Balfour Beatty signs for Edinburgh Biomes project

Balfour Beatty is set to start work on the first stage of a major seven-year development project at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RGBE).It has entered into a pre-construction agreement to begin work on the Edinburgh Biomes initiative. The first stage includes a plant health centre, energy centre and associated infrastructure. Balfour Beatty will carry out pre-construction activity over the spring and summer, with construction works beginning in the autumn.The Scottish government has made a major contribution to the costs of the first five years of the seven-year project comes by providing £58m of funding, of which £50m is from the Low Carbon Fund. The development is in step with the changes required to achieve the goal of making Scotland net-zero by 2045.Restoration of public glasshouses will be at the heart of Edinburgh Biomes and an operation is already under way to decant plant material in preparation for the works. New research glasshouses will also be constructed and a new public glasshouse will welcome visitors.The project secured planning permission in 2019.Collectively, the works are designed to enhance RBGE’s contribution to addressing the biodiversity crisis and climate emergency.