2011

2011 News

KNIGHT PROPERTY GROUP HELPS RAISE £170K AT PRINCE’S TRUST ELEVENTH ANNUAL CLAY PIGEON SHOOT

Aberdeen-based Knight Property Group has helped raise £170,000 at the Prince’s Trust’s eleventh annual clay pigeon shoot at Auchterhouse near Dundee.

The event has now raised around £1.75million to help change the lives of young people in Scotland and provides businesses with an opportunity to offer financial support and to raise awareness of the valuable work carried out by the Trust all over the UK.

James Barrack, Chairman and Managing Director of Knight Property Group and a Scottish Council Member of The Prince’s Trust said: “We were extremely proud to once again sponsor the Clay Pigeon Shoot and to be involved in the fundraising efforts of such a worthwhile charity which helps to change young people’s lives.

As one of the events main sponsors, Knight Property Group donated and raffled off a Mini Cooper D ALL4 Countryman worth in excess of £20,000. The car was won by Sarah Finnie from Aberdeen.

“This event has become a regular fixture in our diaries, having sponsored it for the past five years. It is a fantastic day for everyone involved, with plenty of entertainment for all age groups whether competing in the clay pigeon shooting or not. With over 150 people competing in the shoot alone, we were thrilled with the support received and are already anticipating an even bigger and better event for 2012.”

The Annual Clay Pigeon Shoot is hosted by The Trust’s Chairman in Scotland Gerard Eadie CBE, also Chairman of windows and conservatories company CR Smith.

Mr Eadie said: “This year’s event was a huge success. We had our biggest crowd and a great day was had by all – shooting enthusiasts or not.

“Most important is that the money raised will enable The Prince’s Trust in Scotland to continue doing its life-changing work, helping young people fulfil their potential.”

The 380 guests had the opportunity to enjoy a fashion show by Lorraine Weselby and a hair show by Scottish Hairdresser of the Year McIntyres Hairdressing. The event was also supported by Compass Group, CR Smith, ASCO, Stena Drilling, UBS, Aviva, Brightsolid, Marsh, Johnston Carmichael, Hunter, Sabre Safety and Craneware.

The Prince’s Trust works with 14 to 30-year-olds who have struggled at school, have been in care, are long-term unemployed or have been in trouble with the law. It offers practical and financial support, developing key workplace skills such as confidence and motivation.

The Prince’s Trust has helped more than 600,000 young people since 1976 and support 100 more each working day. More than three in four young people helped last year moved into work, education or training.

Recognised as Scotland’s Developer of the Year in 2009, Knight Property Group was established in Aberdeen, Scotland in 1987 and provides a complete range of property investment and development services.

The company has extensive experience in the design and build of new facilities and the refurbishment and upgrading of existing properties.

Knight Property Group Launches Prestigious Queens House to the Market

Aberdeen-based Knight Property Group has commenced the redevelopment of a prominent granite property in the heart of Aberdeen’s West End office district. The commercial property specialists will be making an investment of £7million into the prominent building.

With planning permission now granted for “Queens House,” Knight will be refurbishing and developing the site at 13 Queens Road. The company plans to transform the existing traditional granite townhouse internally into modern offices over four floors to suit the requirements of the local corporate market.

Knight will also demolish the current extension at the rear of the property and replace this with Grade A open plan offices over three floors which will be linked to the existing granite building. It will be built to a very high specification and will include granite cladding and glazed curtain walling to the exterior.

The office space will extend to 16,113sq ft when complete and is expected to be ready for occupation in the first quarter of 2012. F.G. Burnett is the letting agent for the development.

Howard Crawshaw, director, Knight Property Group, said: “It has been widely reported that there is only 20,000 sq ft of office space available in Aberdeen as opposed to an unprecedented demand for Grade A office space, a figure which runs into hundreds of thousands of square feet.

“We are developing Queens House on a speculative basis in response to this perceived lack of office space in the city and to cater for the forecasted growth in demand. We hope to complete the redevelopment and provide much needed space in the heart of the west end to meet requirements head-on.

He added: “The high level of interest already shown in the development, from both oil and gas companies and professional organisations, has been very encouraging.”

Jonathan Nesbitt, director at F.G. Burnett, said: “This is a very exciting prospect for Aberdeen’s west end, and for Knight Property Group. The area is an extremely popular location for businesses and as there are very few companies developing premium office space I am confident that the new build will be very well received.”

The company has extensive experience in the design and build of new facilities and the refurbishment and upgrading of existing properties.

