Angus textile firm claims it could create 200 retail jobs

 

© The Herald Originally published: 23/6/2009

A textile company that helped make Kirriemuir the centre of a home-weaving industry in north-east Scotland about 140 years ago is planning a multi-million- pound development to safeguard its future and create 200 new jobs.

J&D Wilkie was established in 1868, eight years after the birth of the town's most famous son, Peter Pan creator JM Barrie. At that time, the town produced about nine million tonnes of linen a year.

Demand eventually fell sharply but J&D Wilkie adapted to survive and remains a key employer in Kirriemuir where more than 80 staff work at its manufacturing plant and headquarters of its global textile business. The company also has a manufacturing site in China.

The company has submitted a planning application to Angus Council with developers CW Properties (CWP) for the redevelopment of its Gairie Works site. The company said is has a potential investment value of £10m and could create 200 jobs.

Much of Wilkie's Gairie Works is unused at the moment and offices and other accommodation are vacant. The company hopes to be able to sell the site to CWP for the development of a medium-sized supermarket.

Angus Council has approved a planning brief for the Gairie Works, which is now at the consultation stage. It identifies the site as suitable for retail purposes because of its size and close proximity to the town centre.

Michael Rowan, chairman of J&D Wilkie, said: "We are hopeful that the planning application will be approved by Angus Council as the current factory at the Gairie Works site is currently largely redundant and underused by our business. Being able to sell the site and fully relocate to the east factory at Marywell Brae is an incredibly important step in securing our company's future in Kirriemuir.

"J&D Wilkie has seen a lot of changes through the years and view this as an opportunity afforded to us which would hugely benefit both our business, local jobs and the local economy."

There are plans for two other supermarkets in Kirriemuir.

Guild Homes (Tayside) have proposals for a site, to the north of the A926 road and Macdonald Estates and Muirhead Estates have announced proposals to include a new supermarket as part of a £25m retail, commercial and residential masterplan, focusing on land south of Beechwood Place - creating up to 450 jobs for the area.