Macdonald Estates has been chosen to implement a “plan-B” at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre (SECC) site, following the owner’s failure to secure a license for the
The new proposal, east of the SECC, includes 150,000 sq ft of offices, a four or five star hotel, and a multi-storey carpark.
SECC needs the development to pump-prime its proposal for the new £66m, 12,500-seat Scottish National Arena.
The venue is pivotal to
Mike Closier, group chief executive of the SECC, said: “Our main objective has been to raise funds to build our Arena and Macdonald Estates has produced a great plan that will contribute towards the financing of its construction.
“The company was chosen following a formal selection process. The selection committee agreed that, of those bidding for the site, Macdonald Estates’ proposal understood exactly what we needed to achieve as set out in our tender.
“I’m confident that it will deliver.”
It is understood that the other bidders were
Work will begin on the carpark in 2008, followed by the offices in 2009 and the hotel in 2010.
The completion of the final element is scheduled to coincide with the opening of the National Arena in 2011, planning permission pending.
The three components of the scheme will be linked to the existing SECC by a footbridge, and will include retail and leisure outlets.
The proposals do not preclude the development of a casino at a later date.
