Construction works for new school buildings, a sports area, and repairs to a historic Grade A listed building are progressing well, an Aberdeen City Council committee heard today.
The Finances and Resources Committee agreed to the update for capital works which included the new Greyhope School & Community Hub and new Riverbank Primary School in Tillydrone, a new Cruyff Court at Tillydrone, roof and parapet works at The Tolbooth, the new energy from waste plant in Tullos Industrial Estate, and Scottish Government-funded Ukraine refurbished council housing.
Committee Convener Councillor Alex McLellan said: “There is a number of major capital projects ongoing across Aberdeen which is all to ensure Aberdeen remains a place people want to live, work, study, raise a family or do business.”
The report to committee said the Council took possession of the new Greyhope School & Community Hub last October 2023 and it was brought into use following the October 2023 school holiday break.
For the Tillydrone Primary School, the report said the principal contractor has continued with the erection of the cross-laminated timber structure with external fabric and internal first fix works have now started.
For the energy from waste plant in Tullos Industrial Estate, Indaver, the operations contractor for the services phase, has now formally taken control of the operation of the facility from the main building contractor after the successful achievement of the construction and commissioning phases.
The report said works have progressed with the Tillydrone Cruyff Court and a completion date is imminent.
Works to repair and conserve the external fabric of the Grade A listed, early 17th Century Tolbooth building in the city centre have included renewing the old lead on the existing spire, the repair/conservation of stonework of the external walls and parapets and associated works.
The works are progressing with repointing, carving of replacement stone, rot treatment, structural timber replacement and stripping of leadwork all ongoing. However as works progress, the report said it is becoming apparent that the condition of the stone and structural timbers is worse than anticipated which has led to additional works being required with a likely delay to completion and extra costs.
The report said works for refurbishment of units for the Scottish Government-funded Ukraine long-term resettlement fund are now almost complete with 496 units have been refurbished or repair works carried out on them and approximately 380 units are now occupied.
The report to committee stressed there is a significant risk costs will increase for all capital building works due to several external factors including inflation, energy supply and cost, the continued impacts of Covid 19, war in Ukraine, Red Sea disruption, and Brexit. The report said close collaboration is being maintained with the Council’s finance service.
Pic caption: work continues on the new primary school in Tillydrone