Scotland The future is bright in Ayrshire
It has been a very encouraging start to 2019 in Ayrshire, where the industrial market has continued to improve with demand
having
Fraser H Lang BSc MRICS Partner Graham + Sibbald Ayrshir
increased for all size ranges and record rental levels being achieved. The market continues to be positive
despite the political uncertainty in the UK and Scotland, however this does not appear to be dampening occupier demand for properties.
Graham + Sibbald have enjoyed an extremely successful start to 2019, with seven new lettings and sales in Ayrshire within the first week of January, which has continued on a positive trend throughout the first quarter of the year. A number of our key instructions are performing well, with demand now starting to outstrip supply. The agency teams (based in our Ayr and Kilmarnock offices) provide the largest dedicated agency team within Ayrshire covering the industrial, office, retail and development sectors, supported by our specialist teams within the Planning, Licensed Trade and Petroleum & Roadside sectors.
In recent weeks, the positive announcement of the Ayrshire Growth Deal being by National and Local Government awarded to North, East and South Ayrshire Councils who, together with private sector partners, are developing a regeneration plan to transform the economic and property landscape of Ayrshire over the next 20-year period. A number of key projects Growth Deal Projects are already well on their way, and Graham + Sibbald are proud to be appointed by North Ayrshire Council to undertake the agency and marketing of their i3 Enterprise Area buildings at Annickbank Innovation Campus, Irvine and i3 Gateway Building within the Strategic Investment Campus, Irvine which are aimed to attract innovation and life science companies to locate to these purpose-built facilities which all benefit from the Enterprise Area status incentives and significant opportunities.
Within East Ayrshire, The HALO Master planned development close to Kilmarnock town centre and adjacent to new purpose- built Ayrshire College Campus, proposes to provide significant mixed use new-build development, including state of the art innovation space which will complement the other developments throughout Ayrshire. Graham + Sibbald have provided advice in
COMMERCIAL PROPERTY MONTHLY 2019
respect of The HALO development and are excited for the future of the project as the physical development commences within short course. The proposals for the South Ayrshire area surround Prestwick Airport, where the proposals are to create the UK’s first ever Spaceport which has been received by the local area with great excitement. The development market consider this will produce great opportunity for the creation and development of additional industrial accommodation within an area which is currently a popular industrial, leisure and retail destination.
One sector which has shown new invigoration throughout 2018 and into 2019 surrounds the residential development sector, where we have been actively involved in the successful marketing, disposal and acquisition of a number of residential development sites throughout Ayrshire with a number of the major housebuilders. Since the property market downturn in 2007, the residential development market within Ayrshire has stagnated, with an overall lack of confidence from developers to progress new developments throughout the Ayrshire area. Slowly over the past three years the light has been turned back on and in particular, within the last twelve months, we note a competitive marketplace from purchasers/developers now re-emerging.
Graham + Sibbald has recently concluded the sale of the former Ayrshire College Kilmarnock Campus, which has been acquired by Barratt Homes to undertake an exciting new residential development close to the town centre site. There are a number of other residential developments throughout Ayrshire which we are actively involved in promoting, together with the collaboration with our Planning department in order to promote these sites through the planning process. The developer confidence will undoubtedly filter through to the other residential and commercial sectors, which will provide further exciting opportunity for the Ayrshire areas.
Development proposals within South
Ayrshire are also progressing, with an exciting new large-scale master planned development at Corton, South East Ayr. The site extending to 51 Ha (126 Acres) has Planning Permission in principle for a mixed-use development including up to 750 residential units, office+ business space, retail and petrol filling station, education, neighbourhood centre including hotel, public house, shop units and a park + ride facility. Graham + Sibbald have advised the developer in respect of the scheme, which should provide further positive stimulus to the local area throughout 2019.
The Crichton, Dumfries Borderlands region
The Crichton, an 85-acre parkland estate in Dumfries is quickly becoming the destination of choice in the South of Scotland to work, study, live, play and relax. The Crichton has a fascinating history and is what it is today, thanks to the dedication of Elizabeth Crichton. After 20 years, of pursuing her dream to provide Dumfries with a College of University status, Elizabeth used her late husband’s bequest to establish a lunatic asylum at The Crichton in 1839 which became an internationally- recognised centre of excellence in mental health, research and care. By the 1980s, it was deemed surplus to requirements and since 1995 has been leased to The Crichton Trust; a social enterprise and registered charity set up to protect, enhance and bring new life to the estate. Ironically the closure of the hospital, combined with the vision and determination of those who followed Elizabeth Crichton, The Crichton has since been transformed into an academic and economic hub for the South of Scotland.
The Crichton is now home to the campuses of University of Glasgow, the University of the West of Scotland, The Open University in Scotland, Dumfries and Galloway College and Scotland’s Rural College Dairy Research and Innovation Centre with over 6,000 students currently studying at The Crichton. As a gigabit connected estate with high-quality meeting space, free car parking, electric charging points and on-site hotel, restaurants, swimming pool and spa, The Crichton is also home to a thriving business park, with more than 80 businesses occupying 23 historic red sandstone properties set within the stunning grounds.
Easterbrook Hall, the largest auditorium in the South of Scotland, has the flexibility to cater for functions for 6 – 600 people. Its proximity to Easterbrook Bistro, Bar & Spa, the Crichton Memorial Church, The Crichton Gardens and the Holiday Inn Dumfries, it is a popular choice for conferences, weddings, meetings, parties, awards and charity dinners, lectures, exhibitions, festivals and live performances.
With the prospect of a new luxury privately owned five-star hotel and spa on site and The Crichton Trust’s ambitious plans to create a state of the art, flexible working, meeting and knowledge exchange space at the heart of The Crichton (dubbed Crichton Central) by 2020, The Crichton is set to attract even more businesses and visitors.
When you visit, you’ll see
the attraction.
www.crichton.co.uk
#TheCrichton 23
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