Aggreko completes purchase at Lomondgate site

Aggreko, the world’s leading temporary power provider, has completed the purchase of a 16-acre site at the Lomondgate development near Dumbarton, where it plans to build a new £20 million manufacturing facility.

Aggreko is to build a 160,000 sq ft factory with 30,000 sq ft of offices and ancillary accommodation on the site, which is just 2 miles from its existing manufacturing plant.

The relocation and expansion is expected to create 110 new jobs and safeguard a further 120 jobs in the town and will play a crucial role in the company’s expansion.

The £100m Lomondgate project was launched in 2007 by Strathleven Regeneration Company, (SRC) a public-private partnership established with the support of West Dunbartonshire Council, Scottish Enterprise and Diageo.

SRC formed a partnership with developer Walker Group to help deliver its plans of a thriving new community on the site providing 300 new homes, a new business location and destination services on the A82 at a gateway to Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park.

So far more than £14m has been invested by the Walker Group into the development of Lomondgate, which includes significant local road and infrastructure improvements, including the construction of the new Lomondgate roundabout leading into the business park and the other main elements of the project.

Lomondgate is already the home of BBC Scotland’s drama production facility where River City is made and which has hosted a wide range of other productions, most recently The Deep starring Minnie Driver, James Nesbit, and Goran Visnjic.

Whitbread has purchased land to build a 60 bedroom Premier Inn hotel and a Table Table restaurant as part of Lomondgate Services. Whitbread aims to start on site in April with completion expected before Christmas. Tesco is also planning a petrol filling station and Tesco Express.

The partnership is in advanced discussions with a number of housebuilders regarding the sale of the residential land parcels on the Lomondgate site and announcements in this regard are expected within the next two months or so.

John McFall, MP and Chairman of Strathleven Regeneration Company which is celebrating its 10th anniversary in April, said: “It is fantastic to see plans to develop a vacant 120 acre site starting to take shape with a world class company like Aggreko coming on board to join the BBC and with active interest in the housing, roadside services and business park.

“Against a gloomy economic climate this is testament to the strength of Lomondgate’s location and the quality of business, lifestyle and leisure
experiences that it can offer.”