Consent for 597,000-square-foot development ‘major vote of confidence’ in Scotland’s industrial market
“Developments of this scale are critical if Scotland is to meet future business demand, attract inward investment and support long-term economic growth” – Guy Thorley, Balmoral International Land
Planning consent has been granted for a “critical” industrial and logistics development in West Lothian as developers look to meet future business demand.
Balmoral International Land UK said it had been given the green light from the local council for its new “best-in-class” development at Arches Business Park, Broxburn.
The decision is seen as an important step forward for the delivery of Arches Business Park, which will extend to an initial 597,000 square feet on the eastern edge of East Mains Industrial Estate.
Located adjacent to the A89 and close to the busy Newbridge Interchange, Edinburgh Airport and Scotland's central motorway network, Arches Business Park is one of the most significant industrial and logistics development opportunities in the Central Belt.
The planning permission allows for development of the first phase site into industrial, storage and distribution accommodation. Road upgrades will commence immediately.
Property experts noted that with vacancy levels along the M8 corridor remaining at around 2.5 per cent, the planning decision was expected to generate early occupier interest. CBRE and JLL are acting jointly as leasing agents.
Guy Thorley, development director at Balmoral International Land, said: “Securing planning permission for Arches Business Park is a defining milestone for the project and a major vote of confidence in Scotland’s industrial and logistics market.
“Developments of this scale are critical if Scotland is to meet future business demand, attract inward investment and support long-term economic growth. Arches Business Park will become one of the country’s premier industrial and logistics destinations, creating new jobs, attracting investment and delivering the high-quality employment space the market urgently needs.”
Bryce Stewart, senior director at CBRE, said: “This consent brings forward one of the most significant industrial and logistics opportunities in Scotland at a time when occupier demand continues to outstrip supply.
“There is a clear shortage of modern, development-ready industrial space across the Central Belt, particularly for businesses looking to expand or relocate. Opportunities of this scale are exceptionally rare, and we’re already seeing strong interest from occupiers ahead of the development being brought to market.”
Rhys Davies, director of JLL’s industrial and logistics team, said: “The timing of this consent couldn’t be better. UK industrial take-up reached 12.9 million sq ft in the first half of 2026, driven primarily by logistics and retail operators seeking high-quality, immediately available space.
“There’s a clear trend toward modern, energy-efficient facilities that meet occupiers’ operational and sustainability requirements. Arches Business Park offers the opportunity to deliver exactly that type of accommodation in a market where such opportunities are increasingly scarce.
“With new speculative construction anticipated to slow across the UK later this year, the strategic importance of consented, deliverable sites like this is significant.”
CBRE was recently appointed by Castlebrooke to bring Prime4Eight - a four-unit industrial and logistics development, totalling some 377,200 square feet - to market.
Prime4Eight, positioned along the key M8 corridor between Glasgow and Edinburgh, has planning consent for four Grade A industrial and logistics units, ranging in size from 77,200 sq ft to 150,300 sq ft.
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