Two74 delay
Stall on retailers taking up lease terms
The planned Two74 retail development will be delayed by at least six months.
Ashfield Land, the business behind the retail outlet, this week told the Reformer the shopping centre would not open in Rutherglen in mid 2017 as originally planned.
The planned Two74 retail development will be delayed by at least a six months, as no company has yet agreed to lease a store there.
Ashfield Land, the business behind the retail outlet, this week told the Reformer the shopping centre would not open in Rutherglen in mid 2017 as originally planned.
The company was granted planning permission in February for a development comprising of an anchor retail store, retail terrace, two family restaurants and a drivethrough restaurant on a 20-acre site near junction two of the M74.
They said they had hoped to have the first retailer on site in mid 2017, with the development completed in phases.
But speaking to the Reformer this week, Steven McGarva, director at Ashfield Land, said terms had not yet been finalised with any interested parties.
He added: “We are pleased with progress, we are finalising the terms of our section 75 agreement with the council at present and have commenced on-site demolitions.
“We are in detailed discussion with a number of retail and leisure operators and hope to make further announcements in that regard in due course.”
Mr McGarva said the company had commissioned the demolition of existing vacant buildings on the site near Duchess Place and that a contractor was yet to be appointed to build the £ 15million development.
Explaining local and national companies would be considered, Mr McGarva further said the project would provide a number of opportunities for sub contractors and suppliers in the Rutherglen and Cambuslang area.
Tommy Rooney, chairman of Rutherglen Community Council said he was keen to see as many jobs as possible go to locals.
He said: “At the present time it is a derelict estate so it would be good to see it brought back into use.
“Clyde Gateway, wi t h their development, got young people into apprenticeships and I believe they have now served their time. They have skills which they can now take forward into the community.
“It would be good to see that happen again and I would support any initiative like this that brings jobs to South Lanarkshire.”
Permission for the Two74 project was first given in 2011, when plans also included a hotel and cinema.
The most recent plans approved by South Lanarkshire Council are for a non-food goods retail store with a floor space of 100,000sq ft with three, 10,000sq ft retail units on the terrace. The main restaurant will be 3500sq ft.
Vehicle access will be from Cambuslang Road while car parking space for 713 vehicles will be created.