Seafield Road, Edinburgh

Forrest acquired this property in October 2005 to add to the investment portfolio based on the potential scope for medium term redevelopment. The property benefited from an open use planning consent, in an excellent location within Leith. This acquisition continued the expansion of Forrest’s investment activities.

The unit provides approximately 20,000 sq ft of floorspace on one level with 87 parking spaces.

After securing planning consent for refurbishment of the unit and external areas, Forrest sold the property in June 2012 to an owner operator.

Castle Retail Park, Stirling

Forrest Developments purchased this city centre site, which extends to approximately 6.5 acres, in the Spring of 2004. Following a lengthy planning application process, during which time the exsiting bonded warehouses on the site were demolished, detailed planning consent was granted for a 107,000 sq. ft. retail development in 2006. In March 2007 work commenced on site and the supermarket opened for trade on 6th December 2007.

It was Sainsbury’s original intention to take an 80,000 sq. ft. store, however during construction operations they decided to lease the whole development, making it their largest store in Scotland at the time.

Cambuslang Regeneration

On Tuesday 27th March 2012, South Lanarkshire Council Planning Committee unanimously approved our planning permission in principle application for the comprehensive regeneration of the area with a mixed-use development at Bridge Street, Cambuslang.

The area previously occupied by the Hoover factory, between Somervell Street and Dallas Drive, and also the industrial land between Bridge Street and Somervell Street will be redeveloped jointly as part of the proposals.  Plans for the site include a 98,000 sq ft Sainsbury’s supermarket with around 500 car parking spaces, industrial and new business units, over 200 new houses, a park and ride facility and substantial green space.

As the site is currently disused, the development will bring jobs into Cambuslang and the surrounding area, with Sainsbury’s creating up to 300 full and part time job opportunities.  As well as a food store, the areas around the site will have pavilion offices or light industry buildings bringing a range of employment and business potential into the area.  It is likely the development will create around 500 jobs in the retail, business and industrial zones, which would be a welcomed boost to Cambuslang.

This is an exciting time for Cambuslang as this proposal will bring a huge investment into the area over the coming years.  In addition to the job creation and the retention of existing jobs, the regeneration of the site, which has lain empty for quite some time, will benefit and reinforce the existing town centre, in its edge of centre location.  We shall be moving forward with our detailed proposals at the earliest opportunity and look forward to this substantial regeneration project coming to fruition.

Forrest Developments and Sainsbury’s are keen to move forward with the detailed proposals and will be continuing to liaise with the local residents and stakeholders as soon as possible.

Forfar Retail Park

Following the liquidation of Focus DIY Limited in June 2011, Forrest applied for planning consent to sub-divide the existing retail unit at Myre Road into two smaller units. Planning permission was granted in September 2011 and works commenced on site in October 2011 following Building Warrant approval.

The extensive sub-division and alteration works were undertaken by LM Construction and completed in December 2011. Unit 1, the larger of the two units at 16,500ft² has been let to Homebargins who commenced their fit-out operations in February 2012 and started trading in April 2012. Unit 2 (8,750ft²) is currently vacant and being marketed through Colliers International.

A further unit of around 5,500ft² is being planned for the retail park and will be the subject of a further planning application in the near future.

UPDATE – PHASE I

Forrest acquired the former Au Naturale retail unit at Myre Road in Forfar in January 2006. Following the granting of planning consent to redevelop the unit into a 25,000 sq. ft. Focus DIY store and associated garden centre, construction operations commenced in March 2006. The Focus unit started trading in October 2006.

Forrest have been granted planning permission to construct a further 10,000 sq. ft. of non food retail adjacent to the Focus unit and are currently preparing detailed designs for this building.

UPDATE – PHASE II

Following the liquidation of Focus DIY Limited in June 2011, Forrest applied for planning consent to sub-divide the existing retail unit at Myre Road into two smaller units. Planning permission was granted in September 2011 and works commenced on site in October 2011 following Building Warrant approval.

The extensive sub-division and alteration works were undertaken by LM Construction and completed in December 2011. Unit 1, the larger of the two units at 16,500ft² has been let to Homebargins who commenced their fit-out operations in February 2012 and started trading in April 2012. Unit 2 (8,750ft²) is currently vacant and being marketed through Colliers International.

