Robertson, the infrastructure, support services and construction group have begun work on a multi-million pound project at St Andrews, one of the finest golf destinations in the world.

The state-of-the-art storage facility for charity organisation St Andrews Links Trust is on the site of a former contractors’ yard to the south-east of the Balgove Course close to the A91.

It is a major part of the Trust’s sustainability programme using cutting edge technology in its heating and cooling systems and a range of organic materials in its construction.

St Andrews Links Trust is responsible for the management and maintenance of the Links courses at St Andrews, including the famous Old Course, host of the 2015 Open Championship.

A sod-cutting ceremony was recently held with Provost Melville, St Andrews Links Trust Chairman Peter Forster and Chief Executive Euan Loudon, Derek Reid, Project Director for architects Archial, and Bob Gray, Regional Operations Director for Robertson.

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The new building is due to open on the brownfield site at the end of the year and will provide important warehouse and office space. It has been carefully designed to have minimal visual impact and to blend in with the surroundings.

Among the building’s many features will be its sedum roof using organic materials from indigenous herbs and bushes. Natural materials such as timber, glulam and locally-sourced natural stone will be used wherever possible. The facility will be fully thermally efficient, with an air source heat pump system to heat it in winter and cool it in summer, and it will also use rainwater harvesting techniques.

Regional Operations Director of Robertson Bob Gray said: "We are honoured to be selected as builders for this prestigious contract as St Andrews is considered amongst the finest golf destinations in the world. Once finished it will be a truly iconic building in a beautiful setting. We can’t wait to get on site and start work."

St Andrews Links Trust Chairman Peter Forster commented: "The Trust decided to utilise this former contractors’ yard to create a new storage facility much closer to the Links than the current warehouse but the need to make it sustainable and energy efficient was at the forefront of our minds. We recently achieved Golf Environment Organisation status and the new building is an important part of our strategy to manage the Links in as sustainable a fashion as possible."

(GK)