Building company Rok has started work on Diageo’s state-of-the-art bottling plant at Leven, Fife, having won the multi-million pound contract to manage the 64 week construction programme.

The project which includes the new 16,500 square meter bottling hall, associated buildings and infrastructure for roads, drainage and utilities, is a major part of Diageo’s £86m investment at the Leven site.

Up to 150 tradesmen will be employed over the course of the construction, which is set to be completed in the summer of 2011 to allow Diageo to finish the internal fit-out. Once complete, the new bottling plant will take production at the site to over 30 million cases a year and provide over 400 new jobs.

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The Leven project is the latest contract that Rok has secured with Diageo over a three year relationship. It follows works at Diageo facilities at Cameronbridge, Blackgrange, Bonnybridge, Cambus and Roseisle.

Andy Mallice, Rok’s managing director for Scotland, said: “Diageo’s investment in its Scottish distilleries and packaging plants has been a very welcome boost to the construction industry. Our association has meant that we can secure work for many local tradesmen across the full breadth of trade skills, from brickwork and roofing through to electrical and mechanical installation.

“We also feel very fortunate to be part of an investment and build programme that will help secure the long term competitiveness of Scotland’s drinks industry. We recognise that the quality of our work and the standards of our operations at Leven as well as at other Diageo facilities have a long term impact.”

The site is being managed according to the British Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methods (BREEAM) to ensure that the work is carried out to the highest environmental standards. Rok has also registered the site under the Considerate Constructors Scheme, which will monitor and audit the impact of the works on the local community.

(GK)