Ogilvie Construction News
Company news and updates

Good progress continues to be made around the multi-million redevelopment and extension of Macduff Marine Aquarium.

Despite facing weeks of harsh winter weather to contend with, main contractor Ogilvie Construction has confirmed the popular attraction is now wind and watertight, while Newburgh-based KR Group is forging ahead with the striking cladding having erected the steelworks.

More than 50 tradespeople are currently working on site, including seven apprentices and a local labourer employed by Ogilvie Construction.

Work to double the capacity of a state-of-the-art learning facility for Stirling’s young people with additional support needs has reached a key milestone.

Bluebell House, situated on the grounds of Bannockburn High School, currently offers bespoke accommodation for up to 24 pupils and is fitted with classrooms, nurture nooks, a sensory room and a GP room in addition to facilities for staff and administration.

The facility opened its doors to pupils in August 2025 in time for the beginning of the school term. The extension of the building will bring the capacity of Bluebell House up to 48 pupils.

Just in time for Christmas, Ogilvie Construction has started its handover of Midlothian Council’s landmark £25.038 million Passivhaus development, with the developer delivering 90 new affordable homes built on the site of the former Newbattle High School in Easthouses.

The development includes a mix of flats, houses, and bungalows, catering to a range of needs and lifestyles, including homes specially adapted for people with a disability. Built to rigorous Passivhaus standards, they are designed to dramatically reduce energy consumption and heating costs.

Councillor Stuart McKenzie, cabinet member for housing, said: “These homes are a wonderful gift to our communities. They’re warm, spacious, many with generous gardens, and designed to the highest energy-efficient standard, with comfort and sustainability in mind.

“And while there may be no chimneys – thanks to the homes’ ability to retain solar heat – for future Christmases, Santa’s sleigh will have no trouble navigating the wide boulevards and beautifully landscaped surroundings.”

Councillor McKenzie added: “With so many families needing housing in Newtongrange, Easthouses and Mayfield, it is terrific to see this high-quality development complete. But we won’t stop here.  The search for tomorrow’s homes begins today and we’re always planning on delivering for the future.

“These homes are a major step forward in tackling fuel poverty. Tenants will benefit from significantly lower heating bills, while the development supports our wider ambitions to reach net zero.”

Grier Edmead, operations director at Ogilvie Construction, added: “We’re proud to have delivered this transformative project in partnership with Midlothian Council. These homes not only meet the highest standards of energy efficiency, but they’re also comfortable and built to last, creating a place where people can truly feel part of their community.”

Ogilvie Construction has successfully completed a new high-quality student accommodation facility at Haymarket Yards in Edinburgh, delivering 156 modern studio apartments.

The seven-storey building features an impressive range of amenities designed to enhance the student living experience. Residents will benefit from dedicated study spaces, a fully equipped gym, cinema room, and private dining facility. External amenities include a roof terrace and shared gardens, creating both private and communal spaces for students.

As a zero-parking development, the building reflects modern urban living priorities while providing secure parking for 150 bicycles. Its prime location at the heart of Edinburgh's transport hub offers easy access to Haymarket station, tram and bus stops.

The structure showcases contemporary construction methods, combining primary structural steel, light gauge steel frame and composite concrete slab panels, with external walls finished in brick and curtain walling.

Donald MacDonald, Managing Director, Ogilvie Construction, said:

"We are proud to complete this first-class building. Haymarket Yards represents our fourteenth student accommodation facility delivered in recent years, demonstrating our continued commitment to and expertise in this sector. The building will provide an excellent living environment for students at the heart of Edinburgh."

Ogilvie Construction is part of the Ogilvie Group, one of Scotland's most consistently successful family-owned businesses. The company is over 65 years old and employs 600 people across its various business operations in the UK.

Ogilvie Construction is proud to have delivered the redevelopment of 30 Semple Street in Edinburgh, for CBRE Investment Management and Corran Properties Limited, a landmark project that has now been awarded the highest possible sustainability rating — BREEAM “Outstanding”.

With a final score of 93.2%, 30 Semple Street becomes:

• Scotland’s first BREEAM Outstanding-certified office building
• Scotland’s highest-rated BREEAM building across all asset classes
• The world’s second highest-scoring completed building refurbishment, according to BRE records

In addition, the building has secured a range of other leading accreditations, including NABERS 5*, “Platinum” scores for Air-Rated and Active Score, and an EPC “A”. It is also designed to achieve net zero carbon operation status, aligning with the UK Green Building Council’s framework.

