Perth food park now open and offers 400 jobs
The initiative was announced in September 2013 and is expected to make a significant contribution to the estimated £280M food and drink sales generated in Perth and Kinross. Scotland aims to grow its food and drink revenue from £13.1bn today to £16.5bn by 2017.
The site is able to provide up to 11 serviced development plots across 6.5ha of land at North Muirton, to the north of Perth.
Financial incentives
Plots range in size from one to three acres. However, there was scope for units to be combined in larger premises, with each site providing medium pressure air supplies, high voltage electricity, superfast broadband, telecoms, water and drainage, the council said. Financial incentives were available subject to eligibility, it added.
The park is close to the A9 trunk road, with good links to Perth city centre and train station and is only a 45 minute drive from Edinburgh International Airport.
The new Park is in an established business location at North Muirton yet has an attractive semi-rural setting bounded to the north by productive arable land and to the east by the banks of the River Tay, which is famed for its salmon fishing.
Councillor John Kellas, convener of the enterprise and infrastructure committee at Perth and Kinross Council, said the park would enable food and drink businesses to develop or expand their operations.
“Perthshire has unrivalled heritage and credentials in food and drink, evidenced by its superb beef, lamb and venison, soft fruit industry and world-famous whisky distillers, as well as artisan and specialist producers,” he said.
‘Passionate’
“We are passionate about continuing to see the food and drink industry in both Perthshire, and Scotland, thrive.
“We have identified food and drink as an area of outstanding growth and have committed substantial investment into helping businesses in this sector through the creation of Perth Food and Drink Park.”
Marketing through the Scottish Cities Alliance and events and exhibitions – supported by marketing agent GVA James Barr – are being planned to promote the park nationally and globally. It will be managed by Perth and Kinross’s global inward investment campaign Invest in Perth, alongside the council’s business development and investment team.
