Tiso coming to former Caithness Glass site in Perth

Feb 5 2010 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

OUTDOOR specialists Tiso are set to become the second business to move into the former Caithness Glass site at Inveralmond.

Long-awaited confirmation that the Scottish group was investing in a major outlet at the gateway to the Fair City was provided by a planning application for signage lodged with Perth and Kinross Council yesterday.

The news comes hard on the heels of the official opening of the Nevada Bob golf equipment store, which toasted a preview evening last night.

Tiso expect to open in the autumn, creating around 30 jobs.

“Perthshire is a strategic market for us and this is a substantial investment,” said the firm’s spokeswoman.

Insisting that the Perth project had no implications for their Blackford store, she said the outlet would include an indoor climbing wall, play area and cafe.

The £9 million Highland Gateway Retail Park has a controversial history but, despite the fall-out from the recession, it is now luring companies spotting the potential of a high-profile location off the main north-south A9 highway.

The project, developed by Kilmartin Developments, was first granted planning consent on the proviso that a tourist-orientated magnet was at the core of the retail park.

Despite strong objections from city centre businesses fearing that footfall would be sucked out of the heart of Perth as the development took shape, the council did a U-turn and paved the way for retailers to set up shop before any tourist lure was on the horizon.

The site was freed up after Caithness Glass plunged into administration, at the cost of 60 jobs. Dartington Crystal attempted a salvage job but that foundered amidst acrimony with Kilmartin.

More than 100 city centre businesses signed a petition objecting to the move to waive the tourist element, claiming it was a “Trojan horse” development.

The Nevada Bob franchise was the first to commit to the new shopping zone and now Tiso are preparing to become another trailblazer.