Morgan Sindall delivers transformational forestry facility in landmark Scottish investment

Newton Nursery to produce 19 million trees annually in boost to Scotland's green economy.

Morgan Sindall Construction has completed work on a cutting-edge tree nursery facility in Elgin, marking a significant milestone in Scotland’s environmental infrastructure. Delivered for Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS), the Newton Nursery project demonstrates innovative construction methods and sustainable design solutions.

The development features a 12,500m² glasshouse facility alongside new offices, cold storage facilities, and a distribution centre. The project represents the largest single infrastructure investment ever made by FLS and will enable the organisation to more than triple its current tree production capacity.

Key innovations during construction included the use of modular systems for the glasshouse installation. The team also employed an innovative approach to ground preparation, eliminating the need for traditional cement stabilisation and saving 985 tonnes of carbon emissions.

The new facility highlights Morgan Sindall Construction’s commitment to sustainability, featuring:

• A 40kW solar PV system providing 53% of the facility's energy needs
• Borehole water irrigation systems reducing mains water demand
• Air source heat pumps to eliminate direct carbon emissions
• Pre-manufactured timber kits minimising construction waste and embodied carbon
• The team also employed an innovative approach to ground preparation, eliminating the need for traditional cement stabilisation and saving 985 tonnes of carbon emissions. They also retained 80,000 tonnes of surface material on site to eliminate significant transport carbon emissions.

Beyond the build itself, the project delivered exceptional social value for the local community, including:

• 11 apprenticeships and trainee positions
• STEM workshops reaching over 150 pupils across multiple schools including New Elgin Primary School and Charleston Academy
• Six work experience placements, with potential progression into permanent roles
• Targeted opportunities awarded to local SMEs and supply chain partners
• Over £3,000 in donations to local causes

A highlight of the community engagement programme was the donation of the children’s book Sitka Spruce – The Amazing Timber Tree to local schools, helping young learners appreciate the importance of sustainable forestry. The team also supported innovative STEM activities, including the ‘Let’s Stick Together’ challenge, giving pupils hands-on experience in construction planning and delivery.

Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, said:

This site handover marks a key milestone in FLS’ drive to become ‘fit for the future’. The modernisation of Newton Nursery - which includes technology to allow for the planting of one million tree seedlings in a single day - will help the organisation improve operational efficiency and flexibility.

Growing trees from seed inside the glasshouse instead of outdoors in fields, will allow FLS to have much better control over the growing environment, meaning the seedlings are less vulnerable to damage from extreme weather events, herbivore browsing and competition from weeds.

Once the redevelopment is complete, Newton could have up to 25 million trees growing on site in any one year, a significant increase from the seven million trees FLS are currently able to produce – and secure significant operational savings.”

Planting and growing more young trees in Scotland will underpin FLS’ contribution to the Scottish Government’s ambitious target of net zero emissions by 2045. It will reduce the carbon footprint created from transport emissions and increase the number of trees we plant to absorb carbon dioxide, produce oxygen and end up as sustainable wood products.”

The process of creating this supply of home-grown timber starts in Newton Nursery”

Ian MacDonald, Senior Operations Manager at Morgan Sindall Construction, said:

Thanks to the close collaborative partnership with Forestry and Land Scotland and the entire project team, we're thrilled to deliver innovative infrastructure that transforms tree production capacity in the area. By working closely with our project stakeholders and supply chain, we've leveraged modern methods of construction to create a facility that supports Scotland's environmental and economic objectives.

We're very proud to have engaged local social enterprises and community groups throughout this project too, ensuring our construction approach delivers broader benefits beyond the physical build. The Newton Nursery development showcases Morgan Sindall Construction's commitment to collaborative, sustainable infrastructure that creates lasting value for both the environment and local communities."

ENDS

For more information, please contact Paula Herrasti at Influential, [email protected]