Plans for a new business park at Oban Airport have advanced significantly with the announcement that Argyll and Bute Council has appointed hub North Scotland to oversee the project and Robertson Construction as the main contractor.

The Oban Airport project is a key component of the council's Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) Pilot Project for the Lorn Arc Area. This initiative allows the council to retain a portion of Non-Domestic Rates generated within a defined area to fund local infrastructure investments. The core aims of the project are to:

• Deliver essential infrastructure to establish a fully accessible Oban Airport Business Park.

• Stimulate private sector investment and foster an aviation, engineering, and logistics cluster.

• Contribute to reversing population decline in Argyll and Bute and create more higher-paid employment opportunities for residents.

• Utilise the TIF business rates retention mechanism to finance development and infrastructure costs.

Planning permission has already been secured for one of two commercial buildings intended for lease on the site. Funding for these buildings is subject to a £7.68 million application to the Community Regeneration Partnership Fund. However, Councillors have already committed £7.25 million from the TIF fund to develop additional roads, infrastructure, and utilities at the site, with £1.6 million already approved for initial development costs to ensure the project remains on schedule.

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Furthermore, the development will also support the establishment of a West Coast UAV Logistics and Training Hub project, backed by an investment of up to £4 million from the UK Government as part of the Argyll and Bute Rural Growth Deal.

This investment will enable Oban Airport to become a leading centre for research and development in Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technologies, building on the success of recent pioneering trials using drones to deliver vital services to some of Scotland's most remote rural and island communities. The funding will support proposals for Scotland's first specialised drone training and research centre. It will also facilitate the creation of state-of-the-art hangars with maintenance facilities for both UAVs and general aviation aircraft.

Argyll and Bute Council Leader, Councillor Jim Lynch, expressed his enthusiasm for the project's progress: "I'm delighted to announce the appointment of hub North Scotland and Robertson Construction on this project. Both organisations have a long history of successful community projects, and I am excited to see this innovative project progress and help put the area on the aviation map."

Richard Park, Chief Executive of hub North Scotland, highlighted the strong partnership: "We have had an excellent long-term working relationship with Argyll and Bute Council and the Oban Airport development is a further demonstration of that commitment. This will be a transformational project which will create great opportunities for the airport and the local communities."

Ian Phillips, Regional Managing Director, Robertson Construction Northern, also commented on the significance of the project: "This project represents a significant investment in Oban's future and an opportunity to deliver the infrastructure needed to support business growth, innovation, and employment. It builds on the ongoing collaboration between Robertson, Argyll and Bute Council, and hub North Scotland, and we look forward to helping bring these plans to life."