Abandoned West Lothian high street store to be transformed in major new deal - Daily Record

A meeting of West Lothian’s Council Executive agreed the lease of the former M&Co store in Linlithgow this week.

A ten-year lease awarded to a charity for a major store space in Linlithgow’s Vennel is no barrier to proposals for redevelopment of the controversial building.

A meeting of West Lothian’s Council Executive agreed the lease of the former M&Co store this week.

But local Lib Dem Dem Councillor Sally Pattle wondered if this would stall long running discussion about redevelopment of the 1960’s building.

Local community groups have long promoted major redevelopment of the Vennel, a much derided but, at one time, award winning example of Sixties architecture.

All three local councillors welcome the news that the store, the largest in Linlithgow’s High Street, would once more be occupied. Its empty windows have become an eyesore since M&Co stopped trading in December 2022.

It is just yards from the historic centre of Linlithgow.

The move by Chest Heart and Stroke from its existing premises in the town will save the council £17,000 a year in lost rates.

The report added: “The council is currently responsible for vacant rates payments equating to £17,878 per annum with this set to increase to £18,775 in April 2026 after the new valuation roll takes effect from the 2026 Revaluation process. Consequently, by securing the proposed letting the council will secure additional income and savings of between £52,878 and £53,775 during the first five years.”

The charity has offered to rent the property for ten years at £35,000 per annum for the first five years- rising to £38,000 per annum after that.

Councillor Pattle told the meeting: “ It’s very good to know that the unit will finally be occupied.”

But she added: “This lease is for ten years. Does that mean we can assume that there is going to be no development, no change to the Vennel in the next ten years. There’s been discussion for at least ten years about redeveloping the Vennel. I’m assuming that if this lease runs for a decade we won’t be seeing any changes for the next decade. Is that right?

Scott Hughes, the council’s Strategic Property Asset Manager replied: “There’s been discussion of the potential redevelopment of the wider Vennel area which goes beyond the boundaries of this particular lease. So I don’t think it fair to say that it inhibits any redevelopment taking place.”

Labour’s Tom Conn welcomed the cash savings the lease would mean for the council and said he hoped the charity would allow community groups to use window space to promote their activities.

Pauline Orr for the SNP said: “I’m really pleased to see that vacant space is now going to be occupied.”

Community groups have long proposed comprehensive redevelopment of the Vennel area as the only viable option.

A test marketing exercise of the site carried out two years ago produced two offers but neither of those was as viable, or as valuable to the council as the existing car park which currently brings in £100,000 a year in rental.

A report to the Executive said: “The council is currently responsible for vacant rates payments equating to £17,878 per annum with this set to increase to £18,775 in April 2026 after the new valuation roll takes effect from the 2026 Revaluation process. Consequently, by securing the proposed letting the council will secure additional income and savings of between £52,878 and £53,775 during the first five years.”

The charity has offered to rent the property for ten years at £35,000 per annum for the first five years- rising to £38,000 per annum after that.

Currently, just over 5% of Linlithgow town centre shops are empty. The occupancy rate is 94.6%.

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