Seafood Park Regeneration Plan Approved.
Ambitious proposals submitted by the Drum Property Group for a multi-million pound redevelopment of the derelict Aberdeen Seafood Park were approved today by the city council.
Plans submitted by Drum will see the demolition of the park in the harbour area. It will be replaced by a high quality office development which will become the new North Sea headquarters for EnQuest. The company is the largest UK independent oil producer in the UK North Sea and currently employs around 500 people at two locations in Aberdeen.
Drum Director Graeme Bone commented:
“Clearly we are very pleased with this decision and with the recognition shown by Councillors and planning officials of the considerable economic benefits our proposals will bring to a long-neglected city centre area.
This purpose made solution for EnQuest will support the company’s continued expansion plans. It will also lead to the physical regeneration of a rundown part of the city and in addition act as a catalyst in generating additional long term activity for the harbour area and Aberdeen in general.”
Building work is expected to commence at the end of September 2013 and be complete by the end of 2014, with a proposed relocation for EnQuest in the first quarter of 2015.
The new building will have the capacity to accommodate up to 800 people and will enable EnQuest to consolidate its workforce under one roof.
David Heslop, EnQuest’s Managing Director UKCS, said:
“EnQuest has enjoyed considerable growth since it was established in 2010 and we have been looking at opportunities to relocate from our current sites to larger, bespoke facilities in Aberdeen for some time, reaffirming the city’s status as our centre of operational excellence.
Our chief aim was to secure a building in the city centre which reinforces EnQuest’s long-term commitment to Aberdeen and the North Sea.”
The site is bounded by Palmerston Road, Raik road, Poynernook Road and Stell Road. The proposed internal office area of the building is approximately 120,000 sq ft over eight storeys. Associated car parking will be provided on-site in an adjoining building.