The UBC Group has secured the contract to renovate and extend Stornoway police station.

The Northern Police Board has allocated nearly £2m for the construction work that will begin in a fortnight's time.

Convenor of the Northern Police Board, Norman Macleod, said it is important that an investment is made in appropriate facilities for our staff and the public.

"The current arrangements at our station in Stornoway aren’t sufficient for the modern day police work undertaken in the Western Isles.

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"This new build and renovation work is scheduled to last for fourteen months, and will see major improvements to the cell block and our office accommodation.

"As a public body we have to ensure that we achieve best value, and I’m delighted that an island based company, the UBC Group, secured the contract against stiff competition. We all know the importance of construction work to the economic and social well being of our communities."

Convenor Macleod said the public sector contract will help sustain island based employees.

Managing Director of UBC Hebrides, Iain Peteranna, said they were looking forward to starting on the project: "Our team will be moving onto the site within the next few weeks.

"As a major employer in the islands, it's hugely important to us that we retain our staff, and to do that we have to win contracts in a competitive environment. It is part and parcel of what we do."

(GK/BMcC)