Retail park could provide jobs boost for East Kilbride
● Developer says plans would not hit town centre trade ● Comes in wake of green light for housing scheme
East Kilbride could be in line for a jobs boost after developer London & Scottish Investments (LSI) gave further details of its plans for a new retail park in the town.
The firm said it expects that 260 jobs will be created at its 125,000 square feet, £35 million development proposed for Peel Park.
In addition, some 90 construction workers would be employedduringthe12-month building programme prior to opening.
Bosses claimed that the new retail scheme would be able to operate successfully without any significant impact on the “vitality and viability” of the town centre.
Bryan Wilson, development director with LSI, said that all seven of the large retail units on the new estate would be restricted to sell only “bulky goods” and this would be controlled by planning conditions imposed by South Lanarkshire Council. Likely retailers would be those specialising in furniture, carpets, DIY, kitchens, bathrooms and beds.
Wilson argued that there was no suitable existing space for such retailers within the town centre.
He pointed out that the town does not have a dedicated bulky goods retail park, unlike many similar sized towns such as Paisley, which has in excess of 150,000 square feet of such retailing.
“This is not an attack on the town centre,” he said. “It is complementary retailing that can’t go to the town centre.
“We aim to attract bulky goods retailers who want to come to the town and who simply won’t go to the town centre.
“We have serious concerns that some people are underestimating the significant boost our development will bring to East Kilbride, while grossly overstating the potential impact on the town centre.”
The Peel Park proposals also include two drive-through restaurants and five small retail units or “pods”, which typically appeal to pizza delivery companies and local businesses with two or three employees, serving the immediate area.
Wilson added: “There are really significant benefits arising form our proposed development for East Kilbride and we very much hope that local councillors will grant our bulky goods planning application to let us get on site and start to deliver these 260 new jobs the town so badly needs.”
Wilson was speaking following South Lanarkshire’s recent decision to grant the company planning permission for a £15m private and affordable housing development on the firm’s remaining land at Peel Park.
LSI is in the process of transferring the land at Peel Park to builder Balfour Beatty which will construct 89 family homes on the site. There will be a mix of 67 properties for private sale and 22 affordable houses.