Moray-based Logie Timber has announced a £1.2 million expansion and the creation of new jobs.

The firm has secured up to £140,000 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) towards specific elements of the project.

Based on Logie Estate near Forres, the firm was established in 2017 as a full cycle timber business.

As well as felling and extracting, the company carries out milling, finishing and production of products such as cladding, decking posts and beams. It also provides professional advice on the use of various timbers and undertakes hardwood planting with end use in mind.

The project includes expanding the workspace and installing a new sawmilling line with associated modern equipment and machinery. Roof-mounted solar PV panels will generate electricity to offset a proportion of that used by the mill.

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All of this will enable Logie Timber to continue its growth and compete in new markets while maintaining quality and reducing emissions.

It is forecast to create up to four new jobs within three years, while increasing annual sales by around £600,000.

The HIE funding supports the £700,000 costs associated with equipment purchase and fitting out the new sawmill, including the solar panels.

Steve Richards, business development account manager with HIE, said: "Timber and forestry are major contributors to our regional economy, and important rural employers. Over the past few years, Logie Timber has emerged as an important part of this bigger picture. The company has remained ambitious since its inception and has shown steady growth.

"This latest expansion will bring a range of benefits, including job creation and of course carbon reduction, which will contribute to Scotland's transition to a net-zero economy.

"We are very pleased to be able to provide support and look forward to seeing the plans take shape."

Alec Laing, director at Logie Timber, said: "Logie Timber are excited about this next stage in our development. We are looking forward to being able to play a bigger role in the timber market while keeping to our quality and environmentally aware values. We would not have been able to expand at this scale without the funding from HIE, it will have a positive impact on the local area that we will push forward into the future."

The company's expansion project started in August and is due to complete in the summer of 2022.