Delight as train factory clears planning hurdle

Plans for a new train factory at Longannet in Fife have been given the green light.

Spanish manufacturer Talgo wants to employ 1,000 people on the site of Scotland’s last coal-fired power station, which closed in 2016.

Fife councillors agreed outline planning permission at a meeting of the central and west planning committee yesterday.

The plans for the land near Kincardine were submitted by Scottish Enterprise.

It was initially thought the scheme was dependent on Talgo winning a major contract for trains on the HS2 high speed rail line between London and the north of England but bosses say they are exploring other deals.

Talgo UK managing director Jon Veitch welcomed the councillors’ decision.

“Talgo UK’S factory, once implemented, will create 1,000 jobs on site, and many thousands more will be created or protected in the supply chain,” he said.

“I am conscious of the great responsibility that we have, to ensure that our plans are delivered sensitively and sympathetically to the environment and also to the heritage of the area.”

Managing director of international economic development at Scottish Enterprise Paul Lewis said: “This planning approval is a really exciting development for the communities of Fife, and well beyond.

“The Longannet site is of strategic importance to the Scottish economy, and we are committed to ensuring it is redeveloped for future industrial use, delivering investment, jobs and further benefits.”

Nicky Wilson, trustee with the Coalfields Regeneration Trust in Scotland, said: “The area has a ready supply of skilled labour and good transport links to the rest of the country, but communities have been badly affected by the closure of the coal-fired power station more than three years ago.

“The redevelopment of the site, including the Talgo factory, will help rejuvenate such communities and build on the work we do to support former mining areas.”