More than 500 jobs could be created in Peterhead if councillors back plans for a major retail development this week.
A hotel, pub, shops, restaurants and a supermarket with a filling station have been proposed for the Buchan Gateway area, on the outskirts of the town.
The retail park had been mothballed last year after negotiations with big-name brands broke down.
But Hermiston Securities Ltd revived this plans earlier this year, and tomorrow members of the Buchan area committee will be asked to support the scheme.
B&Q and McDonald’s are already existing tenants at the site, off the A90 Peterhead to Aberdeen road, and would become part of a larger vision to hook shoppers at the town’s entrance.
A hotel and pub would be situated at the north of the development by Peterhead bypass.
The south of the retail park would feature two massive warehouses measuring 40,000sqft and 50,000sqft for food and retail units.
John Agnew, the agent for Hermiston, said the multi-million pound investment in Peterhead would contribute about £50million to the economy.
“It’s multi-million pound commitment on behalf of the developers,” he said.
“It will bring a considerable number of job opportunities to the region and it will also deal with current retail leakage – securing the footfall and income within the town. It will also contribute considerable to the GDP of the immediate area.”
Mr Agnew added that during the 30 to 40-week construction of the site, up to 150 jobs would be created.
He said: “Full time equivalent jobs created locally at the fully developed site are estimated at around 400.”
Aberdeenshire Council’s director of infrastructure services Stephen Archer urges members in a report to support the scheme, as it complies with the local development plan and would provide opportunities for retail.
“There is a long term vision in place to transform the entrance into Peterhead into a mix of employment, retail and leisure developments and this proposal provides part of that aim. While this proposal will result in a minor loss of employment land, it has been satisfactorily established that there is a sufficient level of employment land available,” he said.