The new deadline for the consultation, which was due to end in early August, is now 15 August.

The move, welcomed by the trade union Unite, provides additional time for efforts to secure the plants’ future. These efforts include discussions between the Scottish Government and ADL regarding a potential time-limited furlough scheme.

Finance Secretary Shona Robison confirmed that officials have met with the company to explore a scheme that would be administered by the business but potentially supported by the government. The aim is to avoid compulsory redundancies among the manufacturing workforce, bridging the gap until work on new orders could potentially commence. “We are in discussions with ADL on the potential for the government to support the company’s scheme for a defined period,” Ms Robison stated in a letter to Holyrood’s Economy and Fair Work Committee.

ADL announced last month its intention to cease manufacturing in central Scotland and consolidate its UK bus-building operations at its facility in Scarborough. The company’s managing director, Paul Davies, recently told a Holyrood committee that securing orders for at least 70 new buses this year, and a further 300 next year, would be necessary to consider keeping the Scottish sites operational. However, he cautioned that even achieving these order levels might not be enough to guarantee the future of the Falkirk and Larbert plants, citing wider implications for the company and insufficient demand to sustain two UK manufacturing locations.

Unite’s Scottish secretary, Derek Thomson, said the extension “buys more time for proposals to be brought forward which can help secure immediate and long-term orders.” He added, “We continue to work with Alexander Dennis and the Scottish government to explore viable options which can retain the skilled workforce.”

Staff at the Scottish sites are currently on a two-week annual break. Meanwhile, officials from both the Scottish and UK governments are continuing to meet regularly to address the situation.