HISTORIC ENGINE FACTORY UP FOR SALE
The landmark former Cummins Diesel Engine factory in Shotts has been put up for sale.
The first of the manufacturer’s facilities outside the United States opened in 1956 and until 1998 the facility developed a brand of engines used in British Rail’s range of Sprinter units.
Prior to its closure the factory employed 2000 people in Shotts, a third of whom lived in the area.
The circa 500,000 sq ft of industrial premises is located within the Junction 5 M8 Business Park, 25 miles from Glasgow, 20 miles from Edinburgh and a 15-minute drive from Eurocentral.
A spokesman for Junction 5 M8 Business Park, said: “Due to the current strength of the industrial property market, we are fully committed to undertaking an extensive internal and external upgrade of this historic facility to meet modern industrial occupier requirements.”
Shepherds Chartered Surveyors have been appointed sole agents.
Managing partner Steve Barnett said: “Industrial stock has continued to perform well, partly due to occupiers seeking additional space due to the recent expansion of e-commerce.
“In addition, the change in vacant rates liabilities some years ago, which led to a significant amount of dated industrial stock being demolished and developed for alternative uses, reduced supply at a time when demand has been rising.
“Add in the stock-piling requirements as a result of Brexit coupled with limited speculative development over recent years, demand has outstripped supply, resulting in a rise in rents and capital values as the level of ‘take up’ increases.”
