A major new research and business campus is to be built in Orkney – paving the way for a jobs and investment boom on the isles.
The plans moved a huge step forward yesterday after a £6.5million deal was struck to turn the ambitious vision into a reality.
The 3.75-acre development in Stromness will support the expansion of companies in the island’s world-leading marine renewables and clean energy sectors.
Several firms have already expressed an interest in moving to the site, and work is expected to start later this year.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and Orkney Islands Council revealed yesterday that they had signed a partnership agreement to establish the campus.
The HIE board has approved up to £5.15million for the project, including £1.48million of European Regional Development Fund.
The local authority, meanwhile, has committed £1.5million in funding, and will also transfer the ownership of the Old Academy and former Stromness primary school to the partnership.
The two adjoining buildings will be refurbished, updated and extended to create the campus, which will aim to attract a wide range of academic institutions and businesses.
The Old Academy is already home to the European Marine Energy Centre, Heriot Watt University’s International Centre for Island Technology, environmental consultants Aquatera and a number of other businesses.
Graeme Harrison, HIE area manager in Orkney, said: “This is a huge investment in Orkney’s future business and academic infrastructure, the impacts of which will be felt across Orkney.
“It will support the growth of existing businesses and the creation of new enterprises.
“Crucially, it will provide more opportunities to attract and retain young people looking to live, work and study in the islands.
“We are delighted to offer support and look forward to a long term partnership with Orkney Islands Council in bringing this important development to fruition.”
James Stockan, chairman of the council’s development and infrastructure committee, said the existing businesses at the site were “supportive” of the revamp and will “benefit greatly by having their existing facilities upgraded”.
He said: “By adding in the former primary school, and modernising both buildings, our aim is to create a 21st century centre of excellence in a stunning setting, overlooking the harbour in Stromness.
“We are in discussion with a number of organisations who are actively considering making use of the facilities at the new campus.
“We are confident that this project will lead to new jobs and activity in Stromness, which will greatly benefit the town and Orkney as a whole.”
Orkney is at the forefront of Scotland’s burgeoning marine energy industry, with the world’s largest tidal energy scheme currently being installed in the Pentland Firth.
The MeyGen project, led by Atlantis Resources, has been predicted to be worth up to £500million to the nation’s economy.
Economy Secretary Keith Brown said: “I’m pleased to support this investment to support existing and new SMEs based in the islands.
“I’m sure that this investment will increase the competitiveness of Orkney Islands in the marine renewables sector, encourage business diversification, growth, inward investment and foster international partnerships.”
Stromness Academy Site was originally opened in 1875 as the Stromness Public School, and was retained, initially as a community centre, when the new secondary opened in 1988.
The former primary school was built in 1970 but has been empty since a replacement was built in 2013.
A 2014 development brief for the research campus scheme said: “Development of the site offers a rare opportunity to create an iconic campus development while reinforcing and respecting the distinctive townscape and character of Stromness.
“Given the location adjacent to the town centre the campus must seek to reinforce the overall townscape but also nurture a sense of place and thereby the identity of the site as a new campus not a former school.”