A Moray firm has threatened to take their business elsewhere to expand unless their £3.5million vision is approved.
Grampian Furnishers has submitted plans to build a new showroom, office and cafe on the outskirts of Elgin.
The firm intends to create 50 extra jobs in the move that will see them move to premises that are larger than their current Lossiemouth base.
Plans submitted to Moray Council indicate the showroom would be built next to the A96 at Linkwood on land that has already been earmarked for an industrial estate.
The furnishing company is now asking the site, which is already home to KFC, to be considered for retail.
Managing director Royce Clark stressed the firm was out of options for alternative locations following a two-year search.
He said: “We are asking the council to look at this as a significant business investment in Moray.
“We wish to retain investment in this region and also attract more spend into the area. This site is the only one that suits our needs in Moray and our preference is to keep the business here if at all possible.
“We have exhausted all other avenues of existing buildings both in and out of the town centre.
“If our proposal is unsuccessful then we will need to look again at options on the outskirts of Inverness and Aberdeen.”
If approved the firm expects construction could begin on the project in the summer of next year.
A derelict steading, cottage and former dairy at Waulkmill House, Linkwood, would be demolished to make way for the complex that would also include parking spaces for 110 vehicles.
Originally trading from a base in Elgin’s Lido Close the furnishers moved to Lossiemouth in 1981 and have been at their current home for the last 30 years.
Mr Clark said: “I guess if this comes off then we will have gone full circle and be coming home to where it all started.”
