The listed company has been granted planning permission by West Lothian Council to build a veterinary referrals hospital, small animal practice and specialist pathology laboratory in the central belt town.

The plot was purchased from industrial property developer and asset manager Chancerygate for £450,000.

Set to create 110 new jobs, the proposed new facility will sit adjacent to Chancerygate’s Livingston Trade Park, the developer’s first speculative scheme in Scotland.  

Commenting on the plot acquisition, CVS Group property development director, Darren Oxley, said: “Our new Livingston premises is a significant addition to the CVS Group portfolio. This is a very satisfactory deal completed with Chancerygate, which will grow our presence in a prime central belt location. Last year was another record for revenue and operating profits, and we will continue our investment in premises going forwards.”

Located on Houstoun Industrial Estate, Livingston Trade Park will comprise eight leasehold trade, warehouse and light industrial units totalling 40,000 sq ft, ranging from 3,512 sq ft to 10,010 sq ft. Work has begun on site and the development is scheduled for practical completion in October.

Funding for the Livingston Trade Park is provided by the Scottish Partnership for Regeneration in Urban Centres (SPRUCE). Inverkeithing-based contractor Muir Construction is building the units having been awarded the construction contract following a competitive tendering process.

Chancerygate development director, Mike Walker, added: “Our deal with CVS Group highlights the attractiveness and accessibility of Livingston Trade Park. The combination of CVS Group’s proposed new facility and our development will create significant regeneration and employment opportunities. We are also in discussions with several national trade counter occupiers regarding the rest of our scheme.”

CVS Group owns more than 500 veterinary surgeries in the UK, Ireland and the Netherlands, including 17 branches in Scotland. The Livingston facility will be one of only eight referral practices in the UK.