CONSTRUCTION WORK on a new multi-million-pound supermarket in Dundee is to begin early in the new year after the appointment of a main contractor.
Paisley’s Barr Construction has secured a £6.5 million contract to build Asda’s new 40,000 square foot store on the site of the demolished former NCR cash machine factory at Myrekirk.
The contractor yesterday said it would be actively recruiting for local tradespeople as the contract progressed.
Asda have previously estimated that up to 200 jobs will be created during the construction of the new superstore and the retail site will create up to 500 long-term jobs once it has opened its doors.
Under the terms of the Asda contract, Barr will build the superstore which includes a mezzanine floor for a customer cafe and also handle the major fit-out works as well as landscaping of the car park and the grounds around the main building.
The firm will work alongside civil and structural engineering consultants Bielski Associates and mechanical, electrical and public health consulting engineers Wallace Whittle as the new store takes shape.
Barr are expected to begin work next month and the construction programme is scheduled to last for around six months before the store opens in summer next year.
Paul Griffen, construction director at Barr Construction, said: “Barr has gained invaluable experience of delivering retail stores all around the country over the past 20 years.
“However, this will be the first store we will build for Asda and we look forward to bringing this experience to bear on the delivery of a quality project and hopefully cementing our relationship with a new client.”
Mark Stephens, Asda construction manager, said: “We are delighted to confirm we have appointed Barr Construction on this build and look forward to bringing a new store to Dundee next year.”
The new superstore which is being jointly taken forward by Asda and local development company Macdonald Estates and involves a total investment of £24m was delayed after rival Tesco made a series of legal interventions questioning the legitimacy of planning approvals awarded to the project by Dundee City Council.
The wrangle was finally resolved in March after the Supreme Court dismissed the claims and within weeks bulldozers were on site tearing down the former NCR factory.
As the land has been cleared, major works have also been taking place to reshape the Myrekirk roundabout and associated infrastructure to ensure the road is capable of coping with the expected increase in traffic volumes to the new store.
Barr Construction has a total of eight supermarket developments under its belt including projects for Sainsbury’s and Waitrose but the Dundee store will be its first tie-up with Asda.
The majority of the firm’s developments have been on the west coast of Scotland but it was heavily involved in the London Olympics through the construction of the basketball arena and it has previously completed the refurbishment of the Carnegie Leisure Centre at Dunfermline.
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