Alder King - Industrial Sale - Angus, Forfar

Date: 30 May 2006

As The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association celebrates 75 years of guide dog training in the UK, the charity has acquired a 6.06 acre site in Forfar, Scotland for the construction of a new flagship guide dog training centre, according to property consultants Alder King.

The multi-million pound facility, which forms part of a comprehensive modernisation programme, will be accommodated in a 35,000 sq ft state-of-the-art building, which will incorporate all the latest developments in kennel design, indoor and outdoor training facilities, as well as providing an area for visitor viewing.

With practical completion planned for December 2006, the new facility represents a significant investment in the future work of The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association. Bridget Warr, Guide Dogs' Chief Executive commented:

"As we look to the future our top priority is to ensure that our guide dog service continues to develop and is accessible to everyone who could benefit from the life-transforming independent mobility that a guide dog provides. The investment in this new, world-class dog training centre will enable us to increase the number of trainee guide dogs, which in turn will give us the capacity to help more blind and partially sighted people - in Scotland and right across the UK. "

In addition to this latest acquisition and as part of their expansion programme, Guide Dogs have also disposed of their regional training centre in Middlesbrough to Alexander Homes (North East) Limited, part of McInerney Group. Extending to approximately 14.5 acres, the site is located to the south of the town in the Marton Grove and Beechwood residential area and was sold with outline planning consent for 138 dwellings.

Robert Wheeler, Associate in Alder King's Gloucester office who advised the Association on both the acquisition and disposal, said:

"We are delighted with the level of interest that the disposal of the property in Middlesbrough attracted. The disposal was achieved by way of an informal tender which went to best bids and Alexander Homes' bid proved the most successful."

Left to Right: The Provost of Angus Bill Middleton and the Guide Dogs' Vice Chairman of Trustees Neil King.

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