THE last new retail park to be built in Scotland is set to achieve 100% occupancy despite the challenging outlook for retailers, writes Mark Williamson.

Iceland expects to open a unit on the Inverurie Retail Park in Aberdeenshire in the New Year after agreeing a 15-year lease on the only remaining unit.

The frozen food retailer has become the ninth national operator to take space on the park, which was completed in May 2009.

Mark Dawson of letting agents Coates & Co said the park had done well to attract so many tenants against a difficult market backdrop.

With no new retail parks on the horizon in Scotland, Mr Dawson said there should be demand for space on existing developments.

The population of Inverurie is expected to double from 11,500 in coming years – making it attractive to retailers.