Christie Finance Supports Funding for Former East Kilbride Bottling Plant Transformation into Day Nursery

Located at 1 Burley Place within the College Milton South industrial estate, the property was comprehensively redeveloped in 2022 into a day nursery, featuring spacious playrooms, a commercial kitchen, office accommodation, dedicated outdoor play areas and on-site parking.

Following the redevelopment, Christie & Co was subsequently instructed to market the purpose-built setting on behalf of the new owner and secure a tenant to bring the facility to life as originally intended.

Following a confidential sales process with Callum Lancaster at Christie & Co and funding sourced through Steph McKeown at Christie Finance, the property has been leased to experienced childcare professionals Leann Lavery and Cara Selkirk, who have launched their new nursery business, Nurtured by Nature.

Leann and Cara are well known within the local childcare sector, having previously managed Crossbasket Nursery. Their ambition to establish and operate their own nursery has now become a reality through the acquisition of the long-term lease at 1 Burley Place.

On August 3 2026, Nurtured by Nature officially welcomed its first children and families through the doors, marking the beginning of a new chapter for both the operators and the property. According to local reports, the owners expressed their pride in creating a safe, happy and nurturing environment where children can learn, grow and flourish, whilst continuing the high standards of care for which they have become known. 

Speaking about the opening, Leann Lavery and Cara Selkirk comment, “Opening our own nursery is a dream come true, and we feel incredibly privileged to create a warm, safe and inspiring environment where children can grow, learn and thrive.

“With 10 years' experience successfully managing a nursery, we are proud to continue providing the same high standards of childcare, early years education and nurturing environment that so many families have trusted us to deliver over the years.”

Callum Lancaster, Senior Business Agent – Childcare & Education at Christie & Co, comments, “I was delighted to assist Leann and Cara in securing their first nursery operation and bringing this purpose-built childcare setting to life. Having remained unused since its conversion, it is fantastic to see the property now fulfilling its intended purpose and welcoming children and families from the local community.

“Leann and Cara have built an excellent reputation within the sector and demonstrated a clear vision for creating a high-quality early years environment. Throughout the process, their passion, experience and commitment to childcare were evident, making them an ideal fit for the site. For quality childcare remains strong across South Lanarkshire, and it is encouraging to see experienced childcare professionals taking the step into ownership and increasing choice for local families. I wish Leann, Cara and the entire team at Nurtured by Nature every success for the future.”

Steph McKeown, Finance Consultant at Christie Finance, comments, “It was a pleasure working with Leann and Cara. With extensive experience in the childcare sector, they were passionate about opening their own business.

“Leann and Cara invested a significant amount of time and effort to ensure the venue was ready to welcome families, and I was delighted to support them in securing the funding needed to complete the transaction. I wish them every success as their business continues to grow”

1 Burley Place was leased for an undisclosed price.