RHASS Appoints Mace For Norton Park Re-Location
The Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland has appointed one of the world’s leading management and construction companies to conduct a pre-construction study on the move from its present headquarters at Ingliston to the proposed Norton Park showground and event complex.
Mace, which is currently handling projects worldwide worth £43 billion, has an international reputation for finding the best solutions to complex property and real estate challenges.
The company, which managed the RBS headquarters project at Gogarburn, Edinburgh, is currently managing the Shard London Bridge and is part of CLM, the consortium responsible for delivering the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Mace is due to begin the Norton Park study this month (October) and is expected to report back to the RHASS within three to four months. The report will cover a pre-construction survey, planning, design, legislation, transport links, design competition, costings and timing.
Earlier this year, following a feasibility study, the RHASS published a master plan and site layout of Norton Park - Scotland’s National Showground, which will be situated in an area South of the present Royal Highland Centre site at Ingliston.
The plan was produced in response to the proposed expansion of Edinburgh Airport on to RHASS owned land with the first phase of BAA’s masterplan for the airport due in 2013.
The feasibility study estimated the cost of re-location and re-development at around £275 million.
RHASS Chairman Allan Murray said: “If the 2013 deadline is to be met, we urgently need accurate indications of all the practicalities, timing and costs involved in what will be one of Scotland’s most significant construction projects.
“Mace has been appointed not only because of its impressive record in project management and construction delivery but also for its knowledge of the local infrastructure from its previous work on the nearby RBS headquarters.
“Although we have an estimated cost of £275 million from the feasibility study, the Mace study will allow us to finalise that figure. The development of Norton Park, however, still depends on funds being made available from the parties forcing us to move.”
Mace Director Rob Owen said: “This appointment adds further support to our expanding Scottish business and builds on the relationship created with the RHASS over a number of years.
“Mace’s pre-construction services have been one of our core service offers for a number of years and in many ways is the most value-adding stage in the development of any scheme for our clients.”
Notes
1 Expansion plans for Edinburgh Airport were outlined in the 2003 White Paper on The Future of Air Transport.
2 The Feasibility Study on Norton Park was published in February 2007. It was funded by the Scottish Executive, Scottish Enterprise Edinburgh and Lothians (SEEL), the RHASS and undertaken by Roger Tym and Partners.
3 The RHASS established a permanent showground and headquarters at Ingliston nearly 50 years ago. Known as the Royal Highland Centre – Scotland’s National Showground, it hosts around 150 events a year with 1.2 million visitors. It contributes around £250 million annually to the Scottish economy including £100 million to Edinburgh and Lothians.
October 2, 2007 rhasspr07mace
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