Saltire Awards for Civil Engineering 2015 Nominee

An ambitious Community project which MIB were proud to deliver on time and within budget. The Lochboisdale Harbour Regeneration transformed an uninhabited island into a commercial harbour and marina.

The main scope of works included;
• Shipping of plant, materials and temporary welfare accommodation to Gasaigh Island to allow peat stripping to begin. Personnel were also transported by boat on a daily basis to carry out these works.
• The construction of 2no causeways to link the existing Lochboisdale Harbour to the small island of Gasaigh Island via the Rubha Bhuailt Peninsula.
• Hydraulic rock breaking and rock blasting.
• Dredging the seabed to prepare it for core material and rock to create the causeway.

• Dredging between Gasaigh Island and Rubha Bhuailt to remove sand/silt to enable MIB to commence infill for the second causeway with filter and armour.
• Building a temporary haul road between Rubha Bhuailt and Gasaigh Island – this was later built up as the second causeway.
• The construction of both east and west breakwaters at Gasaigh Island.
• The construction of a new pier and slipway with pontoon berths on Gasaigh Island.
• Sheet piling being placed in the harbour area.
• Installation of services and utilities. Road tarring and markings were subcontracted.

This ambitious, community driven project was channeled as much as possible through local workforce, subcontractors and suppliers when possible. Controlled site visits were arranged for members of the public and children from the local primary school had the opportunity to attend site and see first-hand the progress of the project. Regular newsletters and newspaper adverts also kept local residents and the local community as updated and involved as possible with the construction as a whole.

For the rock blasting elements, explosives were required to be helicoptered to the island of South Uist and these were then stored in a magazine on site. Pleasant weather conditions were vital in the transportation of the explosives as cancellations will occur after certain wind speeds/visibility levels etc.

Peat management on this contract was a primary concern as 30,000m3 was to be relocated and used for landscaping etc. under a strict environmental and peat management plan which was supplied by MacInnes Bros Ltd for approval by all stakeholders.&

Ivy Cottage offered MIB Homes the opportunity to showcase its ability to rescue an abandoned property and restore it into a spacious family home fit for modern living. The project involved stripping the existing cottage back to its brick work in order to rectify structural issues and then renew with insulation expected of a new build property. The property benefits from a new site extension which includes a spacious family kitchen and large family bathroom.

Review of Works

Renewed all plasterboard walls & ceilings
Installed timer frame in existing cottage external walls to allow for new insulation boards
Installed Quinn Therma Insulation Board throughout existing Cottage and Extension
Full new Electrical Installtion
New Electric Heating System (Rointe D Series) & Immmersion Water Tank
New UPVC Windows and External Doors
Renewed Render on External Walls
Existing Cottage Plaster Walls Re-Skimmed
UPVC Cladding installed on extension, porch and dormer windows
New Extension with Modern Kitchen and Bathroom
Alwitra Evalon VSK Membrane applied to Extension Roof & Existing Porch Roof.
Large Property Grounds Landscaped
New Ground and Rainwater Drainage and Access Path
Externally and Internally Painted

HIAL Maintenance Contractor

MIB are the preferred contractor to the HIAL facilities in both Benbecula and Barra. MIB have been entrusted with the crucial maintenance / construction work for over 20 years.

These works have included the following significant works:

Aircraft Ramp & Apron – Barra
Airport Main Building Re-roofing – Benbecula
Air Traffic Controller Tower Refurbishment – Barra
Airport Extension and New Security Area & Passenger Departure Lounge – Benbecula
Installation of Practice Fire Module & Ground Works – Benbecula

Due to the successful partnership between MIB and HIAL, additional works within the HIAL network have been awarded to MIB. These include:

Installation of Practice Fire Module & Ground Works – Wick Airport, Tiree Airport, Islay Airport & Campbelltown Airport
Installation of Airfield Drainage & New Runway Lights – Inverness
Airport Main Building Refurbishment – Campbelltown Airport

This prestigious Townhouse at 4 Park Gardens showcased MacInnes Bros Ltd ability to restore a historic building back to it’s original grandeur. This entailed removing the neglect of office conversions and moving away from it’s tired commercial configuration and returning the building to it’s residential roots as an elegant ‘A’ listed townhouse.

No.4 Park Gardens was painstaking restored to ensure all period features where restored along with ensuring all modern comforts were incorporated into each apartment. Utilsing all five levels of the Townhouse allowed three Luxury apartments to be created. Flat One was converted into a Ground / Basement three bed Duplex Apartment. Flat Two, on the preferred first floor, was retained as a single level two bed Apartment with a stunning open plan Kitchen / Lounge benefiting from views across Kelvingrove Park. Flat Three is a large Duplex flat over the second floor and Attic which allows for a three bed apartment with generous social space divided over a single level.

The fabric of each apartment benefits from a luxurious interior which was beautifully designed to provide sophisticated living space with an exceptional specification throughout. All the apartments are accessed via an imposing residents’ lobby, with all accommodation featuring a magnificent lounge with fireplace, stunning fitted dining kitchen handmade by Callerton and fitted by award winning company Kitchens by J D Geddes, shower room with marble wall and floor tiles, lower landing with storage facilities, two / three double bedrooms with dressing rooms and en-suites in both the superb master and second bedroom, family bathroom, and utility room.

