News
In this issue
Company News
• Q&A with Angela Milne - Aberdeen Associate
• Construction Skills Health and Safety Test
Levenmouth Farm Steading
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Covell Matthews Aberdeen
• 9 Albyn Terrace, Aberdeen
• Tel: (01224) 634040 • Fax: (01224) 631649
Covell Matthews Edinburgh
• 6 Manor Place, Edinburgh
• Tel: (0131) 226 3366 • Fax: (0131) 220 1177
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• The Disability Agenda – Creating an Alternative Future
The New Scottish Building Regulations
• The New Scottish Building Regulations
Aberdeen Base Relocation, Acergy UK Limited
• CMA Website Refreshed
CMA Website Refreshed
Covell Matthews web-site has seen a substantial overhaul in it’s design and content.
On the 1st of May 2007 a new version of the Technical Handbooks will come into force. The revisions cover sections 0, 1, 3, 4 and 6.
A summary of the changes that have been introduced between 1 May 2006 and 30 April 2007 can be accessed here in PDF format.
The Construction (Design and
Management) Regulations 2007
• Baker Hughes City of Aberdeen 10k Run
• The Youngest Member of the CMA Family
Livingston Office Development
In March we submitted a planning application on behalf of
Errigal Investments Ltd for a prominent office development at Houstoun Interchange, Livingston.
This is their first office development in Scotland and comprises circa 30,000sqft of 2 storey office units in the form of a terrace and 3 office pavilions arranged around a landscaped courtyard.
Foreword by George Simpson, Chairman
The new design focuses the web-sites content around the companies core services of Architecture,
Interior Design and Space Planning. A further section details specialists services such as Dispute Resolution, Inclusive Design (DDA) and Visualisation.
A comprehensive area outlining the company's principal personnel has also been added. This section highlights the experience and the diversity of different disciplines and services which the company can offer our clients.
The web-site was designed and coded by Covell Matthews IT team and is DDA Accessibility compliant.
Baker Hughes City of Aberdeen 10k Run
The Baker Hughes City of Aberdeen 10k will take place on Sunday 27 May 2007 at 9.30am. The run starts and finishes at Beach Boulevard and for many runners the highlight of their running season.
CMA are entering a team this year. The runners are Ailidh, Andrew, Angela, Carmen, Claire and Donna. If you would still like to support us by raising some funds for the charities The Archie Fund and The Bread Maker we would very happy to hear from you!
The course is based around Aberdeen City Beach and Harbour area and has some spectacular views of the North Sea and the 'famous' Beach Ballroom on the route of the course.
A record 2,417 runners took part in the 2006 race, with 19-year-old Darren Shinnie winning in 31 minutes and 58 seconds in his first attempt at the distance, Andrew hopes to complete the course by the next day.
For sponsorship donations:
The Youngest Member of the CMA Family
December weighing 7lb 10oz.
Everybody at Covell Matthews would like to convey their joy for Sam and Robbie Hendry on the arrival of their first child Luca, born on the 14th of
• The Women in Property 20th Anniversary Celebration
Q&A with Angela Milne Aberdeen Associate
The Women in Property 20th Anniversary Celebration
Founded in 1987, The Association of Women in Property is a dynamic forum for the professional development of women in the property and constructive industry.
Friday 9th March, The Marcliffe
It is a unique organisation with a multi-disciplined membership drawn from across the property and construction industry.
In celebrating their 20th Birthday, they intend to launch a number of initiatives aimed at bringing young people actively into the industry.
Isobel Maughan, Chairperson for Women In Property, Northern Scotland, 2007, welcomed all present. She highlighted the need for networks within the wider property sector to grow and develop to meet the increased need for skilled, competent and creative individuals. She explained that as one of the key networks, WIP provides an opportunity for women in the property sector to network and do business with each other, to develop professional skills, to address the changing needs of the industry and to identify new talent to bring fresh perspectives to the table. She proudly highlighted the fact that WIP have a steadily growing membership of professional women from a diverse field of disciplines, including surveying, architecture, town planning, law, facilities management, interior design, construction and engineering.
Guest Speakers were Colin McAllister & Justin Ryan, who spent the last 8 months successfully regenerating, redecorating and rejuvenating the run down Arden Estate in Glasgow on Channel Five's hugely popular: Colin & Justin On The Estate.
Above left to right are Jenni Keith of ESS, Julie Fenner and Angela Milne of Covell Matthews.
Construction Skills Health and Safety Test
It is designed to ensure everybody working in construction has a minimum level of health and safety awareness. Passing the test is an essential part of qualifying for the major card schemes such as CSCS and affiliated schemes. Without the right card, it's increasingly difficult to get on site.
Covell Matthews Architects Ltd. aim to have 100% of its employees in both Aberdeen and Edinburgh pass the test over the next 3 months.
