New £4.5m base for one of Dundee’s ‘best-kept secrets’

“We now have scope for expansion and opportunities for future employment.”

Rodney Grubb

ENERGY GIANT SSE yesterday unveiled a new £4.5 million base for its 250 Dundee staff as it underlined a further £6.6m commitment to improving the city’s gas and electricity networks.

The Perth-based group said subsidiaries Scottish & Southern Energy Power Distribution (SSEPD) and Scotland Gas Networks (SGN) had “strengthened their commitment” to Dundee after the opening of the joint office and depot on the city’s Baird Avenue.

It said the building — which will allow electricity and gas engineers, emergency repair and maintenance, contracting, metering, street lighting and administrative staff to share the same site for the first time — would also allow expansion and increased employment in the future.

Previously teams were based at sites across Dundee, with a major presence at the Carolina Port.

SSEPD head of operations Rodney Grubb said the move would also help foster closer working links with customers and contractors.

“The teams are delighted with this new modern depot, and with £4.5m invested in the building, combined with our plans for the electricity and gas network in the forthcoming year, this investment reinforces our company’s commitment to Dundee,” he said.

“We now have scope for expansion and opportunities for future employment as well as securing current positions.

We now wish to promote our business while providing the highest standards of service and safety to customers in the coming years.” Construction at the site began more than 12 months ago, with Stirling-based contractor Ogilvie responsible for much of the building work.

It boasts green measures, including solar panels and energy efficient lighting and air conditioning.

SSEPD has already completed refurbishment of major electricity substations at MacAlpine Road and Menzieshill, and has begun work to overhaul a site at Milton of Craigie. The £5m commitment to improving the safety and reliability of electricity distribution will be complemented by a £1.6m investment in upgrading the city’s gas network as part of a further £5m programme of works led by SGN.

“We’re delighted with this new modern depot which underlines our plans to invest in the local gas network in the forthcoming year,” said SGN’s director of corporate services Gary Barnes.

“Sharing this facility with our sister company SSEPD is good news for our stakeholders, good news for our customers and employees, and good news for the city of Dundee.”

Lord Provost Bob Duncan was on hand to officially open the purpose-built complex, which also features a range of energy efficiency measures.

He said the work of SSEPD and SGN was “one of the city’s best-kept secrets”.

“I’m very pleased to see the commitment of both companies to the city of Dundee,” he said.

“The building is a fantastic facility and I wish both companies happy times ahead in this new office.

“I’ve learned today that there’s a lot of good work going on here, and I’m delighted to declare the Dundee depot open,” he added.

Picture: Alan Richardson. Lord Provost Bob Duncan with SGN and SSEPD staff at the opening of their purpose-built £4.5 million base in Dundee.