A contractor has been appointed to build a £3.2 million Life Science unit at the new Inverness College campus to provide a space for new research and business growth.
Contractor Morrison Construction has been chosen by economic development agency Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) to build the 3,300sq ft facility.
Construction has now begun and should be complete in late Spring 2015. It joins the new Inverness College UHI on the site which will become home to students in Autumn 2015.
The new unit builds on a strong nucleus for life sciences research and manufacturing already in the area. The site is adjacent to the Centre for Health Science, Raigmore Hospital, Johnson & Johnson’s LifeScan Scotland and the Charles Jencks designed Maggie’s Centre, Highland.
HIE’s investment in the new facility will provide flexible accommodation and a stimulus for the Life Sciences Enterprise Area at Inverness Campus. An economic impact assessment carried out for the project calculates around 40 jobs could be created in the building.
The £3.2 million project includes funding of £835,760 through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
Donald McLachlan, regional director for Morrison Construction’s Highland business, said: “We are pleased to have this opportunity to build on our association with HIE and the Life Sciences sector in the Highlands.
“We are confident that having been entrusted with the delivery of this key project our experienced and dedicated Highland based management team will delivery another quality building that meets the aspirations of all the stakeholders.”
Ruaraidh McNeil, HIE’s Inverness Campus project director, said: “The new Life Sciences unit at plot 8 on Inverness Campus will provide a ready-made asset for potential investors who wish to take advantage of its Life Sciences Enterprise Area status. We know that a major factor in attracting new investment a supporting the growth of our existing businesses is the availability of high quality, flexible space. The benefits of the building design combined with the opportunity to co-locate with other innovative companies, academia and enterprise, confirms the positioning of Inverness Campus as a world class option for prospective investors.”
Also at the Inverness Campus site, contractor Pat Munro (Alness) Ltd has just completed a new ‘haul’ road along the east edge of the site which will provide access to plots seven through to 11. This temporary infrastructure will remove construction traffic from the main site when the plots are being developed. Future proposed uses for the haul road include transforming it into a pedestrian and cycle path to complete the Campus perimeter track.
Mark Bramley, construction director for Pat Munro, said: “The Campus site is an important development area for Inverness and the Highlands as a whole, and we are delighted to be engaging with HIE to deliver elements of the new infrastructure.”
Independent research indicates that Inverness Campus could support up to 6,000 jobs over the next 30 years and generate around £38m for the regional economy each year.