Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
Scotland Construction News Archive for December 2010
21/12/2010
The next phase of building work at Scotland's new crime campus will start early next year. The contract for the work has been awarded to John Graham Dromore Ltd. Work began in June on the first part of the £82 million project and is being carried out in three phases. The second phase of work - whi
21/12/2010
A £2.5m grant has been awarded by the Heritage Lottery Fund to restore Duthie Park to its former splendour. HLF's Parks For People fund initially awarded the project £71,500 for Stage 1 development last year, matched by £74,700 from the City Council – and has now agreed to award full lottery fundin
21/12/2010
King Sturge has just concluded an industrial deal on behalf of Sovereign at Burnbank Road in Falkirk. Leading marquee hire business, Amicable Marquees is relocating to Falkirk from a smaller unit in nearby Grangemouth. The company has signed-up for a ten-year lease, with a five-year break option
21/12/2010
The Minister for Transport and Infrastructure has announced the reappointment of Norman Quirk to the David MacBrayne Ltd Board. This reappointment will be for 3 years and will run from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2013. This post is part-time and attracts a remuneration of £314 per day for a time
21/12/2010
The Highland Council has agreed savings proposals for grounds maintenance following a detailed discussion at a full council meeting. Earlier in the year, the Council agreed that a tender for routine grass cutting be issued to establish the potential level of savings to be gained from contracting ou
21/12/2010
Social Housing List statistics collected through an Ipsos Mori omnibus survey have been released today by Scotland's Chief Statistician. In August the Scottish Government placed some questions on social housing lists in an Ipsos Mori omnibus survey. The aim of this data is to get a better understan
20/12/2010
Completion of the Duloch Park development in Dunfermline East has moved a step closer with plans lodged by Taylor Wimpey for around 500 new homes on three currently undeveloped parcels of land in the Dunfermline East area. The plans comprise a mix of 2, 3, 4 and 5-bedroom homes, including detached,
20/12/2010
Boroughmuir High School is to receive support for its re-development through the Government's Schools for the Future programme. City Education Leader Cllr Marilyne MacLaren said: "I'm thrilled that this major investment has been confirmed - it's a lovely Christmas present for Boroughmuir. We've be
20/12/2010
One of Scotland’s most successful social housing services has received £10,000 in funding from ‘Awards for all Scotland’ to help upgrade its garden for residents. Ypeople’s (formerly known as YMCA Glasgow) Branston Court service provides accommodation and support to young people aged between 16 and
20/12/2010
A groundbreaking community initiative to reclaim derelict land in former mining areas around Falkirk, Stirlingshire has won a major category in this year’s Scottish Modern Apprenticeship Awards. The Gairdoch Initiative, which created 12 apprenticeships in Amenity Horticulture for young people who w
20/12/2010
Vital supplies of heating oil will arrive in Aberdeen and Inverness today. Two shipments of kerosene, together totalling 1.8 million litres, will be unloaded during the course of the day, ready for distribution to customers across Scotland. Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead welcomed the arr
20/12/2010
A majority of Scottish construction firms expect their workloads to decline next year, according to the latest survey of building industry bosses, conducted by the Scottish Building Federation. This month’s Scottish Construction Monitor, a quarterly survey of the Federation’s membership of more tha
17/12/2010
Morgan Sindall has expanded its operations in the North of Scotland with the opening of an Inverness office serving the Highlands. The new premises in North Inverness, will be the expanding company’s fourth Scottish office. It follows the opening of an Edinburgh base last year. Morgan Sindall has
17/12/2010
James Barr have announced a recent run of lettings at Brucefield Industry Park, Livingston. Two new tenants have taken occupation at Brewster Square, which comprises three terraces of refurbished units. Litho Supplies have signed a 5 year lease at Unit 12, extending to 3,107 sq ft, to base their su
17/12/2010
A new Chief Executive of Scottish Development International (SDI) has been appointed. Anne MacColl will promote Scotland overseas and support Scottish firms entering new international markets. Finance Secretary John Swinney said: "Anne MacColl has an impressive track record in representing Scotlan
