Robertson has kept its run of new deals going after winning a £15million contract to redevelop the birthplace of international rugby, the infrastructure group said yesterday.
Robertson’s central belt construction division to will be the main contractor for the revamp of Raeburn Place in Edinburgh’s Stockbridge neighbourhood.
The sports ground is famous for having hosted the firth rugby international in 1871, a fixture which saw Scotland vanquish arch-rivals England.
The first Calcutta Cup match between the two sides was also played at the venue, which is home to Edinburgh Accies, thought to be the oldest rugby club in Scotland.
Robertson Central, headquartered in Stirling, will oversee the construction of a new 2,500-seat stand, a new rugby pitch, mini training pitches, changing rooms, a sprint track, purpose-built gym, medical and physiotherapy rooms.
Cricket will return to the fold with the laying of a new pitch and the installation of practice nets, along with a sustainable surface draining system and upgraded floodlighting.
The development will also incorporate new function suites, a café bar, retail and commercial units and a museum of international rugby to showcase Raeburn Place’s rugby heritage.
Edinburgh City Council awarded planning permission for the development in July 2014, followed a year later by licences, despite a string of objections from residents in the vicinity of the grounds.
Residents said the new facilities would lead to soaring traffic levels and threaten independent traders, while the award of a licence allowing alcohol to be served until 1am would create noise pollution.
But their complaints appear to have fallen on deaf ears, as work is expected to get under way this summer with a view to completion in time for the start of the 2017/18 season.
David Newlands, chairman of the Raeburn Place Foundation, a charity behind the development project, said: “This is an exciting moment for everyone who has been involved in planning for this project. We are delighted to have appointed Robertson Central to build new facilities at Raeburn Place. We were impressed by their understanding of the importance of our heritage and the community in delivering high quality, sustainable facilities that will enhance this important part of the city.”
David Cairns, the division’s regional managing director, said: “This is a complex development with many different elements and it is a challenge we are well equipped to handle thanks to our extensive experience.
“We will work closely with the Raeburn Place Foundation over the coming months to deliver the design and look forward to starting work on site this summer.”
The Raeburn contract follows the award of a £2.4million deal to the group’s engineering division for the installation of timber frames at six Scottish schools.
Its facilities management business recently netted a £1.5million contract to run a council office building in Perth, as well as a £1million agreement to clean five Scottish prisons.
Robertson Central was set up about 15 years ago by the group, which comprises 18 separate businesses working in infrastructure, support services, engineering and construction.
The Stirling- and Elgin-headquartered group has more than 1,700 staff members and amassed a turnover of £290million for the year to April 3, 2015.