Enterprise agencies welcome Sumitomo milestone as ground is broken on £350m factory project
Enterprise agencies welcome Sumitomo milestone as ground is broken on £350m factory project
Make your life easier with a MyHIE account. It’ll save you time, help you find and organise content based on your needs and interests.
Funded by the Scottish Government and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), more than £16 million of the investment will be used to support reinstatement of Scotland’s only funicular railway and bring it back into service during winter 2021-22.
The decision to reinstate the funicular was taken following a detailed options appraisal that also considered replacing it with alternative uplift infrastructure, or removing it entirely.
Initial work to strengthen the 2km structure, which has been out of action since 2018, is expected to start later this month. Once up and running, the funicular is expected to attract thousands of visitors a year, generating benefits for the wider economy in Badenoch and Strathspey, where the tourism and hospitality sectors have been hit hard by coronavirus (COVID-19).
A further £4.35 million has been approved for potential additional capital requirements including building improvements, electrification of snow cannons, existing tow infrastructure, paths and car parking.
Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing said:
“We want to unlock the full potential of Cairngorm to make it a destination people can enjoy all year-round, and this significant investment couldn’t come at a better time.
“We know our tourism and hospitality sectors have been among the hardest hit by the pandemic and in Badenoch and Strathspey a quarter of the workforce is in the accommodation and food services sectors - more than double the proportion for the Highlands and Islands as a whole. By investing in the mountain, we can generate significant economic benefits for the local area and our tourism sector.
“The business case for reinstating the funicular, which HIE has published today, made clear that repair and reinstatement was the preferred option. Removal was estimated to cost approximately £17 million and would limit options around seasonal diversification on the mountain.
“The funicular will not only transport thousands of annual visitors up Cairngorm again next winter, it will also bring access to the mountain environment to a broad range of visitors, including children, older people and people with disabilities.”
Charlotte Wright, chief executive of Highlands and Islands Enterprise, said:
“Cairngorm is more than a mountain. It’s at the heart of the community and a key driver of the local economy, providing high quality jobs and supporting the wider tourism sector in Strathspey and Badenoch.
“Today’s announcement signals the importance of the Cairngorm Estate as a national asset for Scotland, with its potential as a mountain resort alongside its unique natural habitats. This investment will ensure it is ready to welcome thousands of visitors in all seasons of the year.
“With the funicular now set to be reinstated, and a range of other priority investments planned, we can continue to work with local stakeholders to ensure the surrounding business and communities can really begin to unlock Cairngorm’s potential and secure its future for decades to come.”
Balfour Beatty has been appointed as the contractor for the project. The company’s national framework manager, Alastair Somerville, said:
“We are pleased to be working on the Cairngorm funicular infrastructure project and look forward to continuing our close collaboration with Highlands and Islands Enterprise.”
The business case for reinstating the Cairngorm funicular is available on the Cairngorm page of the HIE website.
Enterprise agencies welcome Sumitomo milestone as ground is broken on £350m factory project
A programme of remedial works to bring Scotland’s only funicular railway back into service at Cairngorm Mountain is entering a new phase during week beginning Monday 15 April.
HIE funding will support the element of the project that focuses specifically on reducing carbon emissions and energy costs.
The Tapestry of the Highlands and Islands exhibition has been created by communities across the region as part of the Spirit of the Highlands and Islands Project.
Green Hive's new machinery boosts income opportunities.
The owners have secured up to £175,900 investment from HIE towards the works, which will help boost annual turnover and support local jobs.
Wednesday 6 March event will help local businesses identify and make the most of new opportunities from the growing cruise ship tourism market.
A community project is under way in Knoydart to improve cycling facilities for visitors and residents.
Sumitomo Electric UK Power Cables Ltd plans to establish major operations in the region, supplying high voltage cables to the growing offshore wind energy sector.