A specialist Asian supermarket could attract more customers to Broxburn town centre. The council-owned building has been empty for several years as Property Services staff have sought to find a tenant.
Council costs and previous proposals
The council is responsible for holding costs on the empty building, one of the few storefronts it owns in the town. These costs include the payment of non-domestic rates of over £8,500. Earlier proposals by Specsavers to open a branch at the store at 99 East Main Street fell through at a meeting of the Council Executive.
Lease recommendation
Property Services Manager Scottish Hughes recommended the store be leased to SN Karim Ltd, who plan to operate an Asian and international grocery supermarket from the premises. 99 East Main Street is a council-owned commercial property located in Broxburn’s town centre at the junction of East Main Street and Church Street. The property is 263m of open plan retail/office accommodation.
Lease terms and local reaction
The rental income for the first year is £25,000, and there shall be a mutual option to break the lease at the end of years 5, 10 and 15. Local councillor Janet Campbell, the SNP group leader, asked how long the store had been vacant. Mr Hughes said it had been empty for at least three years. Asked by Councillor Campbell if the proposal would lead to over provision given surrounding grocery stores including the Co-op, Mr Hughes said his understanding was that the “very specialist” nature of the products sold in the store would attract people from outside the town. Councillor Campbell welcomed the proposal, saying: “I think it will be a bonus if it will bring many more people to the town for shopping.”
