XSite Braehead: project managing a £7m leisure redevelopment for Pradera Lateral
From skis to wheels: how Workman’s Project Management team is transforming a leisure facility from an indoor ski slope to the world’s longest indoor karting track and e-sports venue at XSite Braehead.
On behalf of Pradera Lateral, the Workman Building Consultancy team began by project managing the decommissioning of the indoor ski slope at XSite Braehead, a 375,000 sq. ft retail and leisure destination on the outskirts of Glasgow.
Phase One works, which took place from November 2023 and focused around snow removal, marked the first time snow has been removed in a live environment with occupiers trading below – in this case an Imax cinema.
In the world’s first known repurposing of an indoor ski slope without demolition and redevelopment, 9,000 cubic metres of snow was removed from a 60,000 sq. ft space to allow for retrofitting of a new leisure facility.
A statement released by Snow Factor, which had appointed administrators on November 4, 2021, said that maintaining the temperature of the ski slope uses the same energy as more than 6,000 fridge freezers per day, and produced more than 500 tonnes of CO2e a year. The cost of meeting the slope’s energy requirements had increased by 500% since 2021. On average, it required 5,700 kwh per day to run.
“In the modern climate, consuming 5,700 kwh per day to run an indoor ski centre that is not generating income was unsustainable,” says Brendan Magee, Partner at Workman.
“The costs quickly added up with the dramatic increases in energy prices in 2022 and 2023, which made the ski slope unviable. The age and inefficiency of the equipment also contributed to the decision.”
K1 Speed to open “the world’s longest indoor karting track”
Fast forward a few months to September 2024, and K1 Speed signed a lease to launch “the world’s longest indoor karting track” and e-sports venue at XSite Braehead. This will be the UK flagship for the indoor karting operator, which is bringing an investment of £5.5m to boost the Scottish leisure market, while creating 80 local jobs.
Its karts race at speeds of up to 45mph on a blend of fast straights, flowing corners, and tight hairpins, which will be installed across three levels in the former indoor ski slope space. The new indoor electric go-kart track is on course to be the world’s longest indoor track by some 60 metres, measuring just under 1,100m in total, with Guinness World Records to be invited to confirm.
This state-of-the-art facility is backed by a significant £5.5m investment, demonstrating K1 Speed’s confidence in both the Scottish market and the future of XSite Braehead. The investment will create approximately 80 jobs, making it a major boost to the local economy.
A vibrant hub of activity
Scheduled to open in Autumn 2025, K1 Speed will transform the former Snowfactor site into a vibrant hub of activity. Featuring an expansive three-decked indoor karting track that spans over 1000 metres, the facility will be designed to accommodate up to 35 high-performance electric karts racing simultaneously.
The extensive project, managed by Workman’s Building Consultancy team, will incorporate an e-sports studio for virtual racing, with food and beverage options for the scheme provided via a delivery service agreed with existing onsite offerings.
“This appeals across a wider range of clientele; from families with young children and teenagers, to stag and hen parties, as well as team-building and other corporate events,” says Brendan Magee, Partner at Workman.
Electric karts – which are described as “the Teslas of go-karts” – mean there are no emissions and reduced noise, which in turn reduces the project costs for ventilation and soundproofing. It also means the facility can be installed above the Imax cinema without impacting the quality of sound and viewing.
Workman LLP will provide Project Management and Employers Agent Services for Pradera Lateral during Phase 2 of the works, which began in October 2024. The landlord’s work package will run through to August 2025, when it will be handed over to K1 Speed to commence their final fit out.
The project team comprises Ryder Architects, Goodson Structural Engineers, Arup M&E and Fire, and RPP Quantity Surveyors, STP Construction, who completed the Phase 1 decommissioning works, and will return to complete Phase 2 of the project.
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