The 21 amenity blocks will incorporate kitchens, bathrooms, and store facilities, with two of the buildings have been designed with full wheelchair accessibility.

The £5.45 million project is jointly supported by Aberdeen City Council and the Scottish Government Gypsy/Traveller Accommodation Fund and is being delivered by Aberdeen City Council, MTM Construction and Connect Modular, part of The Wee House Group who will construct the amenity blocks serving 21 pitches.

Groundworks began at the end of last year on the site, located nine miles north-west of Aberdeen near the A96 and manufacturing of the amenity blocks will start in Connect Modular’s manufacturing facility in East Ayrshire at the end of this month.

Jennifer Higgins, managing director at Connect Modular, said: “We’re thrilled to be working with Aberdeen City Council to create an innovative development and deliver the much-needed redevelopment of Clinterty Travellers’ site. The use of modular construction improves build quality and means the amenity blocks and pitches will be ready for occupancy earlier.”

The project is Aberdeen City Council’s first non-education modular construction project and will be an improvement over the current aging facilities. The council has worked closely with the Scottish Government and has regularly consulted with the Traveller community based at the site to ensure the new design is in line with their requirements.

Aberdeen City Council Communities, Housing and Public Protection Committee convener Councillor Miranda Radley said: “It is great that works have started at Clinterty with the project jointly funded by Aberdeen City Council and the Scottish Government.

“The site redevelopment will increase caravan capacity whilst retaining the provision of 21 individual plots and the new amenity blocks built off site will ensure the tenants have improved facilities which meet the needs of the community.”

Equalities minister Christina McKelvie said: “The Scottish Government has committed almost £3m from our £20m Gypsy/Traveller Accommodation Fund to the redevelopment of the Clinterty Gypsy/Traveller site.” I am very pleased to see the Clinterty development is providing more sustainable, better insulated, and higher quality accommodation to residents that will better meet the needs of our Gypsy/Traveller communities.”

The modular construction method takes the building process offsite and into a controlled factory environment. All amenity blocks in this development will be constructed inside Connect Modular’s Ayrshire-based manufacturing facility with kitchens, bathrooms, plumbing, and electrics all pre-fitted. The blocks will then be split into modules, transported to site and craned into position, before the final 10% of building work is completed.

The buildings themselves will have enhanced insulation alongside infrared heating systems and solar panels to ensure bills and emissions are at a minimum.

One of the notable advantages of this modern construction method is its environmental sustainability. In comparison to an equivalent, traditionally built project, up to 67% less energy is required to produce a modular building, whilst construction waste is considerably reduced through stringent factory recycling and the proper storage and protection of materials.

The site is expected to be ready for residents to return this Summer.