Twechar Outdoor Pursuits Centre

Morgan Sindall Construction has delivered the Twechar Outdoor Pursuit Centre – a state-of-the-art adventure and community hub for East Dunbartonshire Council.

The £4.8 million project, procured through the SCAPE framework, was the result of collaborative work between Morgan Sindall Construction, East Dunbartonshire Council, and local specialists, with ECD Architects leading the design.

Located on a previously derelict site beside the historic Forth and Clyde Canal, the centre features modern amenities including storage areas, bike workshops, seminar rooms, parking, and accessible facilities. It offers the local community a dynamic and inclusive space for outdoor activities and learning.

Managed by the Twechar Community Action Group, the facility will serve as a base for canoeing, kayaking, paddleboarding, cycling, and educational programmes. It plays a key role in the regeneration of Twechar, helping to tackle local disadvantage while promoting health, wellbeing, and community engagement.

Despite facing significant challenges including planning complexities and utility infrastructure issues, the Twechar Outdoor Pursuit Centre was successfully delivered on time and within budget through innovative construction methods and collaborative problem-solving.

The project utilised modern methods of construction with a prefabricated timber frame system, manufactured off-site by a local supplier within 5-10 miles of the site. This approach enabled the frame to be erected in just three weeks, with the building weather-tight within one month from slab completion, significantly reducing on-site construction time and minimising disruption to the sensitive canal-side environment.

Working alongside the historic Forth and Clyde Canal, a scheduled monument, required careful environmental management to control contamination risks and manage wildlife sensitivities including badgers and invasive plant species. The team successfully navigated these challenges whilst maintaining the highest environmental standards.

The single-storey timber frame structure, clad in Euroclad Vieo metal with a pitched roof design, creates a modern landmark for outdoor activities whilst respecting the heritage setting. Solar panels on the roof contribute to carbon reduction and operational cost savings for the community facility.

The Twechar Outdoor Pursuit Centre generated significant social value through meaningful community engagement and local supply chain investment. The project far exceeded its KPI target for local procurement, with 80% of the project spend and 71% of subcontractors sourced within 20 miles of the site, supporting the local economy.

A standout element of the community engagement was the monthly educational programme with local high school pupils throughout the project duration . These young people observed the transformation from an empty field to a finished building, with each visit featuring different trades and professionals including project managers, joiners, roofers, bricklayers, and timber frame specialists. This provided invaluable insight into construction careers and skills development.

Morgan Sindall Construction also donated iPads to the local elderly IT group run by Twechar Community Action Group, supporting digital literacy among the ageing population and demonstrating commitment to intergenerational community support.

The completed facility will be operated by Twechar Community Action Group, a charity that has been central to the community's transformation over two decades, ensuring lasting local benefits and genuine community ownership of this valuable asset.

“Well done to everyone who has worked so hard to complete construction on the new centre. This is a major step towards the facility being made available to people of all ages and abilities in East Dunbartonshire – offering a range of outdoor activities and opportunities, with community involvement at its heart.” - Councillor Gordan Low, Leader of East Dunbartonshire Council

“It's been great to complete construction works on Twechar Outdoor Pursuits Centre - it's a fantastic space and when it's open to the public, we're hopeful it will play a key part in improving the health and wellbeing of people in East Dunbartonshire. The centre has brought fresh life to a previously derelict site and will encourage people to get fit and active. It was also a privilege to work within the community while it was being built, with our team engaging with Twechar Community Action and Lenzie Academy throughout.” - Stuart Parker, Managing Director of Morgan Sindall Construction in Scotland