Project Principles and Objectives
The project involved the construction of new offices on the site, including a reception, meeting rooms, staff facilities, kitchen and conference room with capacity for approximately 20 people.
Planning approval was finally secured after a lengthy process and all conditions were successfully managed and discharged. Ryebridge then won the tender for the construction works in August 2025.
The existing modular offices were considered old and inefficient, and had various issues including inadequate toilet systems where water pipes froze during cold weather, a lack of disabled access and inadequate accommodation for meetings.
These were taken down and removed, and Ryebridge laid reinforced concrete slab with a full sub-structure including foul water and storm water drainage. A new manhole was fitted which tied in to the existing foul water system on site, and the slab was raised to accommodate the gradient and make the system adequate.
The new offices are eight double-storey modular units consisting of open plan and private offices, built in Aberdeen by Texo Ltd and then lowered into place on the site using cranes. They are more thermally and energy efficient and more adaptable to severe weather.
The work also involved asphalt surfacing the outside area and creating defined pedestrian footways, disabled parking spaces and zebra crossings.
Innovation and best practice:
Any surplus spoil and concrete was removed from the site.
A new electric feed was installed tieing them into the salt barn, which Ryebridge previously fitted with solar panels, ensuring the offices are able to use a large portion of renewable energy.
Moving forward:
Ryebridge’s collaborative partnership with the highways operations ensured the work was completed in a safe and timely manner on a live depot while leaving transport movements unaffected.
The county council was very satisfied with the finished result and has advised Ryebridge there will be opportunities to tender for similar projects in the future.
