A massive multi-million-pound regeneration of a key Fife industrial estate is under way.
Prattis Properties is already investing £4 million in Hillend and Donibristle estate in Dalgety Bay – and that’s just the start.
The estate is home to seven of the top 100 businesses in Fife, including Rolls Royce, BAE Systems, Ingenico and Heil Farid.
Recognised as an important employment and economic hub, it is deemed to be “vitally important” to the economy of Fife and accommodates more than 120 business and in excess of 2,000 employees in a location which continues to be attractive to a whole range of firms, from sole traders to internationally recognised companies.
Now, to ensure its long term future, a steering group has been set up of businesses with support from Fife Council.
The news comes hot on the heels of the announcement the Scarborough Muir Group is about to lodge a detailed £4 million planning application for the gateway to Dalgety Bay.
Given the importance of the estate in a strategic location near the bridgehead and the businesses that it accommodates, the council has been working with consultants and businesses to consider a pragmatic and co-ordinated regeneration action plan which will secure the future of the estate.
Work is already underway on new signs, landscaping work to improve key locations and road and footpath infrastructure with key areas for improvement now identified.
Promotion of the industrial estate is also progressing.
Fife Council depute leader Lesley Laird said: “The focus of this ongoing work is to ensure the long term viability of the significant employment within the estate.
“It is also to give businesses confidence about the way that Fife Council can work with them to support their business activities.
“By providing a plan which co-ordinates delivery through partnership then we will all be in a much better position to secure its future for another generation.
“I am heartened by the recent progress and, while there is still much work to do, the commitment from everyone so far means that we have a great opportunity to make this ambition a reality.”
Steering group member Casey Prattis, managing director of Prattis Properties, revealed: “We are investing £4m in the regeneration of the estate.”
The first phase includes a children’s nursery and 10 starter units.
“This will, in turn, generate jobs for the community and help to bring the industrial estate into the 21st Century,” he added.
The council recently bought the former Havelock Europa building which has seen part of the building being placed on the market for sale and now under offer.
Proposals for the other part of the building, which is likely to be demolished, are being developed and the cleared site will be placed on the market later in the year.