17/12/2010
Shepherd, one of the largest independent firms of chartered surveyors in the UK, has promoted former head of building surveying Graeme McDonald and former associate Jonathan Reid to partnership level as part of an ambitious growth strategy. Gerry McCluskey, Shepherd commercial partner in Dundee, sa
17/12/2010
Changes to the electricity market must secure Scotland's low carbon future, First Minister Alex Salmond has said. The FM warned that the UK Government's Electricity Market Reform proposals published today could jeopardise Scotland's ability to fulfil its full green energy potential and risk investm
17/12/2010
Aberdeen is to host an international energy event showcasing the future of hydrocarbon extraction. Experts from across the globe will gather at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre on 1 and 2 March 2011 for the inaugural Unconventional Gas Conference. The dependence on gas worldwide is ex
16/12/2010
The Scottish economy received a pre-Christmas boost today as MSPs voted overwhelmingly in favour of a replacement for the Forth Road Bridge that will protect a vital link in the strategic transport network. The Forth Crossing Bill, introduced by Finance Secretary John Swinney in November 2009, was
16/12/2010
Scottish Water should have increased flexibility to generate green energy, develop commercial opportunities and could take on additional functions under proposals set out today. The Scottish Government's proposals are contained in a consultation paper, 'Building a Hydro Nation', which examines how
16/12/2010
The National Fraud Authority (NFA) and the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) today published a blueprint for tackling social housing tenancy fraud, which takes up to 50,000 homes away from low income households and costs the public purse nearly £1 billion per year. Key recommendations within the
16/12/2010
Scotland risks 'killing the goose that laid the golden egg' if proposals to hike supermarkets’ business rates are followed through on, the property industry today warned. John Swinney MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth in the Scottish Government, today proposed up to a 35% ta
16/12/2010
Shepherd, one of the largest independent firms of chartered surveyors in the UK, is promoting a nationwide flood damage reinstatement service in response to the extreme weather conditions which has seen the largest snowfall and one of the longest cold spells across Scotland for 40 years. Shepherd p
16/12/2010
Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) and Strathclyde Police have helped bring about a major reduction in gang fighting in a city community. Reports of long-standing problems with youth disorder in Drumchapel have more than halved after a successful partnership between GHA and the police tackled the is
15/12/2010
The Scottish Government has decided to proceed with the completion of the M8 between Edinburgh and Glasgow. Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth John Swinney yesterday gave the go ahead for the upgrade to motorway status of the A8 Baillieston to Newhouse stretch after considering t
15/12/2010
Mansell has won a £24m contract to build a leisure pool and multi-storey car park in Dundee City Centre for Dundee City Council. Both buildings will be built using a steel frame and will include the provision of associated and ancillary services including roads, fences and landscaping. This pr
15/12/2010
Kirk Natural Stone Developments have recently installed 40mm granite rainscreen cladding at the new Hilton Hotel, St Andrews Street, Aberdeen. The works consisted of two types of cladding: • 40mm fine picked finish Balmoral grey granite to the front elevation of the building • 40mm polished finis
15/12/2010
The project to restore one of Argyll and Bute’s most significant historic sites has taken a major step forward. Argyll Mausoleum Ltd was set up in a bid to secure funding for the restoration of the ancient Mausoleum next to St Munn’s Church in Kilmun. The company has now announced that - with the
15/12/2010
The death of a young man who spent his last moments warning motorists about a live electricity cable has prompted the prosecution of a power company. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has taken action against Scottish Power UK plc after 20-year-old Simon Lines, from Prees, was killed in Shropsh
15/12/2010
A leading commercial diver training centre is to embark on a £5 million improvement and expansion programme to become a truly world-leading subsea training facility. The Underwater Centre in Fort William has been awarded £1.5 million by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). The project will cre
14/12/2010