A further unit of around 5,500ft² is being planned for the retail park and will be the subject of a further planning application in the near future.

Forrest acquired the former Au Naturale retail unit at Myre Road in Forfar in January 2006. Following the granting of planning consent to redevelop the unit into a 25,000 sq. ft. Focus DIY store and associated garden centre, construction operations commenced in March 2006. The Focus unit started trading in October 2006.

Forrest have been granted planning permission to construct a further 10,000 sq. ft. of non food retail adjacent to the Focus unit and are currently preparing detailed designs for this building.

Milton Road, Kirkintilloch

Forrest acquired the former bus station depot from First Group, a site extending to approximately 4 acres. Having previously obtained outline consent (subject to S75 Agreement) for a DIY store, offices and a restaurant in 2006, Forrest submitted a Planning in Principle Application in November 2010 for a 3-phase development, comprising a 17,500 sq ft supermarket, Class III restaurant and 11,500 sq ft of offices and business units.

The application will regenerate a brownfield site adjacent to the town centre, whilst providing additional employment for the Kirkintilloch area.

The application was determined by East Dunbartonshire Council in October 2011 and minded to grant subject to the signing of a Section 75 Agreement. Following the processing of further planning applications for the constituent elements of the scheme, it is intended to commence the first phase of construction works in early 2013.

Bridge Street, Cambuslang

Forrest Developments in a joint venture with Dawn Group submitted a comprehensive Planning in Principle application to South Lanarkshire Council for the regeneration of the Bridge Street and former Hoover Factory site in Cambuslang. Planning consent was sunsequently granted in March 2012.

The mixed use proposals augment the zoning already established within the current Local Plan and comprise a 98,000ft² Sainsbury’s supermarket, up to 300 houses, 13 acres of business/industrial land, a park & ride facility for Cambuslang station and all necessary road and services infrastructure requirements to facilitate the development.

The £100m development seeks to regenerate a largely disused area of Cambuslang bringing up to 500 new jobs to the area and further encouraging investment by employers looking to establish businesses in the location. It is hoped that work will commence on phase 1 of the development in 2013.

Eskbank Road, Dalkeith

Forrest have secured Detailed Planning Consent for a mixed use scheme in Dalkeith town centre, providing 58,000 sq ft of lettable space. The ADF designed scheme is anchored by a 47,000 sq ft supermarket and can accommodate up to 11,000 sq ft on the first floor for office, leisure and/or restaurant usage.

The scheme, to be built on the site of the existing First Group bus depot, will provide a much needed food offering within the town of Dalkeith. The striking architecture will significantly add to the local townscape amenity.

A total of 251 parking spaces will be provided along with a number of cycle stands and other green transport measures. The scheme will benefit from a number of energy saving enhancements and the latest environmental building techniques to ensure a reduced carbon footprint is provided by the opertaing premises.

At present, First Group have ceased operations from the bus depot and will vacate the premises in November 2012. A site commencement date has not yet been finalised, however once construction operations have commenced, the development will take around 10 months to complete.

Drawing: Site Plan Sk120816-01.pdf

Gorgie Road, Edinburgh

Having let the existing property to Aldi Stores and carried out extensive refurbishment and extension works, Forrest have now sold the property to a group of international investors.

Garscadden Road, Drumchapel

Construction operations were completed in 2007 on the 2,000 sq. ft. standalone retail unit prelet to Tote Bookmakers. The unit was constructed on land occupied by our media company as a completion to the adjacent terrace of retail units.

The unit has recently been re-branded as Bet Fred following the sale of the Tote by the Government in 2012.

Busby Road, Clarkston

A 2-storey 16,000 sq. ft. retail / leisure development that was completed in 2005. The large ground floor unit is let to Sainsbury’s, but has recently been the subject of a sub-lease to Wickes Building Supplies. The other ground floor unit is let to Tote Bookmakers now trading as Bet Fred.

Forrest recently sold the first floor restaurant unit to an owner occupier. The 7,500 sq ft restaurant will now trade as Clark & Sons.