Rural and Veterinary Innovation Centre

Description

Project Context The Rural and Veterinary Innovation Centre will be developed on plot 9 of the Highlands and Islands Enterprise’s Inverness Campus. The facility will have a holistic remit that embraces both the people and the environment in which rural enterprises operate; including zoonoses (animal diseases that transmit to humans) and aspects of climate change all of which have a significant effect on the rural and local business economy of the North of Scotland. SRUC's Consulting and Veterinary Services will co−locate to the centre in order to help bridge the relationship between industry and research, so promoting innovative new approaches in existing and new rural SME businesses. SRUC will work closely with Highlands and Islands Enterprise to replicate the success of their Pathfinder Accelerator programme, and Centre for Health Science in the animal health sector. The project recently commenced RIBA stage 4 and a planning application was submitted to the Highland Council on 25th June 2021 for the development of the new two storey, 1,6060m² GIA building. To fulfil SRUC’s requirements, the building will encompass a mix of office, research and professional services spaces. The construction cost is anticipated to be approximately GBP 5.6million and the tender for the main contractor will commence towards the end of September 2021. The main contractor will be appointed via a single stage tender and then subsequently enter into an NEC4 ECC Option A contract on a design and build basis. It is intended that the contract will be awarded by the end of 2021 and the works complete by the end of 2022. A project bank account will be utilised for the main contractor and sub-contractors with a >1% share of the contract value. SRUC are seeking to engage with Tier 1 contractors with experience in constructing multi-purpose buildings, including research/clinical spaces to obtain their guidance and advice on delivering the project at the site location, mitigating logistical challenges and managing construction risk within the current market conditions.