Lockerbie business space could grow

A LOCKERBIE industrial estate is being lined up for potential expansion.

Council officials and the Borderlands team are eyeing an area at Broomhouses to create more good quality, modern, adaptable business space.

The local authority already owns blocks one and two in the area and they are considering putting five terraced units there, at a cost of over £1.3 million, or two larger units for £1.1 million.

It’s hoped these could be taken into the Borderlands portfolio and funded as part of the deal or partly through South of Scotland Enterprise.

A council report on Broomhouses notes the opportunities there and that it would be capable of generating an income either through sale or through letting of the new units.

It says: “The Lockerbie site is a very well-located site with good access to the M74. The general industrial area off the B7076 and B7078 between Junctions 17 and 18 of the M74 has grown and developed in recent years. Along with Broomhouses Industrial Estate and the nearby sawmills/timber and haulage site developments, this has elevated the commerciality of the area.

“There is a lack of activity at the subject units. With limited and/or

no availability elsewhere this should be seen as a positive to repurpose/redevelop the site.”

The report further highlights “the potential to develop the site at pace, subject to planning permission”, adding: “It is worth noting that the council’s intentions for site development are not one purely concerned with achieving a commercial rate of return and with the potential use of the Borderlands funding, development costs are shared between Borderlands and the council.

“It is very much the council’s intention to use its resources to address market failure in key locations in the region and Lockerbie would appear to provide a very good opportunity to address this issue and in a timely manner.”

Members of the economy and infrastructure committee will be asked to consider the matter at their meeting next week.

If they agree, the Lockerbie site will then be proposed to the Borderlands Partnership Board.