September 23, 2013
W M Donald has been named as the civil infrastructure works provider for the first phase of Chapelton, Scotland’s largest planned new town.
The Aberdeenshire-based civil engineering construction firm was selected after a competitive and lengthy tender process, beating off a number of other local and national firms.
Six companies were invited to tender for the £8m contract, which will include roads, drainage, services and landscaping to support the first stage of 255 homes in the first Chapelton neighbourhood, Cairnhill.
Cairnhill will be the first of seven neighbourhoods at Chapelton that transform 2,000 acres of farmland into a thriving new community in the north east including schools, offices and a vibrant high street.
Today’s announcement is a significant milestone for Chapelton which will eventually create 8,000 new homes in a £2bn development – making it Scotland’s largest settlement for a generation.
W M Donald currently employs over 50 members of staff and the contract will bring significant employment opportunities to the local area.
William Donald, Managing Director of W M Donald, said: “This is a very exciting project for us to be involved in and we look forward to creating a number of jobs for local people.
“Being on board at the start of such a flagship development is great news for us and we look forward to starting work on the site as soon as possible.”
W M Donald has worked on a number of projects within the Aberdeen city and shire area since the company was founded in 1977 including business parks, housing developments, traffic calming works and commercial developments.
Lord Southesk, Director of Elsick Development Company (EDC), said: “We are very pleased to be working with a local company of proven ability to get the project underway. Today’s announcement is a statement of intent that we are moving from the planning to the construction phase. It will be very exciting to see the diggers begin. It won’t be long until we see a community emerging and, in the longer term, schools, community facilities, commercial space and a vibrant high street.”