New car rental premises approved by Highland Council set to create up to 15 extra jobs and fill vacant site near Inverness city centre
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A new car hire premises will create up to 15 extra jobs and fill a swathe of empty industrial land near Inverness city centre.
Highland Council has approved development of the rental facility on a brownfield site just off Longman Road, between the Police Scotland’s Constabulary Area Command and the Scotbake factory.
The 1.2 acre site, owned by Mhor Properties Ltd, has lain empty since 2014 when a section of the old bakery building dating back to the 1960s was demolished and the site cleared.
The only use since then had been as a temporary car park during construction of the new Justice Centre in 2018 and 2019.
The Scott Group applied for permission to erect a rental building with staff offices and a customer service area, a wash bay for valeting vehicles and 58 car parking spaces.
When built, the new premises will be occupied by Thrifty Car Rental, which will be relocated from 33 Harbour Road.
A design statement on behalf of the developers said 13 to 15 additional jobs would be created by the expansion.
The statement highlighted the site’s suitability as easily accessible by vehicle from the city centre, surrounding city and other parts of the Highlands, as well as by public transport and on foot.
It also stressed the proposal was compatible with neighbouring land uses and would help “enhance the economic attractiveness of the area” for future development.
Planners using delegated powers approved the proposal subject to several conditions ensuring proper treatment of any contaminated land and measures to ensure surface water drainage was satisfactory.
