Twechar Outdoor Pursuits Centre and Housing
Framework: SCAPE Scotland Consultancy Framework
Client: East Dunbartonshire Council
Location: Twechar, East Dunbartonshire
Key dates: 2023 to 2026
Sector: Housing, leisure, community regeneration, outdoor education
“I am incredibly proud of our team's accomplishments in delivering the Twechar Outdoor Centre. This project not only fosters regeneration in the area but also embodies the principles of social inclusion, adaptability, and educational training.”
Claire Nelson
Regional Director, AtkinsRéalis
Regenerating unused canal-side land into an inclusive outdoor adventure hub and affordable housing built to Passivhaus standards.
The Twechar Outdoor Pursuits Centre and associated housing development project are supporting the regeneration of underused land in Twechar, East Dunbartonshire. The project combines a new inclusive outdoor adventure hub beside the Forth and Clyde Canal with 15 affordable homes built to Passivhaus standard.
Delivered for East Dunbartonshire Council
through the SCAPE Scotland Consultancy Framework, AtkinsRéalis was appointed to provide Project Management, Cost Management, Principal Designer Services and Whole Life Costs Services, helping to deliver facilities that support outdoor learning, active travel, skills development, volunteering, community wellbeing and local employment.
East Dunbartonshire Council required a community-focused facility that could bring an underused canal-side site back into productive use and provide inclusive access to outdoor recreation, learning and training. The project also includes the delivery of 15 additional affordable homes built to Passivhaus standard, extending the project’s regeneration and housing impact.
The Outdoor Pursuits Centre provides storage for kayaks, canoes, paddleboards and equipment, a wetsuit drying area, bike workshop, meeting and seminar space, accessible toilets, showers and lockers, food preparation space, outdoor seating, car and cycle parking and landscaped external areas.
The project had to balance regeneration, accessibility, sustainability and affordability within a community setting. A key challenge was ensuring the facility responded to the needs of a diverse range of users, including young people, older residents and people with disabilities.
AtkinsRéalis acted as a key liaison between the client, community groups and the contractor, supporting inclusive design reviews and feedback sessions. Cost and risk control were also important, with early-stage value engineering, robust cost management, a live risk register and regular risk workshops helping to manage issues before they escalated. Quality assurance, regular site inspections and sign-off processes helped maintain compliance with building regulations, accessibility standards and health and safety requirements.
The project has delivered a flexible, future-proof community asset that supports outdoor education, youth engagement, volunteering and active lifestyles, alongside affordable low-energy housing. Community benefit delivery has included local employment and workforce development, an apprentice Quantity Surveyor gaining live project experience, work experience for local pupils, a foodbank collection supporting local families, and environmental volunteering along the canal.
The centre now provides dedicated facilities for water sports, cycling, training, meetings and community use, helping to improve physical and mental wellbeing while strengthening confidence, skills and pride in the local area.
Social value initiatives
AtkinsRéalis social value contributions to this project showcase the impact that consultancy frameworks can deliver to clients alongside the completed build. Across the Twechar Outdoor Pursuits Centre and associated housing development project, AtkinsRéalis delivered:
- £123,398.35 in social value
- 2.7 FTE local people retained on the contract
- 80 apprenticeship weeks
- 1 meaningful work experience placement for a young person from the local area
- £200 of foodbank donations equivalent to 116kg of food
- 52.5 hours of volunteering
Sustainability credentials
Sustainability was embedded through solar panels to reduce energy costs and carbon emissions, sustainable drainage systems, efficient building services and the promotion of low-carbon materials. The design also supports active travel and low-carbon recreation through cycle parking, a fully equipped bike workshop and direct access to outdoor activities along the Forth and Clyde Canal. The associated housing element adds 15 affordable homes built to Passivhaus standard, supporting long-term energy efficiency, affordability and climate resilience for the local community.
The project utilised two of SCAPE Scotland’s framework routes: Consultancy for design, project and cost management, and Construction for the delivery of the centre. Together, these routes and the activity of both delivery partners demonstrate how social value can be embedded from the earliest stage of a project and carried through to delivery and beyond.
To read the Construction case study for this project, click here.
Why SCAPE Scotland?
What has using the SCAPE framework brought to the project?
The SCAPE Scotland Consultancy Framework provided East Dunbartonshire Council with a clear, compliant and efficient route to appoint AtkinsRéalis for multidisciplinary consultancy support. It enabled early engagement, collaborative working and transparent governance, helping the client progress a community regeneration project with confidence. Through the framework, AtkinsRéalis provided project management, cost management, principal designer and whole life cost services, supporting value for money, quality, risk management and social value delivery.
What were the benefits of using SCAPE?
Using SCAPE supported a collaborative and outcomes-focused approach, bringing together the client, contractor, community representatives and delivery team through clear communication, regular reporting and structured decision-making. The framework helped support cost certainty, risk control and quality assurance while maintaining focus on local priorities, including regeneration, inclusion, sustainability, community empowerment and long-term operational value.
Working on these live projects has given me the opportunity to apply the theory side of university in real world live environments. Dealing with the client and contractor has developed soft skills which have helped with my degree so far. As I move into 3rd year these skills will be more prominent and keep me on the path to success within my degree."
Alex Witchard
Degree Apprentice
Social value outcomes
This project has been submitted by Morgan Sindall Construction and AtkinsRéalis as part of the collaborative Social Value in Construction Benchmarking Report. This report captures the latest insights into the regional and national trends in social value delivery; learn more here.
£123,398.35
social value generated
2.7
FTE local people retained on the contract
80
apprenticeship weeks delivered
£200
in foodbank donations, equivalent to 116kg of food
52.5
hours of volunteering
In collaboration with:
Meet the lead:
Rachel Park
Senior Framework Manager
Project gallery
Work experience placements
A work experience cyber roadshow hosted in AtkinsRéalis' Glasgow office
Volunteering day litter pick in collaboration with Scottish Canals and East Dunbartonshire Council
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