A joint planning application to create Scotland’s first purpose built Waitrose store has been lodged with East Renfrewshire Council by Gleniffer Estates plc and Waitrose, the food shops of the John Lewis Partnership.

Located off Crookfur Road in Newton Mearns, the store represents the second phase of the new Greenlaw Neighbourhood Centre, created jointly by Gleniffer Estates plc and Walker Group.

The proposal would create Scotland's largest Waitrose shop to date spanning 36,000 sq ft with a sales area of 25,000 sq ft and offering 180 car parking spaces.  It represents a multi-million pound investment and it is anticipated that the new store will create up to 200 new jobs.

As co-owners of the business all employees are known as Partners and, as such, would be entitled to the unique benefits of employee ownership. This would include a say in how the business is run, leisure and shopping discounts as well as a share in profits through its bonus scheme. This year saw existing Partners receive 13% of their annual salary in bonus.

If the application is successful, it would become Glasgow’s second Waitrose shop and its fourth in Scotland.  The retailer is currently preparing to open its first in the city on November 12th after securing the former Somerfield in Byres Road.  This will build on its two Edinburgh branches in Morningside and Comely Bank, which have been trading since 2006 and were also acquired from Somerfield.

Waitrose Managing Director, Mark Price, said:

“Newton Mearns is an exciting opportunity for our first new build Waitrose store in Scotland and is a further demonstration of our ambitions to make our brand far more accessible to Scottish consumers.  We have wanted to bring Waitrose to Glasgow for a long time and are eagerly anticipating the opening of our very first shop here next month in Byers Road.  The Greenlaw Village development would be another welcome addition to the Waitrose estate and we look forward to working alongside the Council and community to develop our proposal.

"Since first arriving in Scotland three years ago, we have established a loyal customer base and been able to increase the number of Scottish farmers and producers supplying our shops, both here and throughout the UK.  Growing our presence in Scotland would not only providing a boost to the local economy through the creation of up to 200 jobs, but ensure we can continue to invest further with these producers and new ones."  

Bryan Wilson, Managing Director, Gleniffer Estates added:

“Waitrose is a highly desirable brand providing top quality food and drink and will be a terrific facility for the Newton Mearns community.   Attracting such a quality retailer also brings further benefits to Greenlaw and the retailers who have already committed to the development.”