Plans for a retail park in Lochaber – with the promise of 150 jobs – were welcomed by local people at an exhibition on the scheme yesterday.
Development company Morbaine wants to build a retail park, including a supermarket, on a five-acre brownfield site in Fort William, alongside the A82 Inverness to Glasgow road.
The company, which currently has outline planning consent for a 55,000sq ft development for non-food retail use, is now seeking planning permission for a 46,400ft mixed-use development on the North Road site.
German supermarket chain Aldi and Home Bargains are already lined up to move in and tenants are being sought for the remaining space, which could be divided into two or three units.
The Widnes-based development company’s plans seemed to be particularly welcome in the wake of delays to the opening of a Tesco superstore at Blar Mhor. Tesco has now put its scheme on hold until “at least 2015”.
Retired ferryman Colin G. Maclean, 69, of Ardgour, said he was very disappointed about the Tesco situation.
He said: “At the moment, we have to go to Oban for our shopping, which is more than an hour’s journey with a ferry crossing.
“This would mean there would be an Aldi and a Lidl in Fort William, giving us the same choice as Oban, so we would be able to come here instead.”
Heather Aspinall, 58, of Mackay Crescent, Caol, also welcomed the proposal.
She said: “The High Street is really terrible now. It’s all aimed at tourists. And I think Morrisons needs some competition.
“We were really looking forward to Tesco, but that hasn’t happened. Lidl do well here and I think Aldi will as well.”
David Fairgrieve, 32, of Upper Achintore, said: “I think anything that brings a bit more business to the area and creates jobs can only be a good thing.”
Morbaine director Alex Brodie pointed out that the retail park would bring more than £10million of investment into Fort William.
He added that there were a number of companies interested in taking the remaining units, including Pets at Home, the Brantano shoe shop and Iceland.
“While I would like to get a good mix, preferably including a budget clothing outlet, it will depend on who comes forward,” he said.
“We are quite confident this time and everyone we have met so far seems very supportive.”
Mr Brodie said Morbaine hoped to submit a planning application in six to eight weeks, begin work on site next spring and be open for business in September or October next year.
The exhibition at the Nevis Centre, An Aird, will be open again today, from 10am to 2.30pm.