Aker Solutions has confirmed it is to lease a new office complex in Aberdeen on a 20-year contract. The move is said to be part of a planned expansion in the UK.

The facility, which is currently under development, will consist of three interconnected buildings in the Aberdeen International Business Park on Dyce Drive and will total around 31,100 square metres. It will be a mix of office space and related facilities including a fitness centre with squash courts, catering facilities, a nursery, medical facilities and an auditorium.

The development will be the first phase of the park's wider transformation and is expected to be ready for occupation by mid-2015.


David Currie, Aker Solutions' regional head in the UK, said: "This move is a long-term investment for us and underlines our commitment to Aberdeen and our customers in the area. The new offices will provide high-quality facilities and enable us to bring the majority of our employees in Aberdeen together in one central location."

Aker Solutions currently has six sites in Aberdeen, and is one the largest employers in the city.

It is understood Aker Solutions will lease the buildings from property developer Abstract (Cornwall) Ltd (ACL), for a total annual rent of £7.74m over 20 years. The first 12 months of the lease are rent-free, while the rent will be adjusted every five years based on changes in the retail price index. In addition, Aker Solutions also has options to extend the lease for three five-year periods, with the rent subject to open market review.

ACL is responsible for all aspects of the development. ACL is a subsidiary of Aker ASA, which owns just over a third (34.5%) of Aker Solutions.

(JP/CD)