SIX contenders are in the race to start laying the foundations for a new town in the north-east.
The bidding process for the infrastructure works is now underway following outline planning approval for more than 4,000 homes and a detailed application for the first 800 properties at Chapelton, south of Aberdeen.
The six companies will bid for a multi-million pound contract that will include roads, drainage, services and landscaping to support the first stage of 255 homes. The tender process is being handled by project management and construction consultant Turner and Townsend on behalf of Elsick Development Company (EDC).
Norrie Kitson, associate director at Turner and Townsend, said: “This is a seldom-seen opportunity to be involved in developing a new type of community. We have invited a range of local and national companies to compete and hope to find a partner we can work with for the duration of this exciting project.”
The winning bidder is expected to be announced in August and will start on site in the autumn.
In recent months EDC appointed mechanical and electrical engineer RSP Consulting and utilities broker Inventa Partners to work together on a proposal for all utilities for the development.
Lord Southesk, director of EDC, said: “After years of consulting the community and planning we are rapidly moving towards construction of a new community, which in the long term could include up to 8,000 homes. We look forward to the successful company breaking ground later this year.”
The six contractors are Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering, Breedon Aggregates Scotland, Galliford Try Construction (Morrison Construction), McLaughlin & Harvey, Sir Robert McAlpine, and W M Donald.
Image – One of the neighbourhoods planned for the new town.
