New industrial units teed up for Aviemore

The demand for much needed small industrial units in the Aviemore area could soon be met.

Plans have been lodged by Spey Valley Hire for the creation of 12 new starter units at the Dalfaber Industrial Estate at the north end of the village.

Managing director Brian Macdonald is behind the £900,000 expansion plans at the site of his firm’s former warehouse and shop, which relocated two years ago to the trading estate’s entrance.

He told the ‘Strathy’: "This is what Aviemore desperately needs – affordable start-up bases for local enterprises and brand new ones from outside of the area. Kingussie and Grantown have theirs but this village has been losing out for too long.

"We hope to get started as soon as possible building the units."

Mr Macdonald hopes that there will be no delays caused by the Cairngorms National Park Authority’s planners calling in the application for determining by their planning committee.

If all goes well, Mr Macdonald said: "We would definitely expect to be well under way with the expansion by the end of this year."

The project is being handled by Inverness architects Leslie Hutt and is for the erection of 12 industrial units (class 4) and the re-development of warehouse to four offices and three units (Class 4) over 4,815 square metres at 18 Dalfaber Drive.

Mr Alan Rankin, chief executive at the Cairngorms Business Partnership, said the units would be a very welcome addition to Aviemore.

He commented: "We get continual feedback from members as to the shortage of places to work, office space and industrial or starter units for small businesses.

"The news of further investment in this sector is good for the area, good for business and good for jobs.

"The emerging Economic Development and Diversification Strategy, that is due to be finalised by June, calls out for such facilities to help attract new businesses to the area and support local businesses diversify into new activities."

Mr Macdonald said that the company was aiming at sub-£3,000 per year rents for the cheapest units, to enable new enterprises to get started.

He said: "After these tough economic times we’re trying to make it possible for new businesses to get going. If we are to develop the business community of Aviemore we simply have to create new spaces for new businesses.

"We will provide the simple shells for people to develop and use as they require."

As part of the plans, parking space will be created for 43 vehicles in total.

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