For additional information click here
And for booking the test click here
The Disability Agenda –
Creating an Alternative Future
Meeting the future housing challenge in Scotland
Scotland faces an additional challenge – our ageing society. By 2025 it is estimated that there will be a 39 per cent rise in those aged 60-74 and a 75 per cent rise in those aged over 75.
Public expectations about the future are for greater independence, people want to be able to live in their own homes (with support) rather than be placed in residential care. These changes will impact significantly on the demand for, and supply of, housing to meet the needs of a changed society.
Currently, there are 62,000 households where someone will be unable to wash because they require an adapted bathroom, and a further 20,000 where someone requires, but does not have, a stairlift or lift. Scotland’s housing stock is in poor repair – an estimated £10 billion in renovations is required. For people who are disabled in Scotland, finding decent affordable housing presents a real challenge.
While two-thirds of Scots own their own homes, disabled people are half as likely as non-disabled people to do so and are more likely to be accommodated in social rented housing.
The ‘Scottish Housing Conditions Survey’ detailed significant issues of fuel poverty and insulation (failing to meet current energy standards), dampness and neglect.
Issues of land availability have a critical impact on the Scottish housing market, resulting in taller buildings. This type of strategy is likely to fail disabled people unless adaptation of existing housing and new-builds are based in inclusive design principles.
The above statement is a product of the Disability Agenda, which was drawn up by the Disability Rights Commission (DRC) along with other governing bodies and launched in Scotland on February 2007.
The Agenda sets out chief public policy challenges for the coming decade. The document is one of a series of 10 priorities to reform and create an alternative future, recommendations for action are also incorporated within each report.
Implementation of the Agenda will begin over the coming year, where widespread support and ownership will be sought-after by those with the power to do so, i.e. national & local governments. In particular the DRC hope to ensure strong support for the proposals from the Commission for Equality and Human Rights, who will be succeeding the DRC in October 2007.
For further information on the Disability Agenda and the other priorities involved within the report visit:
or contact Donna Brown
Scotland’s housing market faces many challenges. A recent Scottish Executive analysis summarised these as: affordable housing, homelessness, geographical disparities in supply, and the need for a diversity of tenures.
The CITB Construction Skills Health and Safety Test is the industry standard, taken by over 300,000 people every year.
Technical Handbooks 2007
Changes to the New Building Standards include the following:-
Section 1 Structure
• Guidance on nature of the ground and the stability of other buildings.
• Protecting buildings from disproportionate collapse.
• Structural guidance on small buildings.
Section 4 Safety
• Accessibility of domestic buildings has been improved from the present ‘visitability’ standard to a ‘liveability standard’ to suit the changing and vary needs of occupants.
• Guidance for non-domestic buildings has been updated to recognise developments in good practice and to respond to UK legislation on disability equality.
Section 6 Energy
• In line with the ‘Partnership Agreement’, revisions to the energy standards will result in improvements to carbon dioxide emissions from buildings by over 40% since 2002.
• The revisions build on current Energy Performance of Buildings Directive implementation in Scotland and significantly change the ‘routes to compliance’ in Section 6.
Elliott House, Hillside Crescent, Edinburgh.
In February our Elliott House project was granted planning permission. This involved the change of use of an existing 1970 office building to 34 residential flats with views to Calton Hill,
comprising 27 for private sale and 7 affordable units. The site is on Hillside Crescent which lies on a major route into the city centre from the east.
The proposal was developed closely with the City of Edinburgh Council as the site lies within the World Heritage site and involved retaining the existing frame and recladding together with partial demolition and rebuild. The basement car park is retained for 100% parking for the private flats. A contribution to City Car Club was negotiated for the Affordable Units.
Stewart Milne Construction commenced work on site for the new campus at Westhill Business Park in late December, with a substantial amount of initial earthworks.
Some 12 weeks later, although site works still continue, the foundations for the Office, Workshop and Leisure buildings are complete; the steelwork for
the north office wing and the entrance heart area has been erected to roof level. The suspended concrete floors at first and second floor levels have been poured.
Steelwork erection on the portal frames for the Workshop and Warehouse buildings is also progressing rapidly and the Acergy Design Team continue to monitor the Category A base build for all the facilities.
Office Building Steel Work
Meanwhile, the Office and Workshop Fit-Out design has been completed to RIBA Stage D level and both have gone to tender.
The CMA design team now continue to progress with the new Workplace Strategy in order to formulate and complete detailed designs of the floorplates that are required by each Department.
Workshop Building Steel Work
The facility will consist of a three storey 12,400sqm Office building; a 6,900sqm Workshop and Warehouse facility with associated external yard; a Leisure facility; and an Archive building, set in extensively landscaped grounds between the B9119 Aberdeen to Tarland road and Carnie Woods.
