GBP 200M Major Investment to Transform Dumfries and Galloway

DUMFRIES, Scotland, Nov. 30, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The Crichton Trust today announced an unprecedented GBP200 million inward investment initiative that will give the Scottish economy a significant boost and transform the Dumfries and Galloway region.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151127/291463 )

The GBP200 million investment package is being made by Jansons Property, a respected investor and developer which works in partnership with the William Pears Group.

The investment, in conjunction with the Crichton Trust http://www.crichton.co.uk, will be used to deliver a range of projects within the Region with the aim of providing enduring public and community benefit. These will include:

• a purpose-built campus for the University of the West of Scotland.
• a research and innovation centre for Dumfries.
• a museum to display artefacts from the Hunterian Museum, the Crichton Archives and the Dumfries and Galloway collection.
• 250 purpose-built student residences.
• a home for the National Centre for Resilience which will drive research into climatic, environmental events and emergency responses.
• two new grandstands and a business park at Queen of the South's Palmerston Park.
• the Let's Get Sporty facility on the Crichton Estate which aims to develop young people by providing mentoring and employability skills while delivering localised community sporting activity.

Andy Jansons, Managing Director of Jansons Property, said: "We are pleased to be working with the Crichton Trust in taking forward this exciting development, and we will bring together the funding and expertise to deliver appropriate projects for the Crichton and the community of Dumfries and Galloway."

Rob Shaw, Chief Executive Officer of the Crichton Trust, said: "This is the most compelling and tangible investment opportunity that Dumfries and Galloway region has had in living memory and one which benefits the Scottish economy significantly.

"This investment will create substantial benefit across a range of sectors including education, sport, leisure, culture, and research and development. This will have a hugely positive impact on the local community and will provide creative, sustainable and well paid jobs at all levels."

Jansons Property is committed to its initial investment and has signalled that further funds will be available to should further opportunities emerge.

Development of these plans has seen the Crichton Trust emerge as an entrepreneurial organisation capable of effecting real change for the benefit of the region and Scotland.

John McGee, of The Crichton Trust, commented: "A major challenge for all rural or perceived remote regions is being able to attract mainstream investors and developers. We are thrilled that we have been able to attract an outstanding investor. "

About the Crichton Trust  

The Crichton http://www.crichton.co.uk is a multi-award winning regeneration project in Dumfries, South west Scotland, based on the site of a former psychiatric hospital. The Crichton Trust, working with its subsidiary, the Crichton Development Company, has achieved more than 85% occupancy of the once redundant buildings on the 85-acre site. The Trust is now extending its reach beyond the Crichton Estate to benefit the whole of the Dumfries and Galloway Region.

About Jansons Property  

Jansons Property is an investor and developer with a diverse portfolio across a range of sectors including, hotel, industrial, mixed use and residential. The company works in partnership with the William Pears Group.