The leading association for the construction industry, the Scottish Building Federation (SBF) has said it will a "long, harsh winter" for the Scottish construction industry. The Chief Executive of the SBF, Michael Levack, said there had been a modest increase in output in recent months, but warned
14/12/2010
An Edinburgh steel fabricating firm has been heavily fined after an employee's arm and hand were severely injured while lifting steel plates. On 21 August 2009, Ian Sutherland was working with a colleague to mark a delivery of sheet metal plates with unique identifying numbers before they could be
14/12/2010
The £18million Renfrew Health and Social Work Centre has scooped two prestigious design awards just months after opening its doors to patients earlier this year. The state-of-the-art centre, which offers a unique model of joint services for Renfrew, picked up both the Design Award and overall Paul
14/12/2010
Two Scottish workers were injured after plunging into a hotel basement when the stone staircase they were demolishing collapsed under their feet. It happened last month, but the news that Paul Irvine, 44, and Frank Dever, 46, from Paisley, were hurt dismantling the staircase at the former Priory Ho
14/12/2010
The directors of Roxburgh Homes Limited, a property development company based in Edinburgh, have been disqualified from acting as company directors for a combined total of 19 years following an investigation carried out by The Insolvency Service. Garry Gibson has now been disqualified from acting a
14/12/2010
Mactaggart & Mickel Contracts has continued its bumper year of new business with a further two wins to deliver its ‘one-stop-shop’ building solution, bringing the total value to date in 2010 to £7.25 million. The company will fulfil a design and build contract, valued in excess of £2 million, for h
13/12/2010
The £10 million Aberdeen College Construction Training Facility has opened to students. Designed as the new main building on the Altens campus to relocate construction trade courses onto the same site as engineering, completion allows for the refurbishment of the existing Altens Buildings to facili
13/12/2010
From Tuesday 4th to Saturday 15th January 2011, Argyll visitor attraction Inveraray Jail will close its doors to the public as improvements are made to the building. This will be the first time the 19th century courthouse and prison has closed for more than one day since it re-opened as a visitor
13/12/2010
Children and head teachers from nine primary and nursery schools across Glasgow have received Secured by Design (SBD) Awards by Chief Constable Stephen House of Strathclyde Police. The presentation was made at City Building’s Construction Skills Academy in Glasgow – where many of those responsible
13/12/2010
Work on a £30 million package of improvements to M8 White Cart Viaduct, near Glasgow Airport, reaches a significant stage in January when the works will move onto the bridge carriageway. The project, which is being carried out by BAM Nuttall on behalf of Transport Scotland, has been moving on apace
13/12/2010
A trio of residential surveyors from Shepherd have passed their autumn APCs (Assessment of Professional Competence). Olga MacGregor and Gregor Simpson from the firm’s Inverness office and Kenneth Behan from its Ayr office have now been elevated to MRICS status following an hour long peer review int
13/12/2010
One of Scotland’s largest construction companies has experienced an increase in burst pipe call-outs over the past two days. Glasgow City Council’s arm’s-length construction company City Building – which operates repairs and maintenance contracts for clients including housing associations, schools
10/12/2010
A £250million sustainable, mixed use development on the brownfield site at the former RAF Edzell airbase, already a popular business location for major international and local firms, has been announced. Proposals for the 444 acre site include some 300 acres for business use to meet growing demand,
10/12/2010
Shepherd, one of the largest independent firms of chartered surveyors in the UK, today marks the dawning of a new era with a strategy for growth made manifest in the relocation of a number of its offices throughout Scotland, including its long-established office in Edinburgh’s New Town. Established
10/12/2010
A new law that will ditch the right to buy (RTB) for new council house and housing association tenants has been granted Royal Assent and is now an Act of Parliament. The Housing (Scotland) Act will see right to buy abolished for all new homes built in the social sector. It is expected that up to 1
10/12/2010
