Plans have been revealed for the development of a major business park atInverness Airport in a joint venture between the public and private sectors.

An application for outline planning permission to develop the park on 256 hectares of land surrounding the North of Scotland’s principal air passenger and air freight hub is being submitted to The Highland Council on Friday 25 June 2004.

The Inverness Airport Business Park proposal has been heralded as a major economic boost for Inverness and the surrounding area by business organisations and local politicians. It is estimated that the first phase of development could create at least 300 new jobs by 2011 with the development of around 16,500 square metres of business accommodation, including an airport hotel.

The project has a key role to play in attracting inward investment to the area and enabling business expansion on the A96 corridor between Inverness and Nairn. The development will provide quality business accommodation in a high amenity environment with good transport links. The park would include a mixed development of accommodation for business, industrial and freight use in carefully landscaped surroundings.

A joint venture company comprising Inverness and Nairn Enterprise/Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Airports Limited and Moray Estates Development Company, with support from The Highland Council, will develop Inverness Airport Business Park.

Subject to planning consent being granted, it is anticipated that 260,000 square metres of business, industry and freight distribution accommodation could be developed on the site over 30 years, supporting as many as 5,000 full-time jobs.

The construction of a new airport road link to the A96 is scheduled to start in the summer and is a key step towards unlocking the development potential of the area surrounding the airport. The £4 million road and associated access infrastructure is being funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Highlands and Islands Special Transitional Programme, Inverness and Nairn Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd and with a significant loan from The Highland Council.

Inverness is one of the fastest growing regional airports in the UK and is a major driver for the Highland economy. During the year ending 31 March 2004, Inverness Airport handled 484,000 passengers and 32,500 individual aircraft movements. Year on year passenger growth at the airport is currently running at almost 20%.

Stuart Black, Chief Executive of Inverness and Nairn Enterprise, said: “This is a key milestone in the development of a major strategic business location. The airport business park will provide opportunities over the next 30 years for inward investment and business expansion. The project will also help maximise the economic potential of the airport by building on the continuing growth in air services.”

Bob Macleod, Managing Director of Highlands and Islands Airports said: “Inverness is a rapidly expanding airport with passenger growth of almost 20% in the past year and a growing network of scheduled air links within Scotland, to the Midlands and the South of England. The airport is an important economic driver for the region and the business park is a key stage in the development of our principal air hub.

“Similar projects have been successfully developed at other major regional airports and we firmly believe that Inverness Airport Business Park will bring significant benefits to the area in line with our remit from the Scottish Executive to support economic and social development in the region. This is an excellent example of the public and private sectors working in partnership to bring real economic benefits to the area,” said Mr Macleod.

Local business leaders and politicians welcomed the plans to develop Inverness Airport Business Park.

Councillor Sandy Park, Chair of The Highland Council's strategic Planning, Development, Europe and Tourism Committee said the application gave real substance to a key policy in the latest Inverness Local Plan.  He said: “These proposals will be an important economic cornerstone in the overall development of the A96 corridor and a fillip for the wider inner Moray Firth sub-region. I also very much look forward to some innovative integrated public transport measures to marry road, rail and air services coming forward here in future years.”

Simon Cole-Hamilton, Chief Executive of Inverness Chamber of Commerce said: “We are delighted by the success that Inverness Airport is currently enjoying, and fully expect this to continue. It matches growth generally in the area and indeed they are largely interdependent. It is now important that we identify quality locations for our future development. The proposals for the airport business park are therefore very welcome, and will provide a platform for further growth for both the airport and the inner Moray Firth area.”

Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber said: “I am in full support of this project. It will complement other successes achieved by HIAL, acting with others locally, and should provide a springboard to a period of significant growth in passenger numbers and business development”

David Stewart MP, who represents Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, said: “I am supportive of this development especially as it includes a new road to the airport which is long over due. It makes more sense to have a business park adjacent to the airport and my hope is that the development will also bring better bus and rail links to Inverness and to Nairn and the east.”

ENDS