July News!

July has seen the biggest steps in the easing of lockdown since it began in March.  With many shops, restaurants and bars opening their doors again, there’s a welcome feeling of life having returned to the City Centre.  We can all only hope that this process continues safely, letting us make some real progress back towards normality.  There has always been life in SVM Glasgow, however, and with the office now attended by at least two members of staff every day and the rest continuing to work hard from home, our clients can always be sure of delivery.

Many new projects have still managed to find their way to us in July including some fire alarm works at a station in Liverpool and ventilation design for a driver training and simulator facility in Glasgow Central Station.  Ventilation understandably is a hot topic at the moment and we have seen schemes arising at multiple station buildings and internal spaces concerning ventilation and filtration adequacy, ensuring wellbeing for the occupants.  We have also submitted several fees this month including works at a Railway Depot in Wales; design for refurbishment on departure roads for a familiar Glasgow Depot; AFA works in the Port Glasgow Area; and further work in the London to Corby area.  Meanwhile, we have also submitted fees in the commercial sector covering part of an HV/LV rectification scheme for a military site; and initial provision of design advice at a large warehouse facility in Dunfermline.

Existing projects that are keeping us busiest this month include a selection of stations in the London area; design works at Reston and East Linton; extensive design at Goole swing bridge; and stations on the Rugeley to Colwich line, where design is now well underway.  Across the Scottish central belt we remain involved at Waverley Station in various schemes including design for the toilets, concourse lighting; nearby IECC; and the beginning of works for the passenger management centre. Asset plans for several station depots are ongoing as are those at a rail freight yard in the East End of Glasgow and design for signalling feeders in Glasgow North and Edinburgh.  Staff accommodation works at Ayr Station are progressing well, as is design at Motherwell Station and Yoker Depot gantries.  To the North we continue the final stages of Aberdeen Station’s large scale upgrade, Highland Mainline; and HEP East works while, to the South, we are progressing with design at Birmingham Station and footbridge design near Cleethorpes.  Commercially speaking we are making progress with works at a site in Bearsden concerning the common water supplies and we are also hoping to begin design works at a large residential property in Castle Douglas, where we have previously been involved in a technical advisory capacity. 

While there are currently a very limited number of staff using the office, we hope to finalise our return to work plan soon which will enable a more formal return for more staff in the safest possible way.  While dining out and a civilised snifter in the pub are now a possibility we’re not quite able to organise a full night out yet – although hopefully this will be on the cards soon for SVM and all our clients and collaborators.  We hope you all stay safe in whatever way you choose to navigate these unprecedented challenges..