Lerwick could see the development of a new business park possibly catering to the food and drink industry, should proposals by Highlands and Islands Enterprise come to fruition.

Graham + Sibbald, have just been commissioned by the enterprise to carry out an initial study. They are expected to submit a draft report on the availability of land and viability of such a development by the end of March.

Mark Wilson, Partner of Graham + Sibbald of the Inverness Office said: "We have been commissioned by HIE's Lerwick area office to establish if there is demand for a Business and Food Park in the Lerwick area.

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"If there is a good response to a mail shot and advertising, we will work our way through the responses to establish what exactly people are requiring and thereafter I will be in Lerwick to assess if there are any suitable sites and undertake an initial feasibility study."

"Rather than just putting up a building and attaching a For Sale or To Let sign, HIE try to be more business orientated and assess what the demand is and cater for it rather than hope that the development is going to work," he said.

Developing a food and drinks industry in the isles is one of HIE's key objectives for the Highland and Islands.

"What prompted this study was our day to day contact with businesses in the food and drink sector, and it has been highlighted that there may well be need for purpose built units to allow this industry to develop a bit further," according to the Lerwick's Office of Business Growth, Rachel Hunter.

(GK/JM)