Gogarburn, RBS Scotland Headquarters, Bank Offices UK, Scottish Building

Gogarburn RBS HQ Edinburgh

Royal Bank of Scotland HQ in Edinburgh – design by Michael Laird Architects / RHWL

7 Mar 2002

Royal Bank of Scotland Gogarburn

Design: Michael Laird Architects / RHWL

ROYAL BANK LODGES PLANNING APPLICATION FOR NEW WORLD HEADQUARTERS

The Royal Bank of Scotland Group has today lodged the planning application for its new world headquarters at Gogarburn, on the west side of Edinburgh. The new headquarters will become the base for 3,250 head office staff employed by the Group in Edinburgh. Subject to planning permission, The Royal Bank of Scotland Group aims to occupy the building during 2006 and over 2,000 people will be employed on the site at the peak of its construction period.

Commenting on The Royal Bank of Scotland’s plans Fred Goodwin, Group Chief Executive said: “There are a very limited number of sites in Scotland which would allow the expanded Royal Bank of Scotland Group to achieve the operational efficiencies that are necessary for a large international organisation.

“We believe that the Gogarburn site is unique, allowing us to draw upon the established transportation network and enabling us to tap into a labour pool beyond the Edinburgh area.

“Headquarter environments play a key role in the attraction and retention of staff and the planned development at Gogarburn will create a world class environment with leisure, crèche/nursery facilities as well as a new training centre within a sensitively landscaped environment.”

The proposed development will include new access routes and a range of private bus services to all of the major public transport links with the City centre, Fife and the West to minimise the traffic impact on the A8.

Plans for the site have been developed following extensive consultation with the planning and transportation departments at the Scottish Executive and City of Edinburgh Council. They include the retention of “B” listed Gogarburn House which will be restored for use as a staff leisure and health club. A full consultation process with a wide range of statutory bodies and interested parties will begin in March.

The proposed development covers a 78 acre site and will include 350,000sq ft net of office accommodation.

The planning application submitted today seeks outline planning permission for the entire site development including office accommodation, staff facilities and possible future office pavilions. The possible additional office pavilions would include about 100,000 sq ft net. The Bank is also seeking detailed planning permission for the office accommodation and associated car parking and landscaping.

The world headquarters will provide accommodation for 3,250 of the Royal Bank of Scotland Group’s head office staff in Edinburgh.

A full environmental impact assessment was undertaken by Royal Bank of Scotland Group and submitted with the planning application. The development is designed to minimise impact on the natural environment. In parallel with this landscape, water management and habitat strategies have been developed which will see the woodland come under active management and extensive landscaping of the remainder of the site.

Car parking on the site complies with Scottish Executive guidelines. A travel plan is being created for the Gogarburn complex. Its overall aim is to minimise the inconvenience for the local community. The travel plan will include a private bus service linking all key public transport points in Edinburgh, subsidies for all staff using public transport and provision for cyclists. It will also extend the car sharing initiative in place at our other major site at South Gyle, where 40 per cent of car parking spaces are reserved for car sharing.

A new loop bridge providing vehicle access to the site from the west and for those leaving the site to the east, will form part of the development. This new bridge will also offer pedestrian and cycle access.

Subject to planning permission, construction is scheduled to begin later this year, with occupation scheduled for 2006. There will be over 2,000 people working on the site at the peak of construction.

The project managers and constructuction managers for the Gogarburn development are MACE Ltd who have been responsible for headquarter buildings for Glaxo SmithKline, Merrill Lynch and British Airways. The architects for the development are Scottish based Michael Laird Architects.