Farmer Autocare sets up in Hillington Park Business Park Glasgow

Farmer Autocare, one of Scotland’s leading motor servicing brands, has decided to locate in new premises just completed speculatively by developers MEPC at Hillington Park.

The franchise business, set up by former Kwik-Fit entrepreneur Tom Farmer, is taking two of the largest units in the new Kelvin Gate development of industrial starter units, located beside the Hillington Park Retail and Amenities Centre, and accessed from Kelvin Avenue.

The £3 million development of 13 units, ranging from 139 to 325 square metres (500 to 3,500 square feet), fills a well-known gap in the commercial property marketplace, where new-build facilities of this size are not commonly viable.

Farmer Autocare has agreed terms to occupy two adjacent units totalling 603 square metres (6,500 square feet) at the end of one of the two terraces which make up the Kelvin Gate development, where there is additional parking space for their operations.

The franchisee, Willie McLernon, already operates two successful Farmer Autocare sites in Paisley and at Glasgow Airport. He has taken out a combined lease on the two units at Hillington Park over ten years, at a rent of £7.50 per square foot.

"This superb location is at the heart of a vibrant estate where nearly 9,000 work," said Mr McLernon. "With people getting so busy, and perhaps keeping their existing vehicles on the road for a couple of years longer, they want the convenience of a local, fast and friendly maintenance service."

Grant Edmondson, managing director of MEPC Hillington Park, said: "It’s encouraging that we have immediately found our first occupier for Kelvin Gate so soon after completion of the development. These small modern units are ideal for small businesses and we expect them to let up quickly."

Malcolm Pearson, associate with letting agents GVA Grimley, added: "There has been no small unit industrial development in this area for many years due to the soaring costs associated with their construction. This has created a gap in the market, which MEPC have spotted, and occupiers are recognising that these units represent good value in such a prime location, with fantastic amenities right on their doorstep."

The letting agents for Kelvin Gate are GVA Grimley and James Barr.