AN engineering giant has handed a vote of confidence to the Scottish engineering sector by committing its future to Renfrew, writes Scott Wright

Doosan Babcock has signed a new long-term lease on the 350,000 square foot space it occupies at Westway, in what is billed as the biggest industrial deal in Scotland this year.

The company has been a fixture at Westway since 1985, when in its original incarnation as Babcock & Wilcox pioneered boiler system technology at the site.

Its commitment to a further 15 years is the latest in a series of boosts for the business park, located next to Glasgow Airport, which recently clinched a deal to provide a new 120,000 sq ft unit for grocery wholesaler JW Filshill at the site.

Filshill’s 17-year deal, announced in June, was the biggest pre-let deal seen in Scotland in the last five years.

Some 60,000 sq ft of the Doosan site is located next to the £8.8 million Advanced Lightweight Manufacturing Centre, which was officially opened by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon earlier this year.

Meanwhile, an agreement was recently reached with Renfrewshire Council to construct a new bridge to link the park with Glasgow Airport. It is due to be completed in late 2020.

Westway was acquired by asset management firm Canmoor in a £40m deal in 2018.

Andy Colquhoun, chief executive of Doosan Babcock, said: “We have a long and proud history on the site and are delighted to commit our future to Renfrew.”

Tom White, director at Canmoor, said: “We have worked closely with the Doosan Babcock team over the past few months to secure this deal. Doosan Babcock is synonymous with Renfrew and we are pleased to be able to support their future business plans.”

Derek Mackay MSP for Renfrewshire North and West added: “This deal is great news for the park and for the Renfrew economy in general.

“It is pleasing to see Doosan Babcock commit to Renfrew and looking to the future with optimism and confidence. Renfrewshire is a great place to do business and a great place to invest.”

Read all the latest from Renfrewshire and beyond