Food and Drink Park to diversify to meet investment demand

perth: Half of innovative estate will now be given over to ‘general’ business use with plans to extend site

Perth’s innovative Food and Drink Park, marketed as the first of its kind in Scotland, will now open its doors to different industries in an effort to score fresh investment.

Work began on the “unique” £1.8 million business estate at North Muirton earlier this year. It was hailed as the first business park dedicated to the Scottish food and drink sector.

Now Perth and Kinross Council has agreed to use half of the estate for “general” business use to meet demand from non-food groups.

Plans are also being drawn up for a major expansion, which could see the site almost double in size.

The local authority said it hopes the change will see new businesses move on to the estate as early as next month.

A local authority spokeswoman said: “At 12 acres, the Perth Food and Drink Park is one of the largest in the UK, and this has allowed us to look at opportunities to diversify the potential use of the site.

“Promotional activity from the Invest in Perth team has brought forward interest from companies requiring sites for general industrial and employment and by considering this approach we are able to ensure businesses seeking to locate and grow in Perth can be accommodated.

“Indications are these interests could mean commitment by at least one of these companies in early 2018.”

The council has lodged notice to expand the site and the proposals will be unveiled at a public consultation event in January.

A report to councillors, put together by investment manager Serge Merone and interim head of economic development Tom Flanagan, states: “A planning advance notice is being progressed for strategic land of 10 acres to make it more attractive to investors.

“Twelve acres — 50% of the available 24 acres for the site – will now be marketed as general use to meet existing demand.

“This will still leave 12 acres for food and drink use, which is substantial compared to other food and drink parks across the UK.”

Three small business units are now under offer, with a fourth expression of interest tabled with the local authority.

Last week, The Courier revealed that an £8.2m plan to heat the business park with radical heat pump technology had been scrapped.

Indications are these interests could mean commitment by at least one of these companies in early 2018

Picture: Steve MacDougall. Perth Food and Drink Park is located off the city’s Arran Road.