WAITROSE is set to open a seventh store in Scotland next year, after an application by Town Centre Securities (TCS) in Milngavie was granted planning permission last night [24.04.2013].
Councillors on East Dunbartonshire Council agreed to grant the scheme at a Planning Hearing held yesterday, subject to agreement on certain planning conditions.
The new Waitrose store will be built on a training pitch at West of Scotland’s rugby ground and an all-weather replacement will be built on an area that is currently unused, providing first class training and playing facilities available for community use.
As a result of the deal with TCS, West has secured the badly-needed investment it required to stay in business at its existing site at Burnbrae.
The Waitrose store is expected to open for business in 2014, bringing 180 new jobs providing secure, long term employment for local people.
Councillors accepted the arguments put forward by Town Centre Securities (TCS) developers of the scheme (voting 12-7 in favour) that the proposal would provide the financial security needed to ensure the future of West; that it enjoyed strong public support and would help draw new shoppers into the area with the potential spin-off benefits to the town centre.
In their presentation, TCS also highlighted that their development would not impact adversely on the deliverability of the Kilmardinny Masterplan nor affect the ability of the Council to secure the finance it needs to build a replacement Allander sports centre.
Speaking after the Hearing, Richard Lewis, property director of Town Centre Securities (TCS) said: “We’re very pleased that Councillors accepted the strong case we put forward and recognised the benefits this proposal would bring both to West of Scotland FC and to the community in terms of jobs and greater shopping choice.
“We look forward to working closely with the Council to agree the final details, so that we can get on and build the new store and pitch as soon as possible.”
Martin Gorman, senior development surveyor at Waitrose, said: “We’re very much looking forward to coming to Milngavie, becoming a positive part of the local community and working with the existing traders in the town centre.
“We’re committed to creating up to 180 jobs providing secure, long-term employment with Waitrose for local people.”
Gordon Cairns, vice-president of The West of Scotland Football Club, said: “After years of uncertainty over the development of the club we are delighted that we’re able to move on and plan for a future at Burnbrae in partnership with Town Centre Securities.”
-ENDS-
For further information please contact Giselle Dye or Sarah McDaid at Pagoda PR 0131 556 0770 or email giselle.dye@pagodapr.com/sarah.mcdaid@pagodapr.com
Notes to editors:
1. Waitrose is the supermarket arm of the John Lewis Partnership.
2. Project updates and news are available at www.waitrosemilngavie.co.uk
3. Waitrose Milngavie will be the retailer’s seventh branch in Scotland. Waitrose currently has two branches in Edinburgh (Comely Bank and Morningside) Byres Road and Newton Mearns and Stirling (which opened in January 2013). A sixth branch is due to open later this year in Helensburgh.
4. Town Centre Securities PLC (TCS) is a leading UK property investment and development company with assets in excess of £295 million. With more than 50 years’ experience, a commitment to sustainable development and a reputation for quality and innovation, TCS create outstanding mixed use developments close to transport hubs in major cities across the UK. www.tcs-plc.com
5. The Waitrose Milngavie store is expected to act as a shopping destination, drawing customers from 20-30 minutes’ drive time away, attracting new people and trade worth around £4 million into the area, with potential spin-off benefits to Milngavie town centre. Due to the wide catchment of Waitrose, the vitality and viability of the Milngavie and Bearsden town centres would not be threatened.
6. As part of their submission, TCS commissioned an independent report from DTZ into the background, history and current planning and developer activity in relation to the sites at Burnbrae, Kilmardinny and Auchenhowie. This showed that the development may improve the deliverability of the wider development proposals at Kilmardinny/West Park envisaged by the Cala/SMG PPP consent and that by not relocating West of Scotland FC to Auchenhowie Road, Cala could save around £5.8million, removing a significant cost burden on them and enhancing the viability of the remainder of the approved development and the availability of any associated financial contribution.
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