Don’t be surprised if you see a few more piles of bricks as you drive across Scotland this year – these are already visible along the M74 – as owners of old industrial buildings choose to demolish rather than pay rates on their vacant property.

Some, including our politicians, will say this is a good thing, removing a blight on the landscape, and that the new legislation from April 1 dramatically changing empty property relief will make way for shiny new sheds and warehouses.

The trouble is that new speculative industrial development has been at a virtual standstill for years as the investment does not stack up financially on current prime rent levels of around £7 per sq ft, and the changes are actually a disincentive to build any more. Whereas, until now, empty industrial space was given 100 per cent relief when vacant, this is now limited to the first six months – after which the level will be reduced to 10 per cent.

Knight Frank give an example of an empty 15,000 sq ft shed with a rateable value of £100,000, where the owner or developer who previously paid nothing, faces an annual bill of £44,000.

Leading agents like Ryden, Colliers and the apolitical Scottish Property Federation had warned of "an unprecedented, punishing blow to industrial property".

Another adviser Billfinger GVA has been talking of possible ways round the expense, including "intermittent occupation" – successively vacating and reoccupying a property at planned intervals to minimise rates liability. Apparently some companies are actually promoting this option. Other suggestions include landlords leasing to charities, which qualify for 80 per cent relief, or securing agricultural use, which gets 100 per cent.

Maybe Holyrood will have to set up an army of tax avoidance officials or perhaps everyone will just tire of this hassle and get on with business.

It is hard to tell whether the burst of activity witnessed in the sector since Christmas is directly connected to this scenario, but lettings are up and there is noticeable growth in demand across all size ranges.

Colliers industrial team in Glasgow has completed 20 deals involving a total of 700,000 sq ft in the first quarter.

The largest, both in East Kilbride, involve letting a 130,000 sq ft former Co-op warehouse in Fairfield Place to JBT logistics for five years at £355,000 pa, and acquiring 145,000 sq ft for MBM print at 1 Tennant Avenue, at a cost of £1.4m.

Other deals saw Fishers bring 150 jobs to Coatbridge by opening a new 50,000 sq ft laundry at Palacecraig Street, at a rental of £250,000 pa, building material recycling charity Active4All purchasing 45,000 sq ft at Bellshill for £1,175,000, and formal hire firm ACS Clothing selling 40,000 sq ft of surplus space at Glasgow business park to a property company.

Wordie Properties has secured new tenants for two industrial units at Righead, Bellshill, where Quantum Europoint has taken 15,790 sq ft for five years at £75,000 pa for stockholding of specialist materials. Howdens is to double its space by taking 10,425 sq ft on a new 15 year lease at £65,000.

In Glasgow’s historic shipbuilding heartland, the Barclay Curle Complex, on the north bank of the Clyde three miles from the city centre, has hired Shepherd to market a range of large industrial units and office suites.

The variety of mid and end terraced industrial properties range from 5798 to 21,774 sq ft within a single storey multi-let building. The open plan space in shell condition, with large roller shutter doors front and rear, is priced from £2.50 per sq ft.

Sandy Lightbody of Shepherd said: "With excellent transport links, this former ship building and engineering complex is a superb commercial location. Large flexible floor plates, high eaves warehousing, and availability of cranage make it an attractive industrial proposition."

Dating from the 19th century, Barclay Curle was acquired by Swan Hunter in 1912 and during the First World War built insect class gunboats for the Royal Navy. After several reincarnations at Whiteinch and Scotstoun and owners including Yarrow, it became an industrial estate in the mid 1980s.

One of the few new build speculative schemes in Scotland has secured its first letting. West Edinburgh Business Park, has signed live event solution specialist Mclcreate, who have taken 13,207 sq ft for 15 years at a rental of £7.50 per sq ft. Burns & Shaw and JLL advised the landlord, with Colliers for the tenant.

Duncan Tait of developer J Smart & Co said: "We expect future demand pressure to increase for new industrial space due to the lack of speculative development supply coming forward following the change in empty rates relief for industrial property."

A similar amount of space, in units from 3283 sq ft, remains available. Significantly, later phases are being offered on bespoke design and build basis only rather than constructed in advance.

Falkirk Council has four new speculative industrial units under construction at Abbotsford Business Park, the 29 acre former British Aluminium works, where it acquired the development site from Scottish Enterprise last year following a £1.3m investment. Infrastructure improvements to three roundabouts, funded through the authority’s tax incremental finance scheme, will enable the project.

The four 2500 sq ft industrial properties are due for completion in August, with contractor JB Bennett briefed to deliver a low carbon specification with insulated roof panels, quality finishes and galvanised steel cladding, and an EPC rating of B is expected. A service yard spans 14,600 sq ft, with staff and visitor parking.