Concrete floor saw users in Edinburgh are to see 250 jobs made available in the city when the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) is extended.

The Expansion Space planned by the organisation will include a 2,000 sq m multi-purpose hall as well as offices.

Scheduled for completion in 2013, the EICC has described the new development as the most technologically advanced events and meeting facility in Europe.

Edinburgh City Council funded the project, which is to cost £85 million, but Jenny Dawe of the local authority commented that she felt the investment was a sustainable and "safe" one considering that it is forecast to provide a return of £2.3 billion by 2030.

Sir Robert McAlpine has won the contract to construct the development, which will see the excavation of 120,000 tonnes of material and the use of 3,300 tonnes of steelwork.

Director of the firm Andrew McAlpine, said: "We look forward to delivering another landmark building to this important area of the city."

Posted by Andrew Miles