Train maker, Talgo UK, expressed delight that, following minor clarifications, an application by Scottish Enterprise to transform an old industrial site has been approved by Fife Council. The Application was given the green light and approved at a meeting of the Central and West Planning Committee, in Dunfermline.
The application sought to redevelop the former Longannet Power Station site, with a mix of Business, General Industrial use, and storage and distribution.
The planning consent follows the news that Talgo UK, Scottish Enterprise and Transport Scotland recently signed a jointly agreed framework for the establishment of part of the Longannet site as a manufacturing base for Talgo UK.
Achieving planning consent is part of a programme to ensure that Talgo UK will be ready to deliver contracts that Talgo is currently bidding for (and future bids), should the company be successful.
Talgo is a leading specialised rolling stock engineering company mainly focused on designing, manufacturing and servicing technologically differentiated, fast, lightweight trains.
There are Talgo solutions in 44 countries, and Talgo has an industrial presence in 7 regions, including Spain, Germany, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Russia, the Middle East and the United States.
Longannet will become vital, as Talgo UK aims for ‘true manufacturing’. Instead of assembling kits of parts from overseas, the company wants to source components from within the United Kingdom. This approach will grow the UK’s manufacturing capability, strengthen supply chains, create more jobs, and boost local economies.
Talgo UK intends not only to build for the UK market, but also to export, and serve emerging overseas markets, boosting UK exports.
Talgo UK Managing Director, Jon Veitch, said: ‘I want to pay tribute to all who have worked hard to ensure that a compliant and environmentally-sensitive application was submitted and approved.’
‘By taking part of the site, Talgo UK can now continue to develop our plan to bring ‘true manufacturing’ back to the UK rail industry – sourcing from the UK supply-chain, and keeping more money in the local, regional, and national economies of the UK’.
‘Talgo UK’s factory, once implemented, will create 1,000 jobs on site, and many thousands more will be created or protected in the supply-chain’.
‘I am conscious of the great responsibility that we have, to ensure that our plans are delivered sensitively and sympathetically to the environment and also to the heritage of the area. ‘
‘We will share more of our thoughts in due course, and ensure that we engage with local people and their representatives, to keep them fully informed as further developments occur.’
Managing Director of International Economic Development at Scottish Enterprise, Paul Lewis, said: ‘This planning approval is a really exciting development for the communities of Fife, and well beyond.’
‘The Longannet site is of strategic importance to the Scottish economy, and we are committed to ensuring it is redeveloped for future industrial use, delivering investment, jobs and further benefits.’