Fundraisers on the march for charity

Eight members of Knight Property Group have raised £12,000 for charity by completing a gruelling challenge.

Pictured above - back row, from left: James Barrack, Martin Dunsmuir, Fergus Muat and Howard Crawshaw. Front row: Sandra McKenzie, James Layfield, Pamela Bryce and Phil Lumsden

The Knight Property Group team successfully completed the RBS Caledonian Challenge 2011 by walking 54 miles in under 23 hours over the weekend.

The challenge saw competitors complete ‘The Walk of Your Life’ by doing the equivalent of two full marathons in distance to raise money for the Scottish Community Foundation which supports some of the country’s most isolated communities.

Competitors walked from Gairlochy through the Great Glen Ways and West Highland Way footpaths via Fort William, Kinlochleven, Glencoe Ski Centre and Inveroran, before finally finishing at Auchtertyre.

James Barrack, group managing director of Knight Property Group and the challenge team leader, said: “We had a fantastic weekend doing the challenge. It was tough going at times but we had a strong team who had trained long and hard to accomplish it.

“The scenery was breathtaking throughout the course which helped immensely in keeping us motivated. We were exhausted when we reached the finish line but proud and happy to have met the challenge head on!

"We have had overwhelming support, particularly in terms of donations, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who helped us to reach and surpass our £6000 target.”

Survivex New Facility signifies £ 35million Kirkhill completion for Knight

Aberdeen-based Knight Property Group announces the completion of a uniquely equipped offshore survival and manual skills centre for training company Survivex, in a deal which sees the local developer complete its Kirkhill Commercial Park Development having created an investment totalling £35million for the entire site.

Survivex pre-let Site Two of the Commercial Park in Dyce, the 88,173 square feet facility includes two purpose built survival pools equipped with helicopter and lifeboat underwater escape training apparatus. Extending to a 25 year lease on the property the development includes some bold and striking design features and incorporates several energy efficient and environmentally friendly features.

Knight Property Group managing director, James Barrack said: “The completion of this facility signifies that Kirkhill Commercial Park [12 acres] is now fully developed and occupied, the entire park and all buildings representing a significant investment for Knight.

“Knight purchased the commercial park development site in October 2007, and true to its bold move and purchase, based upon its belief in the location, value and potential the entire development has proven very successful, with this being the last and final of six sites to reach completion.”

Knight has developed and let the entire site in 35 months encompassing 86,000 sq ft of offices, 88,000 sq ft of workshop / warehouse and 184,000 sq ft of concrete yard producing a total rental of £ 2,520,000.

The other five developments at the park are occupied by Coates Offshore, Fugro Improv, Eurocopter, Schilling Robotics and Bristow Helicopters.

Howard Crawshaw, director of Knight Property Group, continues: “The Survivex project has been completed 10 weeks ahead of schedule thanks to the can-do attitude of our principal contractor the dedication and commitment of our own internal project management team at Knight Property Group and a great design team who worked with us to deliver a complex and bespoke yet stunning building.

“Where possible we have used local construction companies, with principal contractor for the project being Oldmeldrum-based Andrew Cowie Construction.”

The bespoke Survivex training facility also houses conference rooms, lecture theatre, training rooms, medical facilities and meeting facilities for hire. Externally there is a concrete yard equipped for various forms of training exercises.

The company has extensive experience in the design and build of new facilities and the refurbishment and upgrading of existing properties.

Major completion on the horizon for Knight Property Group

Aberdeen-based Knight Property Group has reached a major milestone in its development of the Minto Commercial Park in Altens, Aberdeen.

The 1.09 acre speculative build at site 8, Knight’s second to last development on the site, is nearing completion and will be ready for occupation in April 2011.

Knight has transformed the 11 acre brown-field site at Minto into a high-end commercial industrial estate over a period of 3 years with an investment in excess of £20million.

The plot comprises of 4,532 sq ft of offices, 10,000 sq ft of warehouse and an additional 9,880 sq ft of concrete yard. Upon completion only the 1.14 acre plot at site 6 will remain for development.

Howard Crawshaw director of Knight Property Group said: “The completion of unit 8 leads us into the final phase of Minto Commercial Park’s development. Being involved in a regeneration project such as this has been extremely satisfying and we are delighted with the quality of the overall development and success of the lettings.

“It has become one of Aberdeen’s most popular business destinations and has been a very successful venture for Knight.”

Existing occupiers of the Park include; iicorr, Brinker Technologies, LHR Marine, and Denholm Valvecare.

The company has extensive experience in the design and build of new facilities and the refurbishment and upgrading of existing properties.