Infrastructure Investment Plan 2021-22 to 2025-26: Major capital projects progress update (September 2022)

Sector: Rural and Environment

Project: RBGE - Edinburgh Biomes

Business case approved stages: Project will transform the current failing Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh estate – home to Scotland's national biodiversity research collections, to a create a world-class facility that will produce climate, economic, wellbeing and environmental benefits, as part of a green economic recovery for Scotland. The FBC outlined that the total cost of the project will be £89.9 million and the full programme will be completed by October 2027 with the public entrance Glasshouse the final planned phase of work. The Scottish Government funding amounts to £58 million 2021-2026 (Framework agreement is procurement route for project).

Progress at March 2022: No change to full programme since the last report.

The receipt of tenders in January 2022 for the first phase of work highlighted cost variances to the original estimates due to COVID-19 pandemic market conditions and the impact on supply chain availability and construction material inflation. The review of costs received alongside overall programme phasing assessment is underway.

The revised start date for the key infrastructure works is now forecast for June 2022 which is later than previously reported due to assessment of tenders received. The FBC full programme operational date however remains the same.

Progress at September 2022: No change to full programme since the last report.

Following a period of preparation works, the formal site start to the refurbishment of the Victorian Palm House commenced in September 2022 with Balfour Beatty (Principal Contractor). The decant of the internationally important plant collection continues in the front range glasshouses. The RBGE is assessing the tender report received in September 2022 for the energy centre and infrastructure. The procurement process has been protracted and heavily impacted by on-going market conditions with inflation being noted as the main reason for the tender delay.

In September 2022, Balfour Beatty provided an interim cost update based on their work with the market to date. On review of this, it is clear that the energy centre and infrastructure will need to be delivered in two separate phases to suit available funding in each year. Balfour Beatty are currently working to provide a proposal to allow the infrastructure part of the works to commence as a first phase, starting this year. The energy centre would follow as a second phase. The impact of construction material inflation and labour costs continue to be assessed across the remainder of programme, with potential impact on the phasing of works. The final operational date however remains the same as FBC.

Contact for public enquiries: email: andrew.mackie@gov.scot