Visualisation of Office Feature Stair
The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 (CDM 2007) are due to come into force on 6 April 2007. They replace the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 1994 (CDM94) and the Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1996 (CHSW)
The Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) “Managing Health and Safety in Construction“ provides practical guidance on complying with the duties set out in the Regulations. It replaces the ACOP to the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 1994.
HSE have indicated that the key aim of CDM 2007 is to further integrate health and safety into the management of construction projects and to encourage everyone involved to work together.
• to improve the planning and management of
construction projects from the very start;
• identify risks early on so that they can be eliminated or
reduced at the design or planning stage and the
remaining risks can be properly managed;
• target effort where it can do the most good in terms of
health and safety; and
• discourage unnecessary bureaucracy.
The Regulations are intended to focus attention on planning and management throughout construction projects, from design concept onwards and help ensure that construction projects are safe to build; safe to use; safe to maintain, and deliver good value.
The aim is for health and safety considerations to be treated as an essential, but normal part of a projects development – not an afterthought or bolt on extra.
Time and thought invested at the start of the project will pay dividends not only in improved health and safety, but also in:
• reductions in the overall cost of ownership, because the
structure is designed for safe and easy maintenance
and cleaning work, and because key information
is available in the health and safety file;
• reduced delays;
• more reliable costings and completion dates;
• improved communication and co-operation between
key parties; and
• improved quality of the finished product.
The title of Planning Supervisor will no longer exist and a new and extended role – that of the CDM Co-ordinator – has now been created.
The role of CDM co-ordinator is to provide the Client with a key project advisor in respect of construction health and safety risk management matters. The should assist and advise the Client on appointment of competent contractors and the adequacy of management arrangements; to ensure proper co-ordination of the health and safety aspects of the design process; facilitate good communication and co-operation between project team members and prepare the health and safety file.
In basic terms, it is the Client’s Duty to ensure that:
The Right Information is given to The Right People at The Right Times
It is the CDM’s / Designers / Principal Conntractor’s / and Contractors duties to assist the Client in performing that duty.
These duties are to ensure so far as is reasonably practicable the health and safety of persons
• Engaged in the construction work
• Liable to be affected by the construction works
• Who will use the structure as a workplace
A presentation in PDF format given by Jeanette Reuben of HSE is also available at here
"Before Luca arrived I had no idea what to expect from motherhood. I knew my ability to multi-task would improve and that plenty of sleepless nights were heading my way!. What I wasn't prepared for was how fulfilled and content he would make me feel as a person.
I would like to thank Covell Matthews for the unconditional support that they have showed me throughout my pregnancy and on my return to work.
This level of commitment from the company to myself has definitely made my transition to 'working mum' a lot easier.
Thanks, Sam”
• The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007
Swinton Hill Farm, Swinton
In March, we obtained planning permission on behalf of Mercat Cross for a steading development at Swinton Hill Farm in the borders comprising 11 unit conversion and 2no. contemporary unit new build units.
“This is the second development for Mercat Cross Ltd. The overall approach endeavours to respect the existing steading complex and enhance it with contemporary insertions. The new build properties are predominantly contemporary but they again respect the existing steading by making references through materials, scale and aesthetic thus ensuring an overall coherent development.” Alyn Smith, Covell Matthews Associate.
On behalf of Moncor Ltd, Levenmouth Farm Steading has been resubmitted for planning permission after general agreement was reached between the design team and Scottish Natural Heritage regarding the close proximity of the development to Loch Leven SSSI.
The project comprises 2 barn conversions, redevelopment of the existing farm house and 10no. new build properties. We believe this project has the potential to be a signature development in an idyllic setting and we are very much looking forward to seeing it progress.
Planning Permission is anticipated for this project in May.
Bancon Developments, Banchory Business Park, Aberdeenshire
Shell Seafield House, Aberdeen
Juice Bar Visualisation, Huddersfield Shopping Centre
Shop Front Visualisation, Huddersfield Shopping Centre
We were commissioned by our long established client W.D. Huddersfield to create a visual for a proposed refreshments bar within the Kingsgate Shopping Centre Atrium. The photo-montage of the Juice Bar incorporated the Barefruit Juice branding.
A larger image can be found here
To be used in the Marketing of the main commercial unit at the Kingsgate Shopping Centre, W.D. Huddersfield commissioned us to illustrate the potential impact the two proposed tenants, Zara and H&M would have on the centre’s frontage.
Larger images can be found here
Its all about change these days. Climate, Building Regulations, CDM Regulations, May elections, but the one that really lifts the spirit is the extra hour of light in the morning when the clocks were advanced for summer time. With spring in the air this persuaded me to get back on the bike and burn up some ‘carbon’.
Perhaps we should all put our energies into tackling the carbon issue and target the reductions necessary to address dangers of climate change.