A family-owned Highland firm which won the backing of Dragons’ Den star Peter Jones is poised for a major expansion.
Councillors have been urged to give their backing to the proposed £2million extension of the Munro Sawmills in Dingwall.
The business is one of four run by the Blake family, who secured £75,000 from Mr Jones for a 25% stake in sister firm WoodBlocX when they went on the TV show in 2012.
The expansion of the sawmill, which has been on the site for more than 50 years, will lead to the addition of 10 new jobs to the 41-strong workforce.
Philip Blake, who runs the company with his sons Henry, Chris and James, said: “We’ve got two cutting lines here, two separate sawmills, and the one I’m replacing, some of it dates back to the 1980s. It’s really quite old now.
“Business is going well and we need to diversify in new fencing products.
“It’s a great opportunity for us and it will secure our business for the future.”
He added that he was “quite positive” about Britain’s looming exit from the European Union, saying the drop in the value of sterling was “great” for the British timber industry.
The sawmill has about 100 customers around the UK, and a turnover of £9million.
The proposed expansion would include a 36ft by 71ft extension to the southern end of the existing batten mill building, as well as a new 42ft high mill building measuring 100ft by 70ft, which would be located directly adjacent to the new extension.
An existing acoustic and screening bund on the southern boundary of the site in Old Evanton Road will also be relocated.
Six letters of representation have been submitted relating to “insufficient information” regarding transportation issues, and concern about noise.
However, planning officials recommended that councillors approve the application when it is considered tomorrow, concluding that there were “no material considerations which would warrant refusal”.
If supported by the local authority’s north planning committee, the work would be expected to take between 18 months and two years to complete.
