CONSTRUCTION has officially begun at Elgin Business Park, which is described as the largest new industrial park in the north of Scotland.
Cabinet Secretary for Finance Derek Mackay recently visited the site to mark the occasion. He was joined by Sandy Adam of Saltire Business Parks and the team behind the project.
The first phase of the 125-acre development has now started on the site at Barmuckity Farm, on the east side of Elgin. The partnership project is fully funded, including up to £1.9 million from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).
Elgin Business Park intends to have a variety of uses, ranging from hospitality, retail and office space, to warehousing and industrial premises. The development of the full site aims to support an estimated 32 full-time equivalent jobs in the construction sector, with over a thousand jobs created in the first phase. The site is due for completion around 2024.
Site developer Saltire Business Parks has noted it intends to take on apprentices in the coming months to support the project.
Planning applications have already been completed for a 61-bedroom Travelodge as well a new self-storage facility for long established Elgin business S&D Harper. Applications for a drive-through coffee shop and Euro Garage petrol station are also underway.
Finance, Economy and Fair Work Secretary Derek Mackay said, “This 125-acre business park may still be in the early stages of development but there’s already much activity on-site and it’s estimated the entire business park will support more than 30 full-time equivalent jobs in the building industry.
“The project, supported by £1.9 million from Highlands and Islands Enterprise, is a great example of how we can help the local economy grow. Growing the economy is a key priority, and I want moray to be seen as a highly successful and competitive region in which increasing numbers of people choose to live and businesses choose to invest. When complete, the Enterprise Park is expected to offer a variety of industrial, office, warehousing, hospitality and retail premises and create hundreds of jobs.”
Sandy Adam of Saltire Business parks said, “Elgin Business park is the largest new industrial park in the north of Scotland and could see up to 4,000 jobs created in the area in the next ten years, playing an important part in the continued economic growth of the Moray and Speyside region. Interest in the site continues to build including planning in place for a 61-bedroom Travelodge hotel adding capacity to the region’s overall accommodation offer as well as several existing Moray businesses who are keen to grow their business but have been restricted due to the lack of land available. Elgin Business Park will allow them to plan for the future.”
He added, “We are delighted to have construction underway, with the development supported by Highlands and Islands Enterprise who have invested in this project allowing us to deliver Moray Council’s economic vision for the area.”
Donna Chisholm, area manager for HIE in Moray, commented, “We are pleased to be makig this investment with Saltire Business Parks which unlocks the potential of this great location in Moray. As this park grows, there will be more and more job opportunities and space for businesses to flourish, which is good news for Elgin and the wider economy in our area.”
