Northern Lights shine as Granite City buzzes

THE pace of development in Aberdeen has quickened as projects aimed at the region’s buoyant oil and gas industry come on stream.

Construction firm Keir has won a £6 million contract to develop infrastructure on the Core Aberdeen business park.

The 100-acre project, backed by property fund Mountgrange Investment Management, is expected to be ready for its first tenants by March 2014.

Mountgrange’s Real Estate Opportunity Fund and Harrogate-based Generate Land joined forces last year to acquire the site, part of the region’s “Energetica corridor”.

Keir Construction, part of a Bedfordshire-based group, is responsible for providing 5.5 megawatts of electricity, new gas, water and drainage supplies, a new access road and landscaping.

Keir Construction managing director Brian McQuade said: “We are proud to be associated with this landmark project and to be contributing to the development of the region.”

Barney Crockett, leader of Aberdeen City Council, said: “This is fabulous news for Aberdeen. The level of investment and development in the city is really remarkable, particularly compared to other areas in the UK and Europe.”

He added: “The Core business park is a fantastic example of the interest the city is generating, and I am delighted to see work getting under way on site, with jobs being created during the construction phase and the prospect of future jobs once this low-carbon development has been completed.”

Listed North Sea explorer Enquest has teamed up with local developer Drum Property Group to replace the derelict Aberdeen Seafood Park in the harbour area with a flagship office building.

The developer has submitted plans to demolish the facilities to make way for new North Sea headquarters for Enquest.

Enquest, which has a small HQ in London, will become owner of the building, which will provide accommodation for up to 800 personnel.

David Heslop, Enquest’s managing director UKCS, said: “From our perspective, this development fits with our primary focus of securing a high-quality flagship building that clearly demonstrates the company’s long-term commitment to Aberdeen and the North Sea and enables us to consolidate our existing workforce under one roof.”

Enquest was formed in 2010 out of an agreement between Petrofac and Lundin Petroleum to de-merge and then integrate their UK North Sea assets portfolios, including two major development projects at Alma-Galia and Kraken.