Tayside Construction Forum’s chairman Ken Laing has welcomed the opening of the public exhibition of shortlisted entries to the design competition for the Dundee outpost of the V&A and expressed his hopes that the project can provide a much needed boost for the local construction industry.

“The Dundee Central Waterfront project and the V&A at Dundee competition was the subject of a presentation at our inaugural meeting earlier this year at which Dundee City Council’s Director of City Development Mike Galloway gave an extremely informative presentation to an enthusiastic audience.

“The opening of the public exhibition reinforces the project as being a unique and exciting opportunity for Dundee and Tayside. The local construction industry, in all of its forms, is poised to assist with the realisation of the project in whatever way it can.”

Tayside Construction Forum applauds the ambition of Design Dundee Ltd. and all its partner organisations in delivering this project that aims to invest in Dundee’s built environment in order to stimulate economic growth.

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The ambition to create a “world class” facility here in Dundee is warmly welcomed and although local design practitioners may initially be disappointed to have missed out on the design shortlist, the local design professions remain eager to learn from the venture. Significant opportunities exist for other sections of the construction industry to contribute to and learn from what promises to be the most important construction project in the region for many years. The aim of the Tayside Construction Forum is to assist our members in competing to provide services for all aspects of the construction process. A wide range of skills and unparalleled enthusiasm for this type of project can be drawn from within the local area.

Ken Laing said: “We encourage all members of the Forum and the wider industry to get involved with the project; to contribute to the selection process and to position themselves for tendering for opportunities as they arise.

“This project will undoubtedly provide an economic boost to the local and national economy and our aim is to ensure that as much as possible of that economic benefit is realised by the construction industry within the Tayside area.”

The Forum’s next meeting is taking place on 26 October in the University of Dundee’s Dalhousie Building. Drawing upon one the Forum’s key objectives of creating opportunities for local companies, the meeting will centre around a presentation from the Scottish Futures Trust on their plans to establish the East Central Procurement Hub which includes Tayside. The Forum is also currently planning future events for late 2010/11 including a presentation on Dundee’s ambitions to become a centre for Renewable Energy fabrication.

(GK)