HIE is backing major expansion plans by a leading Shetland aquaculture business with a funding package worth more than £300,000. The support from HIE will enable Hjaltland Hatcheries Ltd (HHL), a subsidiary of Grieg Seafood Hjaltland UK Ltd, to develop a state of the art Atlantic salmon smolt hatch
10/12/2010
Aberdeen City Council Chief Executive Sue Bruce has praised staff for their hard work during the winter weather. Mrs Bruce said that despite the difficult conditions council staff were making a mammoth effort to minimise disruption in the city. Operations include * Two runs on priority routes
10/12/2010
Mitsubishi Electric has received another environmental accolade for its advanced renewable heating system as Scotland's most environmentally-friendly businesses were crowned at a prestigious award ceremony at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Glasgow. The company secured the Product Award category for its
09/12/2010
Angus Council has approved plans for a £55 million golf, hotel and residential property development near Broughty Ferry, Dundee designed by Archial, one of the country’s largest architectural practices and a member of the global Ingenium Group of companies. The development is the creation of local
09/12/2010
Scotland will support the Maldives to develop renewable marine energy and go carbon neutral by 2020. The partnership between the two countries will start with a study to assess the wave, tidal and ocean thermal energy potential of the Maldives, carried out by Robert Gordon University, a member of S
09/12/2010
As the massive snow issues currently sweeping across Scotland continue Clyde Windows and Construction have announced that over the past year they have expanded their Conservatory Repairs Division to cover a much wider area of Scotland. They are now covering from the Central Belt right out to east
09/12/2010
Scotland is to design a blueprint to ensure carbon capture and storage technology (CCS) can be implemented effectively around the world. The Global CCS Institute has asked Scotland to develop a toolkit to help nations test the strength of regulations and the permitting process, build knowledge and
09/12/2010
CCG (OSM) have spent the last 5 years researching and visiting numerous UK and European timber frame manufacturers, studying their production methods. In conjunction with an extensive R & D programme, CCG (OSM) have designed and installed an automated production line which uses tried and tested equi
09/12/2010
Crammond Select Homes, of Bridge of Allan, recently installed the A. Proctor Group’s Protech GM Super high performance gas protection system on their redevelopment of the former Chalmers Church site, also in Bridge Of Allan. This project involves the conversion of the existing church into 8 apartm
08/12/2010
West Dunbartonshire Council has taken charge of the new £10.5m St Eunan’s Primary School and Early Education Centre which experts say ‘represents a new benchmark for schools design in Scotland’. BAM Construction officially handed over the new building on Monday with the Council’s Executive Director
08/12/2010
The public are being asked by The Highland Council to have their say on five pragmatic options for providing a new transport link to the west of Inverness. The plan is to take traffic from the Southern Distributor Road at Dores Road to the A82 trunk road at Torvean via a fixed link across the River
08/12/2010
The Earl of Wessex recently attended a fundraising function in aid of Inverclyde’s new Arts Centre at Greenock’s Customhouse. His Royal Highness is the Patron of the new facility and was visiting the site as construction of the new building got underway. HRH met with members of the local communit
08/12/2010
Around 50 businesses attended an event in Ardrossan on 2 December to hear of the opportunities the work of Irvine Bay Regeneration Company is opening up. In particular, the meeting heard from artist Joe McLaughlin, who talked about his new gallery Phoenix Art, which he’s opened in the refurbished f
08/12/2010
The Biggar Corn Exchange building has been officially opened following a major refurbishment. Members of the Biggar Theatre Workshop and the council secured funding of £500,000 to refurbish the Grade 'B' listed building from the Scottish Government Town Centre Regeneration Fund, Heritage Lottery Fu
08/12/2010
HIE is tightening its procurement procedures for the multi-million pound Inverness Campus project. HIE placed a notice in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) in September, inviting construction firms to register interest in carrying out around £15-20m worth of infrastructure works to
07/12/2010
A biodiversity plan to protect threatened wildlife on the Isle of Lewis and the creation of new woodland at Coshogle Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in Dumfries and Galloway are among 500 projects approved in the latest round of Rural Priorities. The £31.5 million cash boost, co-funded b
