Benefits
What Cato delivers for Fife and Scotland.
Cato represents a major long-term investment in a part of Scotland that would benefit from it. The economic benefit has been independently modelled by BiGGAR Economics whereas the community benefits on offer will be shaped, deliberately, with the help of people who live nearby.
The economic case
Independent analysis by BiGGAR Economics indicates that:
Construction
The construction of Cato is expected to support approximately £708 million in Gross Value Added across Scotland, of which around £105 million is expected to land in Fife. Over the construction period that translates to around 9,660 job-years of work across Scotland and around 1,450 job-years in Fife. The main local opportunities are in construction trades, specialised construction services, and the manufacture of building components and equipment. Around £200 million of construction spending is expected to be secured by Fife-based businesses, and around £1 billion by Scottish businesses overall.
Operations
Once operational, Cato is expected to support around 540 long-term jobs across Scotland, including 120 permanent roles on the site itself. Operations are expected to contribute around £67 million in Gross Value Added each year across Scotland, of which around £32 million is in Fife.
Public finances
Cato is expected to contribute approximately £29 million each year in non-domestic rates (the business equivalent of council tax, paid by all commercial premises). Across a typical 15-year operational cycle that is around £435 million directly into the rates system. Including income tax, National Insurance and VAT, the development is expected to generate close to £500 million in total tax revenues over the same period.
Quality of the jobs
The 120 permanent on-site roles are higher-productivity, well-paid jobs. The Gross Value Added per job at Cato is estimated at around £70,800, well above the Fife average of around £56,000 and the Scotland average of around £64,500. The average salary is expected to be over £50,000, more than 50% higher than the current full-time average wage in Fife. These are the kind of jobs that pay rent, support families and keep skilled people in the area rather than commuting south or moving away.
ILI Group are always committed to ensuring a wider public good from all of our developments.
Community benefit, shaped with the community
There is an opportunity for you to shape the community benefits on offer. ILI Group are always committed to ensuring a wider public good from all of our developments. Sometimes these benefits are embedded into the design of the project. Sometimes this comes in the form of opportunities for training and work. Often it also comes in the form of direct financing for community interests and projects.
We have already committed to a payment towards the local community hub, where the old village pub is to be converted into a centre for the community, subject to legal agreement. We’d love to hear from charities and community led organisations throughout Fife to explore further opportunities so please get in touch.
Skills and workforce development
The Cato project brings with it real job opportunities; everything from biodiversity maintenance and site security, up to senior engineering roles and management. Fife is especially well placed to fill these roles, and we want to open these opportunities to as many residents as possible, with a particular focus on people affected by the Mossmorran closure. We are exploring collaboration with local colleges, training providers and youth workforce organisations to make sure the routes are practical and accessible to people in Fife.
Sign up to our mailing list at the bottom of this page for updates on skills programmes, contractor events and community fund announcements.
Local supply chain
The construction phase of the project also brings opportunities for local companies, and we are compiling a list of interested parties in advance of a “meet the developer” event. We would encourage local contractors and suppliers to get in touch with us and sign up to our mailing list. This phase of construction will support thousands of jobs and inject hundreds of millions of pounds directly into the Fife economy.
Community wellbeing fund
We want to support what people are already doing locally. We will develop a fund that local groups and charities can access – sign up.
Environmental enhancement and Heat Benefit
The Cato data centre will produce a lot of beneficial heat that can be put to good use locally, either by connecting into a district heat network, or for farming and agricultural use. We are actively investigating the viability of this option. If a viable heat off-take or distribution network cannot be established, then a fund will be created for people living within 2km of the development so that they can improve the environmental characteristics of their own homes – whether this is with improved insulation, rooftop solar panels, high efficiency whitegoods, or heat pumps.
To guarantee our community promises, all benefit funds will be secured through a legally binding agreement with the project. This ensures that these financial commitments are permanently tied to the project and must be delivered.