The Nestle site on Glasgow Road is set to be developed as part of East Renfrewshire Council’s (ERC) ongoing regeneration work in the town.

And it could mean new local job opportunities and new services for local people.

The factory had become Barrhead’s ‘big white elephant’, dominating the town’s skyline and becoming increasingly more run down as vandals and fire bugs destroyed it.

The site had previously employed hundreds of people, and had belonged to Spillers before being taken over by Nestle Purina.

Additionally, it was the site of one of Scotland’s largest refrigeration rooms.

The was demolished in 2013 to make way for new developments in line with ERC’s vision for the Glasgow Road corridor as a hub of commerce and light industry.

It has now been transformed through investment from East Ren and the community delivering new infrastructure to service the site and the Waterworks garden.

Further investment in the site has been secured from the Glasgow and Clyde Valley City Deal and Scottish Government Regeneration Capital Grant Fund.

Through the Glasgow and Clyde Valley City Deal East Ren is investing more than £44m in new business and leisure infrastructure, new homes and improved transportation links with Glasgow and beyond. The opportunity is part of East Renfrewshire’s drive to attract new investment into the area.

Convener for infrastructure and sustainable growth, Councillor Tony Buchanan, said: “This is excellent news for local people and the town of Barrhead and will bring many fresh and exciting opportunities to the area. We have transformed Glasgow Road and the site is now suitable for a wide range of uses including retail, business and leisure and we are working to attract developers to invest in Barrhead.”