07/12/2010
Scotland is to design a blueprint to ensure carbon capture and storage technology (CCS) can be implemented effectively around the world. The Global CCS Institute has asked Scotland to develop a toolkit to help nations test the strength of regulations and the permitting process, build knowledge and
07/12/2010
Highland Councillors have agreed to back a major new sports facility in Dornoch. Members of the Resources Committee have unanimously supported the approach from Dornoch Academy and Dornoch Primary School Parent Councils to provide a grant of £100,000 from the Dornoch Common Good Fund, which current
07/12/2010
A former clay quarry has been transformed into a wonderful green space for the people of Blantyre and beyond to enjoy. Redlees Quarry on the outskirts of the town had become an informal dumping ground but has now been transformed into an 'Urban Fringe' park. The 27-hectare site, just off the town'
07/12/2010
Morgan Sindall is celebrating the exam successes of its latest recruits. Graduates and undergraduates on the top construction firm's training programme achieved high-scoring exam results in construction and design management and quantity surveying. John Homer, Morgan Sindall Regional Managing Dire
07/12/2010
The Scottish Government demonstrated its commitment to the future of Moray today when Housing and Communities Minister Alex Neil announced a multimillion pound affordable housing project in Forres. Jointly funded by the Scottish Government and Grampian Housing Association, the £6.35 million develop
06/12/2010
A consultation will be launched this week on ways of giving Scottish Water increased flexibility to help build a low carbon economy. The Scottish Government will launch 'Building a Hydro Nation - A Consultation', examining how Scotland, and in particular, Scottish Water, as a publicly-owned utility
06/12/2010
First Minister Alex Salmond today announced an annual award, to be presented under the auspices of Scotland's marine energy Saltire Prize, to recognise outstanding contributions to the development of wave and tidal power. The Saltire Prize, which has attracted more than 150 registrations of interes
06/12/2010
Leading construction company Mansell has completed two major projects – with a combined value of around £15.5million – for the University of Edinburgh. The company, which has offices in both Glasgow and Edinburgh, recently concluded work on a £8million contract to build a state-of-the-art clinical
06/12/2010
The results of the 2009/10 accident survey carried out by the National Specialist Contractors’ Council (NSCC) highlight the commitment of its members to health and safety in the workplace after NSCC recorded lower fatal and major injury rates than the industry as a whole. In the biggest NSCC Accide
06/12/2010
Solar and Wind Applications have recently teamed up with Irish company Coolpower Products as distributors and installers of the EMMA, Energy and Micro-Generator Manager. This device not only maximises the earnings of your solar PV or wind turbine generator system, but it also provides you with hot
06/12/2010
A Leading employment lawyer has warned employees that there is no obligation by employers to pay them for failing to attend work or for arriving late due to disruptions to public transport for the missed time. This is unless there is specific provision for such absence to be paid in the contract of
05/12/2010
Morgan Sindall is celebrating the exam successes of its latest recruits. Graduates and undergraduates on the top construction firm's training programme achieved high-scoring exam results in construction and design management and quantity surveying. John Homer, Morgan Sindall Regional Managing Dire
03/12/2010
With the ongoing adverse winter weather still hitting large parts of the country, Transport Scotland is urging travellers that if they must travel, to make robust journey plans in advance. Builders across Scotland have had to down-tools as the severe winter weather closes roads and then limits outd
03/12/2010
First Minister Alex Salmond today welcomed plans by Mitsubishi Power Systems Europe Ltd (MPSE) to invest up to £100 million in an engineering facility to carry our research and development into offshore wind turbine technology. MPSE will create a Centre for Advanced Technology in Edinburgh to pione
03/12/2010
Community groups and organisations are being urged to apply for Stirling Council's Community Grant Scheme to help with the funding of local projects. So far this year, Stirling Council has awarded grants to nearly sixty community and voluntary groups to deliver a wide variety of community projects.
