Property developer Muir Group has submitted a planning application for three more industrial units at its flagship Aberdeen Gateway business park.
Muir said it was confident the new units, each comprising about 15,000sq ft of workshop and office accommodation, would prove attractive to businesses keen to secure premises with rapid access to transport links in and out of Aberdeen.
Aberdeen Gateway, which is located on the south side of the city at Cove, already has about 525,000sq ft of office and warehouse space spread across more than 31 acres of development land.
Fife-based Muir has recently been completing work on unit E8, which was speculatively built following the successful letting of E7 to Eriks Industrial Services last November.
Netherlands-based Eriks was the latest in a string of high-profile tenants to take up residence at the business park, joining firms such as Total, Cameron, Ensco, Hydrasun and Oil States.
Represented by Knight Frank, the Dutch industrial services giant signed a 15-year lease for a purpose-built unit extending to 15,000sq ft of workshop, 4,500sq ft of office and 9,825sq ft of yard space.
E8 comprises a 10,000sq ft workshop, 4.500sq ft office building over two levels and a secure yard of about 17,000sq ft.
Claire Herriot, senior surveyor for letting agent Knight Frank in Aberdeen, which represents Muir Group, said: “Despite challenging market conditions in Aberdeen there is still demand from occupiers for new high quality premises.
“Aberdeen Gateway benefits from being the prime industrial location on the southern side of the city, with excellent transport links that will only be enhanced by the imminent completion of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral route.
“Muir Group is working with prospective customers and the latest planning application, if approved, would allow construction to begin on the first of the units.”
Muir development director Ewan Black said: “While it may be too early to suggest there is a substantial recovery in the local commercial market, we are seeing a degree of cautious optimism within the sector.
“That is why we have submitted planning applications for these units.
“We continue to develop first-class accommodation at Aberdeen Gateway and look forward to welcoming further high calibre occupiers.”
Construction work on the business park got under way in 2007.
Letting agent Paul Richardson, of Ryden, said: “Since its inception, Aberdeen Gateway has proved to be an important addition to the city’s portfolio of prime commercial property.”