Huntly will get a McDonald’s fast food restaurant and Starbucks coffee outlet if plans for a £5 million business park in the town succeed.
There would also be a super-fast electric vehicle (EV) charging station on the site just off the A96 Aberdeen-Inverness road.
Described by those behind the scheme as “a new place to meet, eat and recharge”, the project is expected to deliver significant investment to the area, directly creating 100 new local jobs and further employment opportunities during the construction phase.
The new business park, called Linnorie, is also predicted to contribute more than £100,000 a year in business rates to support public services in Huntly and the surrounding area.
People can view the proposals and provide feedback by visiting a dedicated website, www.linnoriehuntly.co.uk
A Facebook page for the development has also been created to keep members of the public up to date.
The project website and Facebook page will stay open until the planning process is complete.
Linnorie will generate significant inward investment and job opportunities.”
Iftikar Mian, director, West Coast Estates.
The roadside scheme is the brainchild of Aberdeen-based property developer West Coast Estates (WCE), in partnership with family-owned shortbread-maker Dean’s of Huntly.
WCE director Iftikar Mian said: “At West Coast Estates we have always valued the involvement of the local community and other interested stakeholders in developing our proposals, and we look forward to hearing their views on the proposals.
“Linnorie will generate significant inward investment and job opportunities, whilst helping to support sustainable travel in line with the Huntly Travel Hub (HTH).”
Launched in 2015 by Huntly and District Development Trust, HTH is focused on providing greener travel options for the local community.
Sustainable transport is very much at the heart of the business park proposals.
The site’s super-fast EV charging station would be Dutch company Fastned’s third in Scotland, joining similar facilities in Dundee and Hamilton as part of a growing European network.
This development would provide a significant economic boost to the area.”
Bill Dean, managing director, Dean’s of Huntly.
Linnorie would have eight ultra-rapid charging points powered by renewable energy, capable of adding up to 180 miles of vehicle range in just 15 minutes.
Given Huntly’s strategic position on the A96 and the increasing use of EVs, WCE believe it’s an “ideal location” for such a facility.
Mr Mian added: “The first super charging station in the area, and only the third in Scotland, will be a key step in helping Huntly’s transition towards net-zero.
‘Unique opportunity’
Bill Dean, owner and managing director of Dean’s of Huntly, said: “This is a unique opportunity for an established home-grown business such as Dean’s to work with some of the world’s leading brands to create a new place for people to meet and eat, while putting the infrastructure in place to support the growth of electric vehicles.
“Huntly is already a popular destination on the tourist trail and this development would provide a significant economic boost to the area, while creating new jobs for the local area and providing work for the construction sector in the north- east.”
WCE is a private, family-owned development company, founded in Aberdeen in 1991.
Focusing primarily in Scotland, it has built an extensive portfolio across retail, residential and office properties.
Dean’s has been on the go since 1975, when the current MD’s mother, Helen Dean, launched the business in her kitchen.
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