Plans for a Marks and Spencer store in Fort William were approved yesterday, paving the way for a new retail park that promises to bring 150 jobs and £10million of investment to the town.
Developers of the North Road shopping centre said the first M&S food store in the north was the “last piece in the jigsaw” for the multimillion-pound project.
Work on the site, on the A82 Inverness-Fort William road, will start next year and the retail park could be open by Christmas 2016.
The timescale was confirmed after members of Highland Council’s south planning committee approved an amendment to planning conditions to allow an extra food store to open.
Developer Morbaine has previously revealed an Aldi supermarket and a Home Bargains discount store will be included in the development.
The M&S Simply Food store will also include a small cafe and a bureau de change.
Councillors and business leaders in the Lochaber capital welcomed the development yesterday.
Bill Clark, Caol and Mallaig, told the committee members should “learn from our mistakes in the past”.
Councillors voted against the advice of council planners to approve the Morbaine scheme before Christmas and concerns have been raised about the impact of an out of town development on the centre of Fort William.
Members previously backed plans for a Tesco supermarket at Blar Mhor in the town.
However, the supermarket giant pulled out of its plans earlier this year, paving the way for work at the North Road park to begin.
Councillors heard yesterday that allowing M&S permission would grant Morbaine “sufficient assurance” to start construction.
Mr Clark said: “I think more words have been written about locating a food store in North Road than any other application in Lochaber.
“I do not believe that Lochaber is in any position to turn down this type of application.
“To put all our eggs in the basket of Blar Mhor was a mistake which we can now rectify.”
Lochaber councillor Andrew Baxter, Fort William and Ardnamurchan, said: “Before Christmas we took the right decision in allowing this site to finally be unlocked for development.
“I am just glad that the long running pantomime of the North Road site is drawing to a conclusion now.”
Bruno Berardelli, chairman of Lochaber Chamber of Commerce said: “A Marks and Spencer food shop in Fort William is certainly welcome news and another affirmation from a major company that Lochaber is a great place to be and to do business in.
“In the past few years we have seen major chains opening up in the area both in Fort William High Street and out-of town locations with more in the pipeline.
“This not only creates more jobs and enables local people to find more of what they want to buy on their doorstep, it also sends a positive message to our many visitors who are used to well known brands and expect to see them when they travel.
“Obviously there is still a lot of work to be done on the site before work on the North Road development begins, but M&S, Aldi and other companies will make a welcome addition to the Lochaber shopping experience and the local economy.”