Building Briefs – October 25th

• Kirsty Blackman MP visits Aberdeen development

Hosted by NHBC and Barratt Homes, led by construction manager Ben Stewart, the visit highlighted the regeneration of the site, the different types of homes being built and the local amenities that will be available for the residents.

Allan Currie, NHBC inspection manager, discussed with Ms Blackman how the industry is facing a skills shortage and the importance of changing attitudes within schools to point young people towards careers in the construction industry. Allan explained that housebuilding offers an array of career opportunities and highlighted the need for more investment in apprenticeships.

Allan Scott, NHBC’s building inspector for the region, demonstrated to Ms Blackman how NHBC manages risk and compliance with an overview of its technical requirements and how it works with builders to help them improve the construction quality of the homes they build for the benefit of the homeowners.

Kirsty Blackman MP said: “It was great to meet with the National House Building Council at the Barratt Home Riverside Quarter development and to find out more about the 10 year Buildmark Warranty, which provides cover to new homeowners for ten years from the date of sale.

“It was interesting to hear that the NHBC are working within the industry and in close partnership with developers to raise the standard of new homes throughout Scotland.”

Allan Currie added: “We were delighted to welcome Ms. Blackman around this great development. This is an excellent example of Barratt Homes providing high-quality new homes for people of northeast Scotland, whilst being a short drive from Aberdeen city centre and Tyrebagger forest.

“It is always lovely to be able to showcase a development which sits in such a beautiful part of the country. All homes built on the site also benefit from the 10-year NHBC Buildmark warranty.”

• RICS launches new Social Impact Awards

RICS has launched a new awards programme which recognise the positive and transformational contribution that the built environment has on people’s lives across the UK.

The RICS Social Impact Awards assess the human, social and environmental impact, and the innovation and collaboration, that has gone into development and infrastructure projects in the commercial, education, healthcare, heritage, infrastructure, land & rural, leisure, residential and student accommodation sectors.

Projects will be assessed at a local level, in 12 regions across the UK, and all category winners will then go head-to-head against other regional winners to compete in the RICS Social Impact Awards Grand Final, for the chance to win the national accolade in their respective category and the overall ‘Outstanding Contribution to Society Award’ for the best UK project.

A ‘Lifetime Achiever’ award will also recognise an individual nationally who has delivered great social benefit through their work.

The launch of this new awards programme follows the announcement this month about RICS’ new ‘Value the Planet’ campaign, which aims to encourage the built environment industry to help safeguard the planet by taking climate action and adopting the United Nations’ (UN) Sustainable Development Goals.

• Apartments plan for Crieff hotel

A plan to turn the abandoned Drummond Arms hotel in Crieff into luxury apartments has been revealed.

A draft business case has been drawn up to develop the derelict building into 13 “high-end” flats and three affordable houses after Crieff Community Trust took possession of the building earlier this month.

The community trust admitted the luxury flats proposal was the “furthest forward” of their plans after other options, including a cinema complex and affordable housing, were considered “not viable” in the long term.