Dunblane High Street is plugging the gap

Tuesday 13 April, 2010

Dunblane High Street is set to be a hive of activity, with work beginning on the Gap site project this week. Edinburgh based contractor Graham Construction Ltd moves on site on Monday 12 April to begin work on the £1.1 million mixed use building project, which is due to be completed in 48 weeks.

Graham Construction’s appointment is the result of a lengthy and rigorous two-stage selection process carried out by a four-man development team committee comprising  local architect, Robert Paul; cost consultant Ian McBroom of Stirling based quantity surveyor Brownriggs; Mr Keith McDonald from AKM Project Management and DDT board member, Mr David Gill.

In the first stage, an invitation to potential contractors was issued via the Public Contract Scotland Public Tendering Portal at the end of August 2009. Initially, 65 notes of interest were recorded and pre-qualification questionnaires (PQQs) were returned by 22 potential contractors. These were then scored independently by each member of the development team committee using pre-determined and detailed selection criteria which included each company’s financial status and business probity; health and safety record; technical merit and ability in managing contracts.

A few days before Christmas, the six top pre-qualifying contractors were invited to proceed to the second stage of the selection process and to submit tenders for the construction works based upon Tender Drawings, Specification and Bills of Quantities prepared by the Design Team. The most competitive bid was submitted by Graham Construction and a Construction Contract was awarded to them on 8 March 2010 .

Grahams have an impressive track record in Scotland , with recent successful projects including the cutting edge swimming pool building in Bathgate, West Lothian , the installation of four huge beams which form the new Mollinsburn overbridge on the M80 in North Lanarkshire , and the £8.5m Kingsland Primary School in Peebles, built for the Scottish Borders Council. For further details, click on:  http://www.graham.co.uk/

The company’s Contracts Director, Mr Bert McCulloch said: “Graham Construction are delighted to have been awarded the contract to construct the new building on the city’s High Street. This is the first time we have worked in Dunblane and we look forward to this being a successful project for all parties.

“The project is not without its difficulties, being constructed between two existing buildings. However we aim to cause minimal disruption. We know that the finished building will blend into the character of the High Street and be a welcome alternative to the vacant site.”

Going forward, the work will be managed by a DDT professional project team, which includes architect Robert Paul, quantity surveyors Brownriggs, Stirling based structural engineers David Reid Group Ltd  and Glasgow based mechanical and electrical engineers, Henderson Warnock. The team is headed up by Project Management Consultant Mr Keith McDonald, with DDT board member Malcolm Dougall..

Mr Dougall said: “ Dunblane Development Trust are very pleased to have a Contractor of Graham Construction's calibre to undertake the High Street Gap Site project and have been impressed with the level of professionalism shown by all concerned on the project to date.  Grahams will be starting on site on Monday 12 th April and although it will not be an easy project for them, particularly in the early foundation stages of the building, we look forward to a trouble free construction period and to the successful outcome of the project for all concerned ”.

When completed, the building will comprise one 2-bedroom and four 1-bedroom flats on three upper floors and a restaurant over two floors from High Street level down.  The Mill Row level will provide an entrance to the flats and restaurant, bin stores, and restaurant toilet area.  The whole building will be served with a lift to all floors from the Mill Row level.

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