The developer behind the new £333million conference complex in Aberdeen said it hopes to start building this summer – once financing is in place.
Henry Boot, which was chosen as preferred developer for the facility in 2013,said it started 2016 in an “excellent position” after planning permission was secured for the scheme late last year.
The Sheffield-based developer saw its shares rise 4.7% to 228.5p yesterday after it delivered an upbeat update to the London Stock Exchange, adding that it expected its 2015 results to come in “slightly ahead of market expectations”.
In addition to a residential redevelopment at a chocolate factory in York, the listed construction firm highlighted its progress on the AECC project.
In a statement it said: “We recently obtained detailed planning permission for our major development in Aberdeen which includes a conference centre, three hotels, an anaerobic digestion plant and an energy centre.
“This, first-phase scheme, has a gross development value in the region of £300million and once financing and contractor discussions are concluded, we hope to start building out
midway through 2016.”
Planning permission for the development – which includes an energy centre and a 200-bedroom hotel – was granted by the council’s planning development management committee on December 10.
The new AECC is expected to be completed in 2018, in advance of the Offshore Exhibition the following year.