Chap Group wins £14.5 million construction contracts

CHAP Group has been appointed to carry out two major Aberdeen City Council projects after securing contracts worth a total of £14.5million.

The Westhill-based group has been selected to build a 99 home development on the site of the former Smithfield School in Aberdeen – the largest council housing scheme in the city for more than 10 years. The £12m design and build contract will call upon CHAP’s decades of experience in the housing sector.

A £2.5m contract for the expansion of the Lord Provost Henry E. Rae Community Centre has also been awarded to CHAP by Aberdeen City Council.

The project will include alterations to the facility and an extension designed to enhance its provision to the community in the Middlefield area.

CHAP Group, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, operates divisions in the construction, commercial property, house building, civil engineering and quarrying sectors. Both local authority contracts will be carried out by the construction arm of the group.

Joint managing director Douglas Thomson said: “We are continuing to develop our pipeline of new business across the group and these latest contract awards are a demonstration of how effective those efforts have been.

“To have been successful in two competitive tenders of this scale is very satisfying and is a reflection on not only our commitment to providing best value to our clients but also to the quality of our work, track record in major projects and ability to provide innovative solutions.”

The Smithfield development, in the Middlefield area of the city, will feature a range of semi-detached and detached houses in addition to apartments.

Chap enlisted Inverurie-based William Lippe Architects for the design of the new homes that will meet the needs of modern families. Work on site is expected to begin in April 2016. It is the latest major residential scheme to be undertaken by CHAP, which includes the 260 unit £33m development at Donside in Aberdeen in its portfolio.

The Lord Provost Henry E. Rae Community Centre project will significantly enhance the facilities at the site, which is accessed from Manor Avenue. The existing building will be refurbished and expanded with an innovatively designed new wing, creating additional meeting space in addition to nursery provision and healthcare facilities for the community. Work is already underway.

Mr Thomson added: “Both projects will make a positive impact on the neighbouring communities in which they are located and we are delighted to be delivering these on behalf of Aberdeen City Council.

“There is a great deal of positive development being undertaken throughout the north-east, both through the local authorities and in the private sector, which is particularly encouraging during a challenging period for the north-east economy. We have previously stated our focus on exploring opportunities for growth across the group and these latest contract wins are part of that.”