Council’s HomeHappening programme of investment for council homes across the area.

Lovell will carry out major external improvements including repairs to the outer walls and the installation of an insulated render system for the Kyle Court building. The refurbishment team will also replace external windows and doors, carry out repairs and replacement of external lighting and cabling and replace lightning protection systems.

Aberdeen Premier Inn extension work ends

Construction works have completed on extension to the Premier Inn at Aberdeen North. The 22 bed extension annexe at Aberdeen North will take the total number of bedrooms to 91. This is the second extension that lma | architects and planning consultants have designed and completed at the hotel. The construction works carried out by Ogilvie Construction.

Construction works also began this week on the extension to Glasgow Stepps Premier Inn. The 24 bed extension will bring the total number of bedrooms to 101. The construction works are being carried out Marshall Construction.

Building of Gartbreck Distillery to start in spring 2016

Construction of Islay’s newest whisky distillery, Gartbreck, to begin early next year

The team behind Gartbreck Distillery have posted on social media that the building of their brand new distillery is to begin in spring 2016.

Jean Donnay, owner of Glann ar Mor distillery in Brittany, France chose a site close to Loch Indaal for the creation of Islay’s ninth distillery last year.

He said: “Funding for the distillery having now been secured and a solution for some rather unexpected difficulties resulting from a missing plot of land having finally been arranged.

“Building work is planned to start sometime during spring 2016 with a view to have the distillery running by spring or summer 2017.

“Gartbreck will have its two pot stills operating with direct heating from a live flame and will produce 120.000 LPA/year.”

Funding approved for carbon clever Highland projects

The Highland Council has approved funding of over £250,000 for projects across the region that will improve transport links, reduce carbon emissions and save the council money.

The funding comes from Highland Council’s Carbon CLEVER capital budget, which has supported a wide range of projects over the past 18 months, including the upgrading of streetlights in Highland to LEDs, improved cycling facilities, the installation of biomass boilers, and a grant fund which has allocated funding to more than ten community projects which reduce carbon emissions.

At Wednesday’s meeting of the Council’s Resources Committee, members approved funding of £100,000 to form part of a funding package to submit a bid for a proposed new railway station at Inverness Airport (Dalcross).

The station, on the Inverness to Aberdeen line, would serve Inverness Airport and the nearby Business Park, as well the new housing development at Tornagrain.

A funding bid will be submitted to the Scottish Stations Fund by Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership (HITRANS) in due course. It is expected that the whole project will cost between £2-2.5 million.

Members also agreed £55,000 to match HITRANS funding for installing real time bus stop displays across the area. These displays will make bus travel easier and more attractive by providing live information at the bus stop on when services are due to arrive.

Carbon CLEVER funding of up to £50,000 has also been allocated to upgrade lighting to LEDs in the communal areas of the council’s 147 blocks of flats. It is anticipated that the investment of around £94,000 to upgrade to LED lighting will save approximately £18,000 a year and reduce annual CO2 emissions by 44 tonnes. The balance of funds will come from the council’s Housing Revenue Account, subject to approval from the Community Services Committee.

Plans to create Orkney, Shetland and Outer Hebrides innovation zone

Plans to establish a Local Island Innovation Zone (LIIZ) for Orkney, Shetland and the Outer Hebrides have been announced.

Islands minister Derek Mackey heard the proposals during an 11th meeting of the Island Areas Ministerial Working Group (IAMWG) on 26 November.

Island Council leaders presented proposals to establish a LIIZ with new and enhanced powers to encourage opportunities for development and investment in the islands through providing incentives that help to offset the additional costs of operating from the islands.

In addition, the meeting provided an update on an Economic Opportunities study of Renewables Electricity for Island Communities.