Features in all the apartments include Linn home entertainment system, individual designer bathrooms, Corian worktops, designer lighting, fine carpets and stunning walnut floors, under floor gas central heating throughout and video entry system.

The standard of finish and uncompromising approach to the restoration reflect the MIB Homes values of providing quality workmanship and highest possible finish.

Review of Works

All walls stripped back to brick, timber assessed and renewed where applicable
Exterior walls insulated, sheeted and plastered
All previous office space walls removed
Interior walls insulated, sheeted and plastered
All floors renewed with insulation and sound proofing
All ceiling cornice renewed to original design
Townhouse communal stairwell sky light replaced
Townhouse roof renewed
All original doors and architraves renewed
Mosaic tiles renewed in entrance lobby
All sash and case wooden renewed, respecting the Grade ‘A’ listed building status
Underfloor gas central heating throughout
Full new electrical installation throughout
Linn Entertainment System installed throughout all rooms, Smart sound system.
Video entry system
Walnut floors installed throughout
Luxury marble wall and floor tiles used throughout
Handmade Callerton Kitchens fitted in all apartments
Bespoke iron spiral staircase manufactured and installed
External render re-pointed and sand blasted
Rear Garden transformed into a tiered deck communal area
All decoration products provided by Farrow & Ball

Cnoc Soilleir Press Release – Works to Start on Site.
20 January 2020

Cnoc Soilleir Ltd is delighted to announce that the Construction Contract has been signed between them and MacInnes Brothers Ltd. to build the new two storey facilities in Daliburgh South Uist for both Ceòlas and Lews Castle College UHI (LCC UHI), who have come together to form the joint venture partnership that is Cnoc Soilleir.

This is a major milestone and fantastic outcome for Uist on a journey with over 20 years of development work between the community and the College. Mairi MacInnes, Chair of Ceòlas says: Cnoc Soilleir will take Ceòlas to another level as a key organisation for supporting Gaelic development in Uist and far beyond!

The new building designed by John Renshaw Architects is being built to meet the exemplary PassivHaus energy efficient standards, a first for the Western Isles, and will provide a new home for LCC UHI’s award winning Applied Music courses, and for Ceòlas and their music, Gaelic and cultural heritage activities.

This is the initial phase of this transformational project; works will start on site at the end of January 2020 and are due to be completed in the spring of 2021. It will comprise specialist teaching and support spaces, as well as a library and archive space, with access for the community and visitors, and a bespoke recording studio and control room.

This exciting new venture in the heart of the South Uist community is enabled by the generous funding from the following stakeholders: Scottish Government, Gaelic and Scots Team; Scottish Government Regeneration Capital Grant Fund (RCGF); Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE); Comhairle nan Eilean Siar; Bord na Gàidhlig; and a number of private individuals.

MacInnes Bros Ltd (MIB) are extremely happy to have been awarded the enabling and Phase 1 Construction works for a new Gaelic, Art and Music centre in South Uist. David MacInnes, Project Manager for MIB says ‘as a company, we are very proud to be able to support this local project and we feel it will be very beneficial to encourage and support Gaidhlig language learning, heritage, culture, music and dance. It is also a great opportunity for us as a company to be able to continue to offer local employment. We are very much looking forward to working alongside Cnoc Soilleir Ltd.’

Deputy First Minister John Swinney said:
“I am pleased to see funding is now in place to allow the Cnoc Soilleir project to go ahead. This new facility will provide South Uist with employment opportunities and promote and strengthen Gaelic at many levels.”

“This is also a great example of partnership working and the Scottish Government will remain a strong supporter of this project.”

Scottish Civil Engineering Awards 2019 Winner – Innovation Award

Scottish Water – Lochmaddy WTW Official Site Opening

MacInnes Bros Ltd were appointed as the Main Subcontractor on this contract on behalf of RossShire Engineering Ltd. The works included the construction of a 1200m access road to a new Raw Water Pump Station, installation of approximately 4000m water main, rock blasting and excavation works. These works were carried out within a remote area of natural beauty in difficult terrain with excavations taking place adjacent to peat, water and within rock.

Major Plant acquisitions were made for this contract as it was important to us to maximise productivity and value for money by ensuring we had the best available plant and machinery for this contract. Due to our geographical location, we find adverse weather conditions to be a regular hurdle. We try to overcome this by proactively ordering materials well in advance so that adverse weather/ferry cancellations does not affect delivery or production on site. For the rock blasting elements, explosives were required to be helicoptered to the island of North Uist and these were then stored in a magazine on site. Pleasant weather conditions were vital in the transportation of the explosives as cancellations will occur after certain wind speeds/visibility levels etc.

During the works MacInnes Bros Ltd were able to provide employment opportunities for local people: plant operators, HGV drivers, labourers and a site supervisor. In addition to sourcing staff locally, we actively sought to source materials from local suppliers, where possible to ensure that the benefit of these orders were channeled to the local community rather than placing the orders with off island suppliers who had offered lower prices.

Cnoc Soilleir Press Release – Works to Start on Site.20 January 2020

MacInnes Brothers Ltd

Contacts

Cnoc Soilleir Press Release – Works to Start on Site.
20 January 2020