News Update 12 Jun 2008

£353 million price tag for Scotland’s National Showground as public consultation launched

A deliverability study has put the cost of relocating the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society for Scotland’s base from Ingliston to Norton Park at £353 million.

The figure has been published as RHASS launch a public consultation on their plans with an architects impression of the first Royal Highland Show to be held there in 2013.



All the images will be shown at a reception in the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday 17th June giving MSPs an opportunity to comment and ask questions. The plans will also be displayed at this year’s Royal Highland Show, which is being held at Ingliston from Thursday 19th – Sunday 22nd June.

Ray Jones, Chief Executive of RHASS said:

“The deliverability study gives us an accurate cost and further detailed plans which will help us to move this exciting project forward. We are currently in discussion with BAA, who need our existing showground site to meet their expansion plans for Edinburgh Airport, about our relocation costs.

“Through our consultation we are looking forward to hearing from all of Scotland regarding our plans. In the week before our biggest ever Royal Highland Show it is an exciting time to be talking about a new world class home for the Show. Our plans for Scotland’s National Showground at Norton Park include a new showground, member’s pavilion, three new halls, a 10,000 seat indoor arena, and an enlarged site.

“We currently generate over £250 million for the Scottish economy, a benefit that has the potential to double with Scotland’s National Showground.”

Following publication of the West of Edinburgh Planning Framework last month, the Society is now proceeding with the submission for outline planning permission by 2009, at a cost of over £1 million.

To meet the requirements of the UK Government’s 2003 Aviation White Paper and BAA Edinburgh’s Masterplan schedule, RHASS need to begin construction of the new site in 2010 in order for it to be completed by March 2013 to enable the existing site to be used for airport growth.

Kevin Murray, Associate Director, Mace, the consultancy and construction firm, which carried out the deliverability study, said:

“As part of our initial commission Mace managed the appointment of the masterplan architect through a design competition, plus the appointment of the cost consultant to review the resulting cost model, and we have now successfully concluded the deliverability appraisal. The appraisal focussed on the delivery timescales and development framework for the project, and we are now progressing the development of the Masterplan for Scotland's National Showground at Norton Park with the Society and the Masterplan team.

“Mace has a strong track record in delivering projects on time and to budget, and we look forward to working with the Society to ensure that Scotland's National Showground at Norton Park is ready for its first Royal Highland Show in 2013.”



Background

The new figures are based on 2012 prices and replaces the previous estimate of £275million +/- 25% (based on 2007 prices), which was produced in a 2007 feasibility study funded by the Scottish Executive, Scottish Enterprise Edinburgh and the Lothians and RHASS.

The new figure is a ‘like-for-like’ replacement cost for the relocation of the current amenities at Ingliston and does not include additional facilities, including an additional hall, the 10,000 seat arena and a hotel extension that have been proposed for the new site.

In May 2008 the Scottish Government published the West of Edinburgh Plan, which identified Norton Park as the new site for RHASS.

Mace, which managed the RBS headquarters project at Gogarburn, and who delivered the project on time and under budget, will be overseeing the development of Scotland’s National Showground.

Mace Group, which is currently handling projects worldwide worth £43 billion, has an international reputation for finding the best solutions to complex property and real estate challenges.

The RHASS established a permanent showground and headquarters at Ingliston nearly 50 years ago. Known as the Royal Highland Centre – Scotland’s National Showground, it hosted 205 events in 2007 over 650 event days with 1.2 million visitors. It contributes around £250 million annually to the Scottish economy including £100 million to Edinburgh and Lothians.

Expansion plans for Edinburgh Airport were outlined in the 2003 White Paper on The Future of Air Transport.

The 2008 Royal Highland Show will take place from Thursday 19th June through to Sunday 22nd June. For further details

National Showground Scotland - building info from Fleishman-Hillard 120608

Scottish National Showground : winning architect - make

RHASS National Showground Winner - News Update 4 Feb 2008:

RHASS appoints Make and Edaw to design Scotland’s National Showground at Norton Park

RHASS has announced that Make and Edaw have won the contract to develop the Masterplan for Scotland’s National Showground.

