Description:
One of Govan's most historic buildings is being preserved and
redeveloped to provide office space and a focus for local
heritage.
The first phase of the remedial work included £1.4m of emergency
repairs to the building and windows installed at a cost of
£240,000.
Now an additional £4.2m of refurbishment work is underway.
The refurbishment aims to create a modern office complex of 11
suites totalling more than 16,000sq ft and a local heritage centre
and could become one of the landmarks in the proposed Govan
Conservation Area.
The Fairfield Shipyard Offices is Category A Listed. It was
designed in 1890 by architect John Keppie, and served as the main
offices for the Fairfield Shipyard until 2001. Since then the
premises have been vacant and have fallen into disrepair.
The Fairfield yard first opened in 1867 equipped with six
shipbuilding berths and a fitting-out basin. The first ship was
launched in 1868, and the engine and boiler works were completed in
1874. the yard was famous in the late 19th and early 20th century
for producing passenger liners such as Cunard's SS Campania as well
as naval ships such as HMS Indomitable.
A feasibility study, commissioned by commercial landlord Govan
Workspace Limited, found there was potential demand for offices at
the property from the local business community, the public sector
and the creative and specialist technical industries.
Govan Workspace purchased the building in March 2009 and work on
emergency repairs was completed by winter 2009.
Additional funding of £4.2m has now been raised and
refurbishment work is underway.
£1.6m was spent on emergency repairs during 2009 and 2010.