A new £24m office development in the East End of Glasgow is to become the new home of Police Scotland.

On Wednesday, Police Scotland confirmed it will be the sole occupant of Riverside East, a five-storey building in Dalmarnock.

Construction work on the project is due to be completed in November, and ready for occupancy from 2015. A total of 1,100 Police Scotland officers and staff will relocate to the new facility, which will act as the main office and administrative centre for the West of Scotland.

Riverside East is one of Clyde Gateway's key developments and the investment by the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) will see policing become the single largest employer in the area.

Ian Manson, Chief Executive of Clyde Gateway said:" Our task has always been to get this area best prepared for the longer-term legacy of the Commonwealth Games and to ensure the continued delivery of a physical, social and economic transformation for the communities for many more years to come.

-- Advertisement --

"There has been a colossal amount of early progress but the decision by Police Scotland to locate up to 1,100 officers and staff in the area gives a huge boost to everyone and provides evidence of the real and sustainable legacy promised by the Games."

John Foley, Chief Executive Officer of the Scottish Police Authority, added: "The SPA's financial contribution to this project, together with that of the legacy authorities in the former Strathclyde area, is an important new step in providing a modern, efficient, and sustainable estate from which police officers and staff can support our communities.

"It is a sound investment for Scottish policing as a whole, and we are committed to working with partners to ensure it is part of a local success story too."

The office building at Riverside East has been constructed on a former derelict site which bordered the Clyde Gateway Road, French Street, Reid Street and the River Clyde walkway. The cost of the project is £24m, £16m of which has been provided through shovel-ready funding by the Scottish Government.

The main contractor, Morgan Sindall, commenced work on site in June 2013. It is expected to be completed by November 2014 and will offer almost 134,000 sq m of space across five floors.

(JP/IT)