Developers of a former pet food factory in Barrhead have announced the first company who will set up shop as part of a "state-of-the-art" retail park.

It was revealed in the Barrhead News last week that London & Scottish Investments (L&SI) has submitted plans to East Renfrewshire Council to transform a derelict site once occupied by Nestle.

Now it has been announced that discount retailer B&M is the first business to commit to opening a store at the £12million Glasgow Road development.

B&M will occupy a store measuring 20,000 square feet, along with a 7,500 square feet garden centre.

Developers are also in advanced discussions with a national food retailer and, on the leisure front, the new Glasgow Road Retail Park will chalk up another first for the town with two drive-thru options – one for food and the other for coffee.

There will also be a pub, including a family-friendly restaurant, with the names of the new arrivals to be announced in the coming months.

The driving force behind the new development is Barrhead man Bryan Wilson, who is development director at L&SI.

Mr Wilson, who oversaw the Waitrose-anchored development at Greenlaw, in Newton Mearns, before joining L&SI, said he is delighted to be doing business with East Renfrewshire Council again.

He told the Barrhead News: “I believe the new Glasgow Road Retail Park will be a massive boost for this part of Barrhead and the town in general.

“It builds on Barrhead’s success over recent years in securing major private and public regeneration developments in the town centre.

“The retail park development is significant in terms of bringing an old centre of employment back to life, removing a derelict blot on landscape and providing magnificent new retail and leisure services."

Initial estimates suggest there will be around 100 new jobs for Barrhead as a result of the retail park, as well as some 40 construction jobs during the year-long building period.

Bosses at L&SI have said they will put in place measures to try to ensure as many of the new jobs as possible go to local people.

Mr Wilson is keen to join forces with the council’s Work EastRen team to fill vacancies at the development.

He said: “This provides a tremendous jobs boost for the town, especially since these new retail and leisure jobs are high-quality, secure posts”.

The planning application for the retail park is due to be heard by East Renfrewshire Council by November, which would allow work to start on the site early in the new year.

It is hoped the development will be open for business by 2020.