Scotland

Delivering a boost to Dunfermline

Main Contractors Winvic are building a new Amazon distribution centre in Dunfermline – a development that will bring seven hundred and fifty permanent jobs to the local area.

This will be the largest Amazon distribution centre in the UK. Situated next to the M90 and A92, it will cover an area the size of fourteen football pitches. From the warehouse, deliveries will be made across the UK and Europe. Amazon has predicted that at peak times, a further one and a half thousand temporary jobs may be created at the centre. Dunfermline West MSP, Jim Tolson, has spoken about the positive effect that this will have on the local economy, saying that the announcement of the new centre was “excellent news”.

The new centre has been partly funded by Scottish Enterprise, who have provided a grant of £2 million in Regional Selection Assistance and £500,000 in training grants. The First Minister for Scotland, Alex Salmond SMP, explained that the funding provision is part of the drive by The Scottish Government, Scottish Development International and Scottish Enterprise to encourage new investment and business in the area.

The centre is being built for clients Graftongate Investments, and has been designed by architects Frank Shaw Associates. It will comprise a warehouse covering 955,120 square feet, with associated offices and social room spaces covering 61,730 square feet. External works will include the creation of car parking, hardstandings and drainage facilities.

Northampton based Winvic is a multi-disciplinary contractor who delivers projects around the UK. They are known for being the leading ‘shed’ specialist, and are prominent in the industrial and commercial distribution sectors. Due to client demands, Winvic’s growth strategy has seen them move into a number of other different sectors, including education, retail, healthcare and infrastructure.

Work is currently underway and the project should take forty-two weeks to complete. It is expected to be open and fully operational by the end of this year.

The new two-storey building will provide 1025m2 of flexible, quality accommodation, including offices and workshops for small and start-up businesses, as well as retail space. The steel-framed building will feature zinc, natural stone and facing brick cladding and will incorporate cost-effective innovation, sustainability and green technology.

Patrick Wiggins, Chief Executive of Irvine Bay, said: “The development is going ahead in response to the need for good quality business accommodation to stimulate the local economy, encourage new businesses to start and to attract business relocation into the area.”

A group of first year pupils from Auchenharvie Academy have passed on knowledge on the history of the site of the new business centre to local primary school-children.

The group of four pupils delivered presentations on the site’s days as a cinema to its more recent use as a bingo hall.

They then presented the results of a survey they carried out asking what type of businesses should be attracted to the new building. The pupils did the work for an Irvine Bay school project, and also took part in the company’s Annual Public Meeting

The group, with teacher Martin Holmes, presented first to a P5 and P6 class at Ardeer Primary, followed by a presentation to a P5/6 group at Glencairn Primary who will be carrying out an Irvine Bay Regeneration Company schools project next school year.

Irvine Bay Chief Executive Patrick Wiggins said: “We often say that regeneration is about more than just bricks and mortar, and our innovative and developing programme of work with local schools is testament to the holistic approach we are taking to regenerating the area.

“The visits will help the leadership, communications and teamwork of the first year pupils and hopefully inspire the primary pupils to get involved in following the development of the new business centre and how it will impact on their town.”

Maxi Construction Limited is a building contractor who provides a safe, high-quality, cost-effective service to clients in most market sectors including commercial, community, education, industrial, local authority, residential, retail and sports and leisure.

The company is confident in delivering successful projects which meet or exceed clients’ aspirations in terms of cost, time and quality. They are well placed to service the needs of their growing client base throughout central and southern Scotland.

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Roma Publications