The redevelopment, designed by MLA Architects, involved stripping the previous building back to its frame, adding two new floors, and installing a striking 360-degree contemporary façade. The result is a flexible, light-filled workspace with floorplates up to 8,040 sq. ft. and opening windows to enhance wellbeing.

Zoe Gray, Director at CBRE Investment Management, said:
“Achieving the highest possible BREEAM rating for 30 Semple Street highlights our commitment to sustainability, future-proofing our assets, and delivering value to our occupiers and investors. We believe this office building embodies the future of work, providing a space designed to foster innovation and a high-quality, sustainable environment for our occupiers.”

Nick Ball, Managing Director of Corran Properties, added:
“We are delighted to have realised CBREIM’s and our ambitions to create a genuinely class leading development. To have achieved such a high level of BREEAM accreditation is testament to the dedication of the entire design team who ensured every possible detail was considered in order for the building to operate as sustainably as possible.”

The wider project team included K J Tait (M&E consultants), Axiom Services Limited (project management and cost consultancy), Blyth & Blyth (structural and civil engineers), and Atelier Ten (fire engineering consultants).

On Friday 26 September, the Tweedbank Care Village project celebrated a major milestone with a public engagement session and stakeholder event.

Attendees, including residents, families, community members, local school children and project partners were treated to an exclusive first look at detailed site plans, architectural renderings, and the thoughtfully designed colour schemes that will define the new facility.

Our officers were on hand to share insights into the cutting-edge technologies being considered to enhance care delivery — sparking conversations about innovation, dignity, and promoting independence.

Following the drop-in engagement session, key stakeholders gathered at the development site for the ground breaking ceremony. Representatives from Ogilvie Construction, Hub South East and ourselves were photographed, capturing the spirit of collaboration and shared vision that’s driving this transformative project forward.

With planning approval secured in July, the first phase of groundworks is set to begin in Autumn 2025. Main works construction is due to commence in early 2026 with a targeted completion date of June 2027 – delivering a future-ready care village designed to serve generations to come. 

Councillor David Parker, Executive Member for Integrated Care and Support Services

“Today’s ground-breaking for the Tweedbank Care Village marks more than the start of construction — it represents our ongoing work to develop truly ground-breaking approaches to care.

“Our developing Care Villages focus on building on people’s strengths and will provide high quality environments and services where people can live safely and independently, stay connected to friends and family, and enjoy the things that matter to them. They are places where everyone — residents, carers, and the local community — can be involved and be part of something truly special.

“By listening to the feedback of local voices, we are creating fully inclusive and resilient new care services that will embrace innovation and prioritise the care of people across the Scottish Borders for years to come.

“Engagement sessions like this event provide really important opportunities to involve both the local community and care users in the project whilst demonstrating the progress being made and clearly setting out the vision for this facility.”

Councillor Elaine Thornton-Nicol, Champion for Old People

“Today’s event outlines in great detail the significant steps already accomplished on the way to making the Tweedbank Care Village facility a reality.

A new state of the art learning facility for young people with additional support needs has been opened on the grounds Bannockburn High School and has been welcoming pupils in time for the new term.

Bluebell House was formally handed over to Stirling Council on 11 August following completion of the first phase of construction works and appropriate building control checks, welcoming pupils back this summer.

The facility will provide tailored accommodation for up to 24 pupils which will be kitted out with classrooms, nurture nooks, a sensory room and a GP room in addition to staff and administrative facilities.

We are proud to be celebrating three nominations at this year’s Trades Awards, recognising excellence across multiple areas of our business.

A multi-million redevelopment and extension of Macduff Marine Aquarium achieved an important milestone this week with completion of the steelworks installation.

The impressive steel framework provides the structure for the new two-storey extension at the front of the popular attraction, which will house the main entrance, retail area, new learning room and upstairs café/restaurant, as well as the Changing Places toilet. 

Progress has been made towards delivering supported housing for young people and additional council housing at Almondvale Crescent, Livingston

The project features the use of modular construction which sees housing units built offsite in a factory before being transported to site where the final phase of construction takes place.

Construction works had been paused on the project following the administration of the original construction contractor Connect Modular.