JB Bennett was appointed as the design and build contractor and has started the construction preparation works, including establishing the site and its boundaries and starting to lay foundations.

The units each comprise 2,500 sq ft of industrial space and are due for practical completion in August 2016.

Benefiting from a modern, low carbon specification, the units have insulated roof panels, high quality finishes throughout and galvanised steel cladding. An EPC B rating is expected to be achieved. There is a service yard spanning 14,600 sq ft, five dedicated car parking spaces per unit and an additional ten visitors spaces.

Extending to approximately 29 acres, Abbotsford Business Park was formerly a British Aluminium works. Whilst the park overall is owned by Scottish Enterprise, Falkirk Council purchased the development site for the units in 2015, following a £1.3m investment. After receiving assistance from European Regional Development Funding, Abbotsford Business Park was cleared, remediated and new access routes and services provided.

In addition, external infrastructure improvements to three roundabouts, undertaken through £0.5m funding from the local authority’s Tax Incremental Finance scheme, will improve transport routes and accessibility for the area.

Councillor Dennis Goldie, economic development at Falkirk Council, said: “Through our property strategy we’ve identified the need for new high quality facilities that we know are in demand, so it’s with confidence we’re investing in this new development. With Abbotsford specifically we want to create a successful business park that enables us to attract commercial and industrial tenants, and therefore jobs, to the local area.”

The development of the units is being undertaken through funds raised from Falkirk Council’s portfolio management plan (PMP), which involves the selling of non-essential council-owned buildings. Between 2012 and 2013, the PMP delivered more than £1m from the sale of such properties. This revenue supports wider property and economic development in the local area, reinvesting in sites that are attractive to current market requirements.