Scotmid moves into Stevenston

The new Stevenston Business centre, on the site of the former Grange Bingo, has secured a major tenant in the shape of Scotmid, which is to open a supermarket covering 2,500 sq ft of the ground floor.

Scotmid, part of the Co-operative Group, is so keen to get its Stevenston store opened that work to complete the new building was rescheduled and will be finished six weeks ahead of the initial completion date.  The major retailer now hopes to have its doors open on Thursday, November 24.

Announcing the creation of 12 new jobs, Scotmid Co-operative’s Head of Property, Adrian Lorimer said, “We are very excited to be opening this new store on Stevenston's high street this month. It is in a good location and will boast an extensive range of goods, some great money-saving deals and an ATM.”

The Grange site, redeveloped by the Irvine Bay Regeneration Company, will also feature office and workshop space in small-unit sizes.  Patrick Wiggins, Chief Executive of the regeneration company said, “We are delighted the project is already seeing tangible benefits with the store opening and the creation of new jobs and we hope this is just the start of its impact.”

Local MSP Margaret Burgess welcomed the news, saying, “The development will mean an addition to the facilities in Stevenston’s town centre and welcome new jobs.

“The objective at the Grange business centre was always to encourage new business start-ups and to attract businesses to relocate or expand into the area, so the Scotmid announcement marks the first step in doing this.

“The next step must be to continue the push to encourage businesses into the workshop and office areas of the building.”

Demolition work on the Grange Bingo was completed in December 2009. A planning application was submitted in March 2010 and the main contractor for the new-build project, Maxi Construction Ltd, began work in November 2010.