Highland Council could be about to prove that “every little helps” the retail giant Tesco overcome its financial woes, by finalising a £2million offer for a site the multinational deserted in Fort William.
Members of the planning committee will be steered on Wednesday to agree the purchase of the eight-acre Blar Mor site at Caol on the edge of town.
Speaking last night, local independent councillor Allan Henderson argued that it is a good investment on the part of the council.
“Let’s face it,” he said, “while it won’t be the council building the hospital, and it won’t be the council that’s building the college, the council would have security over the old Belford Hospital site adjacent to the old St Mary’s RC Primary School, which is just closed.
“So, strategically, you’ve a huge area right on the edge of the town centre that would make for excellent future house building development, that’s the plan.”
Tesco abandoned the Fort William site – and nine others in Scotland – following its extensive financial review after a tough period of trading.
It emerged last month that the location could be a site for a new hospital.
It could also accommodate a science academy for West Highland College.
The council has worked closely with NHS Highland, the development agency Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the college and the Scottish Government to secure the site.
The serviced site has the potential to provide a location for a new hospital, a site for a science, technical and construction training centre, a small development such as a medical research centre and a new hospital.
That would, in turn, release the site of the existing 50-year-old hospital for new housing association homes.
The value of the land was assessed by independent valuers, Graham and Sibbald, assuming 4.5 to 5acres were required for a hospital and the remainder was used for commercial or housing purposes.
The council acted in an enabling role for the NHS and UHI.
If a new hospital does not proceed, Blar Mor could be developed purely for housing and business use.