Massive Scottish logistics park planned

By Liza Helps, Property Editor Logistics Matters

THE PROJECT, to be known as Lothian Gateway, is being brought forward by Castlebrooke Investments - a private UK based property company that specialises in Investment, Development and Asset Management - and landowner Riddochhill Developments. A planning application has been submitted for 1,483,000 ft2 of logistics and industrial space following public consultations in June and August last year.

The 98-acre site fronts the M8 motorway in Scotland’s central belt. It comprises an area of vacant brownfield land and was the site of the former Riddochhill Colliery, which closed in the late 1960s. 

Proposals submitted envisage five units ranging from 143,000 ft2 to 500,000 ft2 with eaves heights up to 25m. Currently the project is targeting BREEAM Very Good.

It is estimated that the £135 million scheme will provide 657 FTE new jobs created on and off-site during the construction period and a total of 3,185 FTE direct and indirect jobs once operational. It is estimated that the annual GVA impact would be £251 million and provide £7.67 million in business rates.

According to the applicant: “There is an acute shortage of consented land for logistics development in the central belt.” Indeed, statistics from real estate analyst Co Star point to a vacancy rate of just 2.4% across the central belt.

Subject to planning construction is due to start before the end of the year.

Joint agents on the scheme are Savills and Ryden.