ARK Estates has leased a prominent commercial unit at Inverness’ 58 Harbour Road to UHI Inverness.
The learning institute is to transform the building into a Sustainable Commercial Centre, with it having secured funding from the SSEN regional community benefit fund towards the cost of developing the centre.
The premises on Harbour Road were previously occupied by tool hire firm HSS Hire, which announced its closure late last year. Having agreed a long-term lease with Ark Estates, UHI Inverness is set to breathe new life – and hope – into the site by establishing a Sustainable Construction Centre with the modern campus boasting classrooms, workshops, and a social area.
The new centre replaces UHI Inverness’ previous training facility at nearby Burnett Road to support the expansion of its construction-related curriculum to meet growing demand for skills in the construction and renewable energy sectors.
In keeping with the sustainable ethos of the site which UHI Inverness said will also act as a hub for collaboration between industry stakeholders, contractors, and developers and provide a dedicated base for research and development of sustainable technologies. Ark Estates – with the support of Handelsbanken – has retrofitted the 12,000 sq ft unit with solar panels, heat pump technology and LED lighting.
Willie Gray, Ark Estates MD, said, “We are delighted to welcome UHI Inverness as the new tenant of 58 Harbour Road. The unexpected closure of the HHS Hire branch there led to a number of job losses locally, so it is great to see the establishment of the new Sustainable Construction Centre on the site, which will train the next generation of skilled workers across sectors such as construction and renewable energy.
“As we are doing with all commercial units across our portfolio, we have invested heavily in making sure 58 Harbour Road is as energy efficient as possible with the installation of the latest clean energy solutions making the building as close to net zero as we can get with retrofitting an existing structure.”
Carrie Higgins, UHI Inverness tertiary education leader, added, “We are delighted to have secured the unit at 58 Harbour Road, which was just what we were looking for to achieve our sustainable construction training growth ambitions. The centre forms an important part of UHI Inverness’ response to the burgeoning demand for skills across the region associated with economic development and housing.”
Kenny McKenzie, associate (commercial) at letting agents for the property, Graham + Sibbald, commented, “There’s real demand from the commercial property market for energy efficient units and 58 Harbour Road – where great effort has been made to bring the operating carbon footprint of the building to virtually zero – is a good case in point. Ark Estates is very much leading the way with the work it is doing to its portfolio of properties to introduce sustainable technologies and future proof them for long term tenants.”
An interview with UHI Inverness principal and chief executive, Chris O’Neil, on the Sustainable Construction Centre will feature in the upcoming edition of Project Scotland.
