Work to transform a rundown part of Aberdeen harbour and create a new Scottish HQ for oil firm EnQuest is now under way.
The former Aberdeen Seafood Park has been demolished to make way for a huge new office complex.
The site, bounded by Palmerston Road, Raik Road, Poynernook Road and Stell Road, will cover about 120,000sq ft over eight storeys and will be developed by Drum Property Group.
The building will have the capacity to accommodate up to 800 people and will allow EnQuest to consolidate its workforce under one roof.
Drum Property Group said yesterday that the revamp of the park will give the area – next to the Union Square shopping centre – a major boost.
Drum director Graeme Bone said: “This development enables EnQuest to relocate to larger, bespoke facilities and will help the company realise its continuing expansion plans. More generally, it will also lead to the physical regeneration of a neglected and rundown area of the city and, in addition, act as a catalyst in generating additional long-term economic activity for the harbour area and city in general.”
EnQuest UK managing director David Heslop said: “The new building clearly demonstrates EnQuest’s long-term commitment to Aberdeen and the North Sea and enables us to consolidate our existing workforce under one roof.”
Lord Provost George Adam toured the site yesterday, saying it was another example of Aberdeen’s pulling power.
“A new North Sea headquarters in Aberdeen for a leading UK independent oil producer such as EnQuest is yet another example of the city’s ongoing ability to attract investment.
“The building will be a valuable addition to the city centre. It will stimulate considerable additional economic activity in the harbour area and the development clearly demonstrates that business is very healthy in Europe’s energy capital.”
The move comes just weeks after EnQuest struck a near-£50million deal to buy North Sea assets from energy giant Centrica.
The firm is buying Centrica’s Kittiwake to Forties oil export pipeline, along with its 50% stake in the Greater Kittiwake area (GKA). This includes the Kittiwake, Mallard, Gadwall, Goosander and Grouse fields, where production runs at about 2,000 barrels a day.
The deal, which is subject to regulatory approval, will boost EnQuest’s proven and probable reserves by 4.7million barrels of oil equivalent. It may also lead to EnQuest using the region as its North Sea production hub – with its Scolty and Crathes fields being nearby.