Council chiefs have struck a deal with a private infrastructure company to provide tradespeople such as plumbers and electricians for a new multimillion-pound secondary school in Aberdeen — for the next quarter of a century.
Robertson has been named preferred bidder for a 25-year contract to supply “facilities management services” at the Aberdeen South of the City academy.
The contract also includes an IT helpdesk, window cleaners and ground maintenance among other services.
Construction at the £42million school, on a site between Wellington Road and Redmoss Road, has commenced and it is due to open in August 2018.
Robertson’s Facilities Management division won a competitive tender and is already supporting the project.
Designed to accommodate up to 1,350 pupils, the school will replace Torry and Kincorth academies and will include a three-storey teaching block, a separate sports block with swimming pool and an all-weather sports pitch.
Ian Gibson, managing director of Robertson Facilities Management, said: “This is a major win and is yet more evidence of our status as a trusted contractor in the education sector.
“We are already hard at work with our development team currently advising on designs.
“Across the contract, we will be offering maintenance services and we look forward to welcoming pupils to what will be a state-of-the-art facility upon completion.”
The massive project has proved controversial. In March, it was revealed that costs would be more than £14million over budget – with around £9million spent on preparing the ground.
When plans for the new South of the City academy were unveiled in 2012, the expected cost was £32million.
Last night SNP group leader Stephen Flynn, who also serves as a councillor for Kincorth, Nigg and Cove, said: “I think this is part and parcel of the funding mechanism that the council has with the Scottish Government.
“When we go through the process, we need to keep a good watching brief of how the money is being spent.”
Council finance convener Willie Young added: “This school will be really good news for the city and will hugely benefit the citizens.”
