Efforts to attract new businesses and jobs to Skye and Lochalsh have been stepped up with plans to construct advance office and workshop space in Auchtertyre and Broadford.

Skye and Lochalsh Enterprise is investing a total of £628,000 in the two projects and hopes that the buildings will help bring new businesses to the area and provide the opportunity for existing ones to expand.

A building containing two workshops will be constructed at Broadford Industrial Estate, Isle of Skye.  With an area of 219 square metres they are suitable for small to medium sized businesses, although they can be let as a larger unit employing up to 12 staff.

The second development is planned for Lochalsh Business Park in Auchtertyre.  At 356 square metres of office space, the proposed building contains four separate office units and is twice the size of the existing office on the site, which is partly occupied by the Scottish Land Fund.   The office will be fully serviced and house three meeting rooms, a seminar room and reception area, with space for up to 17 staff.

SALE chief executive, Robert Muir, welcomes the proposed plans:  "We are keen to increase the range of property on offer so we can further establish Skye and Lochalsh as a suitable host for all sizes of businesses. These buildings will go a long way towards helping us achieve our target number for creating new businesses in the coming financial year.

"Good quality accommodation is a key factor in attracting jobs and when these buildings are complete they will be a valuable asset to the area, helping to attract inward investment as well as encouraging local businesses to expand."

The units have been designed by Wittets Architects of Broadford and construction is expected to begin shortly for six months using the services of local contractors.