A Dundee-based property company has broken ground on a new £1.5 million business park development in Fife.
Barnetts Properties Ltd parent company of the motor group of the same name has started to clear a site at Bassaguard Industrial Estate in St Andrews ahead of the new-build development.
The company, which has taken over the site on a long-term lease from Fife Council, has employed Kelty-based Sayak UK to demolish and remove the post-war garages and industrial premises on the site.
The vision is to build nine new modern units providing a mix of office and light industrial accommodation for the town.
The first unit is due for completion next spring, and several have been pre-let to firms in a range of sectors including oil services research and development, accountancy and laundry. A cookery school has also expressed interest in the site, and negotiations are being held with other prospective occupants.
All current tenants operating from Bassaguard were offered places in the new development, and one of the companies has expressed an interest in expanding its footprint.
Three years of planning has gone into the project, and Barnetts chairman Paul Barnett said the start of the demolition work was a milestone moment.
“I’m delighted to be starting the site work on this project, which is the latest chapter in the 40-year history of our company creating employment in St Andrews,” he said.
“We have a few industrial units in the town but we’re constantly being asked if more are available.
“Sadly none are, and no new rentable units have been built for more than 20 years, so we’re keen to help feed the demand and help the local economy grow, as well as remove the need for small firms to look towards other towns or cities for high-quality industrial units to rent,” he added. “There’s such a lack of land for employment use in St Andrews that this is such a great opportunity. We had to take it.
“This is about bringing more jobs to St Andrews and we’re delighted to be working with Fife Council for the benefit of the town.”
Lesley Brown, economic adviser at Fife Council’s enterprise, planning and protective services department, said the new development was a major positive for the town.
“We are delighted that site works have started at Bassaguard,” Lesley said.
“The council originally advertised the site for redevelopment over two years ago in response to the long-term decline of the existing estate and the desperate demand for business space which is lacking in the town.
“Following Barnetts Properties Ltd successful bid we have been working closely with them to secure these much needed modern business units in St Andrews.”
Barnetts Properties was formed in 2001 as a holding and property development company and is the parent of Barnetts Motor Group.
The company as a whole can trace its roots back 70 years to formation of delivery business Dundee Express Removals, which bought a garage to service its lorries and moved into car retailing thereafter.