New Scottish Print Plant Possible Next Project for Express Newspapers Boss

A new Scottish printing plant could be next on the shopping list for Express Newspapers boss, Richard Desmond, who recently spent £103.5 million on the purchase of TV station, Channel Five. 

A detailed presentation on a proposed Scottish printing centre was made this week at an editorial board meeting in London, attended by David Hamilton, Desmond’s senior editor in Scotland. 

allmediascotland.com understands the project is being studied very closely by Desmond and his fellow directors at the Express’s parent company, Northern & Shell. 

The company could be ready to move ahead swiftly with the printing plant were it to find a suitable greenfield site in the Central belt. 

Following his purchase of the TV channel, Desmond declared an interest in further acquisitions. 

All four of his Scottish titles – the Scottish Daily Express, Daily Star of Scotland, Scottish Sunday Express and Scottish Daily Star Sunday – are currently printed by Sunday Post publisher, DC Thomson, at its plant in Port Dundas, Glasgow. 

The combined weekly sales of the Express group’s Scottish papers is over one million copies.