03/12/2010
Aberdeenshire Council is warning residents in the Marr area to be on their guard against the possibility of being approached to buy home insulation. Homeowners are being approached by people claiming to be from the Home Insulation Scheme and charging them for work they could receive for free. The
03/12/2010
A hotline to help households winter-proof homes will be operating an extended hours service while the country remains in the grip of the biggest snow fall for over 40 years. An army of energy doctors have been delivering advice on how to keep homes warm, avoid frozen pipes and lower fuel bills to 1
03/12/2010
Scotland will be at the heart of new plans agreed today to deliver a North Sea offshore grid that interconnects European electricity networks. Ten countries have committed to work together to identify and overcome the regulatory, legal, market, planning and technical issues involved in creating a N
02/12/2010
Stirling Council has responded to Scottish Power Transmissions Ltd (SPT) consultation on their Stirling Visual Impact Mitigation Scheme proposals, which are part of the new Beauly - Denny 440kv transmission line, approved by the Scottish Government earlier this year. In a letter to SPT, Chair of th
02/12/2010
A YouGov survey commissioned by the New Homes Marketing Board (NHMB) has revealed that more than eight in ten people (81 per cent) believe Britain needs more housing for sale and rent, especially affordable homes for first-time buyers. But it also shows that far fewer people – just 50 per cent – w
02/12/2010
Steve Kirk, managing director of Lovell Respond, has raised over £2,500 for Macmillan Cancer Support through a 350-mile sponsored coast-to-coast cycle ride. Steve and son Curtis, 18, spent a week tackling the marathon journey from Whitehaven in Cumbria to Tynemouth in the north east - and back agai
02/12/2010
The number of ambassadors volunteering their time to inspire young people in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in the Highlands and Islands has topped the 400 mark. This week eight new industry volunteers will participate in the induction course at Highlands and Islands Enterp
02/12/2010
The Scottish Property Federation has welcomed new revenue raising powers for the Scottish Parliament contained in the Scotland Bill, which received its First Reading in the House of Commons Tuesday. Described by the UK government as “the biggest transfer of fiscal power to Scotland since the creati
02/12/2010
Solar and Wind Applications have recently teamed up with Irish company Coolpower Products as distributors and installers of the EMMA, Energy and Micro-Generator Manager. This device not only maximises the earnings of your solar PV or wind turbine generator system, but it also provides you with hot
01/12/2010
Co Down-based Graham Construction has secured a £3.44 million contract to carry out extensive upgrade works on Kennacraig Pier on the Mull of Kintyre in SCotland. Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) appointed Graham following a Public Contracts Scotland tendering process and work will begin o
01/12/2010
Lovell is celebrating once again achieving a quality award for its work with residents in Scotland. The company’s Scottish team have again secured the TPAS (Tenant Participation Advisory Service) quality mark for contractors, recognising their success in engaging and involving residents when improv
01/12/2010
Three projects are to benefit from more than £65,000 of funding from the Whitelee Renewable Energy Fund. East Kilbride and District Shopmobility has been awarded £20,000, Quarter Community Association £15,000 and £33,944 towards a maintenance programme which will be carried out by the council. Sho
01/12/2010
The Earl of Wessex was in Greenock this week to announce the name chosen for Inverclyde's new Arts Guild. Prince Edward, who is Patron of the £9.3 million facility attended a fundraising function and also visited the site as construction of the new building gets underway this week. HRH met with me
01/12/2010
One of the UK and Ireland's leading Building Services Companies, Rotary UK Limited is forecasting major growth for its Scottish business. Since July of this year, Rotary Scotland has secured several large projects in line with its growth strategy. This week sees a move to new premises in Livingsto
01/12/2010
A young furniture designer from Ayrshire has been shortlisted for the 2010 Prince’s Scottish Youth Business Trust (PSYBT) Jolomo Awards taking place in Oban next month. Stuart Mutch (26) founder of Break The Mould Furniture based in Ibrox is one of seven finalists whose work is being considered by
