Tesco & Dobbies to open in East Kilbride

Tesco has confirmed it is the supermarket behind a multi-million pound development which could bring up to 1,000 jobs to East Kilbride.

The supermarket giant has entered into a contract to operate the new development at Peel Park in the town in partnership with garden centre chain Dobbies.

The two retailers will be at the heart of the retail and leisure development worth more than £50million, which will include a 120-room hotel, two restaurants and a filling station. The site on Redwood Crescent is being developed by JHAG Limited.

Dobbies has plans to construct an £8m garden centre, while Tesco is looking to develop an 80,000 sq ft environmentally-friendly store, which will create more than 400 full and part time jobs.

Doug Wilson, corporate affairs manager for Tesco, said: “Tesco has long held an ambition to develop a store in East Kilbride and we are looking forward to being part of this exciting development.

“It is an excellent opportunity to build upon our relationship with Dobbies and together we are committed to making this investment in East Kilbride.”

The South Lanarkshire town has been at the centre of a long-running supermarket war.

Dawn Developments hopes to build an Asda store at West Mains Road while Ediston Properties has plans to bring an as-yet-unnamed store to Atholl House.

There was tension between JHAG, Dawn and Ediston as the latter two firms demanded all three planning proposals went before South Lanarkshire Council’s planners at the same time.

Dawn tried to obtain a Court of Session order preventing the JHAG application being heard on its own, but this was refused.

Although Peel Park is zoned for industrial or office space, planners approved the application for the retail development as the site has been empty for more than 20 years.

Dobbies director of Properties, Stuart Wright, said: “We have received positive feedback from the community regarding our proposals for Peel Park.”

Source : Stef Lach - Scottish Evening Times
www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/editor-s-picks/retailers-set-to-bring-1000-jobs-to-town-1.1102397