Plans for a new business park at Oban Airport are progressing as Argyll and Bute Council has signed a contract with hub North Scotland to oversee the project that includes the delivery of site infrastructure and building a new search and rescue base. Robertson Construction Ltd will deliver this project as the main contractor.
Oban Airport was selected as one of two new seasonal helicopter bases for Bristow Helicopters Ltd as it’s ideally placed to support this vital service, offering quick and easy access to the west coast and surrounding islands. The base will enhance search and rescue provision during the busy summer months, supporting safety in one of Scotland’s most popular coastal regions.
Bristow Helicopters Ltd has now agreed terms with the council to operate its service from the new Oban base.
The base will operate one aircraft from April to September. The second seasonal base will be in Carlisle. The council secured funding for the new search and rescue base in Oban from the UK Government’s Community Regeneration Partnership Fund.
Argyll and Bute Council Leader, Councillor Jim Lynch, said:
“The formal signing of contracts is great news and another milestone for our ambitious plans for the Oban Airport Business Park.
We’d like to welcome Bristow Helicopters Ltd, to Oban Airport as they start vital search and rescue operations from their base at the airport. We’re proud to be able to facilitate public service aviation and help support emergency services.
Working with hub North Scotland and Robertson Construction, we’ll continue to develop additional plots for businesses on site and create innovative aviation opportunities in the heart of Argyll and Bute.”
Richard Park, Chief Executive of hub North Scotland, said: “The business park project will be transformational for Oban Airport and the surrounding area. It will act as a catalyst for further investment and help create a sustainable and resilient future for the site.”
Ian Phillips, Regional Managing Director at Robertson Construction Northern said:
“This project represents an important step in the long-term development of Oban Airport. The new business park and search and rescue facility will provide key infrastructure to support increased aviation activity and attract future investment.
"With Bristow Helicopters confirmed as the first tenant, the project highlights the site’s potential and is expected to attract further aviation and related businesses to the area, supporting jobs and economic growth.”
Ian McCabe from Bristow Helicopters:
"Our experience has demonstrated just how important this base will be during the summer months. Every year we see thousands of people flock to the Highlands and west coast of Scotland, and every year we see an increasing requirement for our emergency support.
"These new facilities at Oban Airport mean we are better prepared than ever to offer a lifesaving response on behalf of the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency.”
Background
The Oban Airport Business Park project is part of the council’s Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) Pilot Project for the Lorn Arc Area and enables the council to retain a proportion of Non-Domestic Rates in a defined area, to finance investment in local infrastructure. The project aims to:
- Deliver infrastructure to enable a fully accessible Oban Airport Business Park.
- Promote private sector investment and establish an aviation, engineering and logistics cluster.
- Contribute towards reducing the population decline in Argyll and Bute and increase higher-paid employment opportunities for residents.
- Use the TIF business rates retention mechanism to finance the development and infrastructure costs.
