One of the first projects in a £20million package of infrastructure upgrades in the Oban area is poised to start.
The £2.75millon road widening scheme will improve access at Dunbeg outside the town – allowing the thriving marine science businesses based there to grow.
The Lorn Arc project is an ambitious plan by Argyll and Bute Council to invest £18.89million in new infrastructure to attract companies to the area.
The projects include the access to the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) and European Marine Science Park at Dunbeg, measures to improve port and marine facilities at Oban and Barcaldine and access upgrades at Oban Airport.
The council believes building the infrastructure will attract firms to the area, and the extra business rates generated will be used to repay the £18.89million loan from the Scottish Government.
The Lorn Arc starts when the first piece of work begins on the ground.
That has to happen before September 30 to win government approval, and will involve the airport access revamp.
Improvements at Lorn Road and Kirk Road in Dunbeg, near Oban will follow soon after.
On Wednesday, the council’s Oban Lorn and the Isles area committee will be asked to approve the draw down borrowing of £238,100 for the development of a full business case for the Dunbeg roadworks.
They will involve road widening and junction improvements to allow the development of Dunbeg.
In a report to the committee, Adrian Jackson-Stark, the Oban Lorn Arc regeneration project manager, says: “This investment will enable the further development of SAMS and particularly Highland and Island Enterprise (HIE) European Marine Science Park (EMSP).
“This investment will directly enable this vital development as it is a requirement of any future planning consent and will directly result in additional non-domestic rates.
“Two new business park units (20,000sq ft each) are planned and it is envisaged that there may be scope for a further unit (20,000sq ft) if market demand is high.
“Additional benefits of this investment include the release of up to 100 residential units and further expansion of SAMS’
operations.”
The full business case is expected to be presented to the area committee on September 9 and then the policy and resources committee on October 29.