ScottishPower has formally submitted plans for a new 14 storey office building in the City Centre of Glasgow, which will become the energy company’s UK Headquarters. The company hopes that the application will be considered by Glasgow City Council in time for construction work to commence in Quarter 3 of 2013.
Following board approval for the new office in July this year ScottishPower has finalised the designs and plans for development, which will be the largest single-occupier development in the City for around 25 years, with more than 220,000sq ft of floor space. Set to accommodate up to 1900 ScottishPower people, the development is expected to be completed by late 2015.
Through the design development process refinements have been made to the exterior design of the elevations and internal floor layouts. Helical Bar plc with their Scottish based development partner Dawn Developments Ltd are the confirmed developer for the new HQ.
Ignacio Galan, Chairman of Iberdrola and ScottishPower, said: “This is a major milestone for our Group. We operate in over 40 countries around the world, but we recognise that the energy industry in Scotland and across the UK is a central part of global operations.
“We have major investments planned here in the coming years, with £3.5 billion being invested between 2012 and 2014 alone. Our company and our industry will play a central role in helping to boost the economy by offering highly skilled employment for thousands of people. This new office complex will be the central hub that allows us to deliver and manage these investments.
“We have always stated that Glasgow would remain as the central location for our company in the UK and our new development reaffirms our commitment to the City.”
Keith Anderson, Chief Corporate Officer at ScottishPower, said: “The new office complex is an exciting development that will provide a modern and functional space to support all areas of our business. We are a growth business, with expanding interests in across all areas of the energy industry in the UK. Our renewable energy business continues to grow, along with electrical engineering, traditional power generation and a strong retail customer business. By developing this new HQ, we will have a central base to help the business continue to grow.”
Glasgow Chamber chief executive Stuart Patrick said:
“This investment by ScottishPower shows great commitment to the city, and we warmly welcome it. It also provides a substantial boost to the construction industry at a difficult time for that sector. Glasgow is on the cusp of a wonderful opportunity in the renewables sector, with ScottishPower centering on the city in tidal, wave and marine in addition to other initiatives like the Strathclyde Technology and Innovation Centre and the Catapult offshore renewables centre.”
Media information: Simon McMillan 0141 614 4582 / 07753 622257