Ray Jones, Chief Executive, RHASS said:

“Both Make and Edaw have a tremendous track record in designing world class buildings and landscapes. Scotland’s National Showground at Norton Park is an exciting project, which promises to deliver a unique facility in the UK, with a new showground, member’s pavilion, a new Highland hall, a 10,000 seat indoor arena, and over 250 acres of landscaped grounds.”

The £275 million plus project originally attracted the interest of twenty design companies from which four companies were short-listed. The project is expected to begin construction in 2010 with the doors expected to open for the first time in 2013.

The new facilities will generate jobs, bring additional tourists, attract top music acts, and international conferences to Scotland, as well as providing a new home for an even bigger Royal Highland Show.

Ewan Anderson, Partner, Make said:

“The Make/EDAW team are honoured to be selected as the RHASS’s masterplan architects to realise the Society’s bold vision for Scotland’s National Showground at Norton Park. It’s a tremendous opportunity to be involved in delivering a world class events venue and international showcase for Scotland’s rural industries.”

Pol Anderson, Principal, Edaw said:

“RHASS are an ambitious organisation and we are all looking forward to working with them to create an internationally recognised facility which all of Scotland can be proud of.”

Scottish National Showground - News Update Dec 2007:
BDP, Foster & Partners, HOK and make shortlisted in Dec 2007 to design Scottish National Showground.

The Royal Highland Agricultural Society for Scotland chose from 20 submission for the site at Norton Park. Facilities include a new showground, member's pavilion, new Highland hall, 10,000 seat indoor arena, and over 250 acres of landscaped grounds.

Due on site 2009-13 with a cost around £275m. RHASS are demanding a “world class facility”. Mace commissioned to produce a delivery study for the proposed Norton Park site.



RHASS’ proposed move to the new Norton Park site is in response to the proposed expansion of Edinburgh Airport on to RHASS current site at Ingliston with the first phase of BAA’s masterplan for the airport due in 2013.

Expansion plans for Edinburgh Airport were outlined in the 2003 White Paper on The Future of Air Transport

The Feasibility Study on Norton Park was published in February 2007. It was funded by the Scottish Executive, Scottish Enterprise Edinburgh and Lothians (SEEL), the RHASS and undertaken by Roger Tym and Partners.

RHASS has commissioned a delivery study for the proposed Norton Park site, which is being conducted by Mace. The study will include a pre-construction survey, planning, design, transport links, design competition, costings and timing. The proposed Norton Park site is located on the outskirts of Edinburgh on the opposite side of the A8 to where RHASS is currently located.

The RHASS established a permanent showground and headquarters at Ingliston nearly 50 years ago. Known as the Royal Highland Centre – Scotland’s National Showground, it hosts around 150 events a year with 1.2 million visitors. It contributes around £250 million annually to the Scottish economy including £100 million to Edinburgh and Lothians.

Make was founded by Ken Shuttleworth in 2004 and has already established itself as one of the UK’s foremost architectural firms, with over 100 employees based in studios in London, Edinburgh and Birmingham. The Edinburgh studio is currently involved in projects throughout Scotland ranging from the redevelopment of the Ross Bandstand, a mixed-use development at Westfield Avenue, Edinburgh, a major office development on the Broomielaw in Glasgow, a project for Forth Ports, masterplans for Inverness Airport Business Park and Speirs Locks in Glasgow, and proposals for the former Edinburgh Odeon.

Edaw:Aecom is currently working on the Olympic Masterplan, where they are the lead masterplanners. In Edinburgh they are currently working on Quartermile, and were responsible for the landscape masterlan for the Royal bank of Scotland HQ at Gogarburn.

Scottish Architects of the past

Scottish Architecture



National Showground : main page

Scottish National Showground context : Edinburgh Airport

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Scottish National Showground Building: page - adrian welch / isabelle lomholt

Website: www.royalhighlandshow.org.uk