PROPERTY MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT

WHAT DO WE DO?

For external customers our main responsibility is to manage those properties that are owned by West Lothian Council, but which aren't used for the direct delivery of council services.  We are involved in the provision of new sites and properties to encourage the economic development of West Lothian. We provide services to customers within the council, focusing on strategic property asset management.  This includes managing Civic Centre and other Headquarter buildings; energy and water management; and the provision of professional property advice and support.

We sell and lease council property
Development sites and surplus properties
We have a programme for the sale of development sites - mainly for residential use - and properties that are surplus to the council's needs.  These properties are usually advertised for sale on the open market, with a closing date for the submission of formal offers.  Please note that we do not generally have individual house plots for sale - and any that do become available will be offered for sale in the manner outlined above.

Garden Ground
We respond to requests from local residents for the purchase of amenity land for the extension of their private garden ground.  If you want to find out more details download our information leaflet and application form.

Industrial and business development sites
The council has a small stock of land for development for industrial or office use, falling under planning Use Classes 4, 5 and 6.  Sites are allocated to migrant and expanding local businesses for their expansion and terms and conditions of sale are negotiated directly with the business.  For more information contact: Graeme Carracher. We are also a partner in the development of new business parks at Heartlands, Whitburn, and at Lothian Gateway, Bathgate.

Commercial property for lease
We manage and let over 500 office, industrial and retail properties throughout West Lothian. These include:
- Business starter units suitable for a variety of light industrial and office uses
- Approximately 200 small industrial units from 90 to 180 sq.m (c 1000 to 2000 sq. ft),  which are let on easy in, easy out terms
- About 30 larger industrial units of up to 2300 sq.m (25000 sq.ft)
- Office accommodation in multi-storey blocks and modern self-contained buildings
- In excess of 100 shops, in both prime locations and local shopping parades

A guide to leasing commercial property from the council, and copies of our standard documents can be found here

A full list of the properties we currently have available, on the NovaLoca database, and details of who to contact, can be found here.

Commercial sponsorship of roundabouts
We manage the council's roundabout sponsorship scheme. Please download our information leaflet, application form and standard licence agreement.

We can tell you if the council owns a particular property
Property Management and Development (PM&D) maintains computerised records of all properties owned by West Lothian Council, including an Ordnance Survey based Geographical Information System. All enquiries about property or ground ownership and requests for information on boundary issues should be directed to us.

Contact Brian Chrystal on 01506 281 821, giving the address or location of the property. Unfortunately only information on council ownerships is available. This service is free of charge.

However, enquiries regarding the management and maintenance for grass, landscaping and open spaces - for example communal amenity or landscaped areas - should be directed to NETS and Land Services. (Contact the Customer Service Centre on 01506 775000 who will pass your enquiry to the responsible officer.)

Related Web Sites:
Registers of Scotland - www.ros.gov.uk (for other ownership enquiries)
Nets and Land Services - www.westlothian.gov.uk

We grant access across council land for the utility services
The council's formal consent is required for the laying of any utility or service - such as power, water or drainage - across land in our ownership.  These consents are known wayleaves or servitudes and will be processed by Property Management and Development on request.  For more information contact our Property Assistants.

We are involved in new developments
To support the growth of the West Lothian economy we are involved in projects for the provision of new industrial sites and buildings.
- We are partners with Ecosse Regeneration in the preparation of the 100 acre Heartlands Business Park, to the south of the M8, at Whitburn.
- A rehabilitation of the former Riddochhill Colliery at Bathgate with Waystone Hall Ltd, to create Lothian Gateway, an extension to both the J4M8 Distribution Park, and to Whitehill Industrial Estate.
- We are preparing to service industrial and business land in Livingston.

With our colleagues in Economic Development we also provide information, advice and assistance on property availability to new, indigenous, migrant and inward investing businesses.  For more information contact: Graeme Carracher.

Internal Services to Council Customers

We have responsibility for Strategic Property Asset Management.

We make sure that the councils property assets are used efficiently and effectively in enabling the delivery of services to customers. We focus on the medium to longer term (3 to 10 years), managing investment decisions to ensure that our properties are sufficient and suitable for purpose, and monitoring performance.

Energy and Water Management  

We promote the efficient use of water and energy, setting consumption targets, promoting good practice and monitoring performance. We invest in projects that will secure reduction in consumption, and promote energy generation.

We manage West Lothian Civic Centre and the council's Headquarter Buildings
A substantial number of the council's office staff, based in properties at Livingston, Bathgate and Linlithgow, as well as elected members and visitors, are our internal customers.  As managers of West Lothian Civic Centre we also provide a facilities management service to our partner organisations - e.g. Lothian & Borders Police and the Scottish Courts Service.

Our objective is to provide an effective and efficient facilities management function for all customers during normal working hours and also when required outwith these times. e.g. overtime, member's surgeries, special projects etc. This involves many aspects of maintenance, repair, health and safety, fire safety, control of asbestos at work, compliance with disability discrimination legislation, recycling, and energy management.
For more information contact: Building Manager (Civic Centre).

We provide advice and assistance on property matters to council services
We help other Council services maximise the effective and efficient use of their property.  We address corporate property issues, such as the assessment of the council's properties for Non-Domestic rates and the valuation of its property assets.

We will help other services with:
a. Rating valuations and appeals
b. The valuation of land and property
c. Property acquisition
d. The management of Landlord and Tenant issues where properties are held on lease from private landlords
e. The provision of expert advice on property issues.

Date of last update: 04/03/2013 (PMD)