Key West Lothian site to be brought back into use

Council Executive has approved the sale of the combined former community centre and petrol filling station sites at Ash Grove, Blackburn to Abernethyn Properties Ltd for £300,000.
The 1.94 acre site has been vacant since the community centre relocated across road to Blackburn Partnership Centre in 2018, with the petrol station closed for over 20 years. 
The community centre was demolished in 2019 and the remediation of the former petrol station was completed early 2021 to allow the full site to be redeveloped. 
The council undertook significant site preparation works to remove asbestos and demolish the community centre, as well as remove five underground fuel tanks and decontaminate the petrol station site, to ensure it could be brought back into use.
Council officers actively marketed the combined site and the best terms offered were from Abernethyn Properties Ltd, who intend to apply for planning consent to build up to 15 private houses for sale on the site.
Depute Leader of West Lothian Council Kirsteen Sullivan said: "I'm delighted to see this central location in Blackburn being brought back into use after being vacant for a number of years.
"West Lothian Council and our partners have invested heavily in Blackburn Partnership Centre to help create a hub for the community.
"With the owners of the Mill Centre planning to partially redevelop their site, this sale will help regenerate the centre of Blackburn for the benefit of the whole community."
The sale is subject to conditions and detailed negotiations being concluded.