Dan sold his shareholding in The Morrison Construction Group in 1997 and invested in Macdonald Estates, a new company, set up to generate and deliver Real Estate for institutional investment.
CONTACT
e: dan@macdonaldestates.co.uk
t: 07967 330350
A LEAP FORWARD IN REAL ESTATE
We have built a unique record in creating successful new commercial real estate. Building trust through open collaborative dialogue with communities and taking social responsibility early, is at the core of that delivery
Dan Macdonald
MASTERPLANNING
Planning new built development that is practical, commercially functional, environmentally correct, yet enhances the spaces within which we all live is extremely challenging. That is our responsibility as property developers, and getting it right is what we rise to enjoy.
PARTNERSHIPS
Whether it's with the community affected by the introduction of new built environment, those consultees involved in creation and delivery, the public sector or the funding body, true partnership lies at the heart of Macdonald Estates culture.
INVESTMENT
The objective is to develop an end product worthy of a grade A investment category. That means securing tenure, based on quality that offers long time security of income and first class opportunity for the institutional investment market.
THE PERSONALITIES
DAN MACDONALD
Founder and Chief Executive
GORDON LAWSON
Finance Director
Gordon is one of the three who set up Macdonald Estates when he resigned from the Morrison Construction Group in 1998. Finance Director since the outset, Gordon and his team were responsible for all financial, legal and deal structuring aspects of the business.
CONTACT
e: gordon@macdonaldestates.co.uk
t: 07967 330353
KEVIN ROBERTSON
Managing Director
Managing Director at Macdonald Estates, with direct responsibility for the development team. The initiation, progression and completion of projects that thereby delivered mostly Grade A real estate for the institutional investment market is his speciality.
CONTACT
e: kevin@macdonaldestates.co.uk
t: 07967 330355
BUSINESS APPROACH
Since year 2000, Macdonald Estates have developed £500m in completed built real estate. Experienced in all sectors, including offices and industrial, it is retail, and more lately student residences that have dominated the development portfolio.
The philosophy of the company is that they sell-on all of their completed product to institutional investors.
Dan Macdonald has said...
"It is fundamental to our success that we continue to create and always sell on, top grade property investment product. We do not want to become long term passive investors because our passion is in the continuity of what we want to create. Being compelled to develop and build, we are anticipatory of legislative, cultural and market change and thereby the modifications required to sharpen expertise and constantly manage risk.
"Retail development has been the rock bed as we have evolved positively, through market and economic uncertainty. We have been very fortunate indeed to have survived in property development the most severe downturn of modern times. I believe the early adoption of a collaborative corporate culture and avoidance of debt has paid us solid dividends"
The creation of successful new Comercial Real Estate is dependent not just on blending the skills of a multitude of enabling professional disciplines but an ability to build trust with all people whose space may be affected by the significant changes which will dramatically bring change to their .
Dan Macdonald
SOME OF OUR COMPLETED PROJECTS
LIMERICK – CHILDERS RETAIL PARK
Anchored by Dunnes Stores, one of the principal retail parks in the Republic of Ireland. Extending to 650000 Sq Ft it was developed in partnership with Limerick City.
GLASGOW CITY – URBAN REGENERATION
Working with the community and Glasgow City, derelict land with problem ground conditions that has been dramatically transformed. Anchored by Morrisons.
STENHOUSEMUIR TOWN CENTRE
A good example of how a failing town centre can be transformed into commercially successful Real Estate through a new approach. Working closely with Falkirk Council and the local community, the town centre was completely redesigned and reconstituted.
INVERNESS – B&Q DIY
Conveniently located near the city centre, the development attracted B&Q who trade exceptionally well since opening.
KIRKCALDY TOWN – URBAN REGENERATION
A project which was led by recognising the town was underrepresented in convenience space, involved working closely with local people and community feeling.
GLENROTHES TOWN CENTRE
The addition to the town centre of food and convenience goods was seen by ASDA as an opportunity. The store works well and compliments the shopping area.
DUNDEE CITY – ASDA
Developed at a key location on the west side of the city, the retail centre serves a community that was previously poorly represented.
GLASGOW – TRAMWORKS
At the west end of the city, it was the second development of student residences by Macdonald Estates. Key to its success was a policy to upgrade space and quality from the norm, incorporate free gym facilities and generous study/meeting space.
COATBRIDGE – B&Q DIY
Part of a town centre regeneration by Macdonald Estates that saw a major modification and demolition of outdated property. A solution to clearing expensive contaminated land was meticulously followed through.
GLASGOW – CITY CENTRE STUDENT ACCOMMODATION
The complete redevelopment of a prominent site on Argyle Street for student residences with the ground floor a convenience foodstore occupied by J Sainsbury.
MASTERPLANNING
Masterplanning means identifying and promoting with good reason, land for the promotion of New Built Environment. The adoption into the National Development Plan of new development land, is a process that is complicated, requiring partnership with communities, Government Planning and those Agencies whose responsibility it is to ensure adequate infrastructure is properly planned and coordinated.
ST ANDREWS WEST – A NEW SETTLEMENT
St Andrews West was an extension to the historic town to provide new mixed living space with housing, leisure and convenience uses. A good example of a Masterplanning exercise undertaken over a number of years during which the proposal is coordinated and agreed with an extensive number of sources including the people of the town.
SUMMARY OF PROJECTS
Macdonald Estates have created approximately £500 000 000 of prime commercial real estate, mostly now owned by the institutional investment market.
Summarised below is a list of most of the work completed.
| RETAIL | £m |
|---|---|
| ARBROATH – Retail Park | 15.0 |
| DUNDEE – Homebase DIY |
16.0 |
| FALKIRK – Central Retail Park |
41.0 |
| COATBRIDGE – Town Centre |
17.0 |
| EAST KILBRIDE – Retail Centre |
34.0 |
| COATBRIDGE – B&Q DIY |
21.0 |
| PAISLEY -City Centre |
6.0 |
| FORT WILLIAM – Town Retail Centre |
16.0 |
| LIMERIC – Childers Retail Park |
61.0 |
| EAST KILBRIDE – Retail Park | 31.0 |
| LINLITHGOW – Retail Park | 12.0 |
| INVERNESS – B&Q DIY |
21.0 |
| STENHOUSEMUIR – Town Centre |
26.0 |
| GLENROTHES – Town Centre – ASDA |
32.0 |
| ARBROATH – Town Centre – ASDA |
5.0 |
| DUNDEE CITY – ASDA | 12.0 |
| GLASGOW – East End Regeneration – Morrisons |
19.0 |
| KIRKCALDY – Town Centre – Morrisons |
15.0 |
| Total |
426.0 |
| LEISURE | £m |
|---|---|
| EDINBURGH – Chesser Health Club |
6.0 |
| KIDDERMINSTER – Health Club |
4.0 |
| COATBRIDGE – Health Club |
6.0 |
| GLASGOW – Finnieston Health Club |
8.0 |
| GLASGOW – Giffnock Health Club |
9.0 |
| Total |
33.0 |
| STUDENT RESIDENCES |
£m |
|---|---|
| GLASGOW – Argyle St. |
9.0 |
| GLASGOW – Tramworks |
8.0 |
| Total |
17.0 |
| OTHER | £m |
|---|---|
| LIVINGSTON – Office/Industrial |
4.0 |
| GLASGOW – Rugby Club |
3.0 |
| STENHOUSEMUIR – Medical Centre |
9.0 |
| Total |
16.0 |
| TOTAL | £492M |
|---|
