This 5 acre site which sits directly on the A82 North Road, north of Fort Wiliam town centre currently has an outline planning consent for some 55,000 sq.ft. of non-food retail use split equally into bulky goods use and non-restricted use.

The lettings for this non-food scheme are currently being handled by Colliers CRE, Edinburgh and interested parties should contact Bob Fisher on 0131 220 3220.

However, Fort William acknowledges that it is in need of another foodstore to provide competition to the current large sole trader, Morrisons and Morbaine appreciate that the North Road site could provide this foodstore site and provide it before Christmas 2011 if the appropriate consents could follow.

Therefore Morbaine have given formal notice of their intention to submit a planning application for a foodstore of 55,000 sq.ft. that subject to the public consultation exercises could possibly be submitted mid April 2010.

The foodstore would be virtually unique to Scotland in that it would be a store on two levels i.e. on stilts. The ground floor level would purely be a light, secure and weatherproof car parking environment whilst the first floor would accommodate the actual sales floor and movement between the two would be catered for by travelators capable of carrying shopping trolleys.

A public exhibition is to be held in the Nevis Centre, An Aird, Fort William on Wednesday 31st March 2010 where between 10am and 9pm members of the project team will be available to answer questions and explain the proposals.

CLICK HERE to view Community Engagement Event details. If you would like to comment on these details please CLICK HERE to download and complete our feedback form.

Below is a press release following our public exhibition:-

93% Give Thumbs Up to Fort William Supermarket Proposals

An overwhelming majority of Fort William residents have given their backing to proposals to develop a new supermarket in the town.

Over 93% attending a busy day-long community engagement event on 31st March at the Nevis Centre have said that they would like to see a supermarket, to be developed by Morbaine Ltd - on the A82, just south of the entrance to the Alcan site - delivered. And 95% of those attending felt that the town needs a greater choice for food shoppers.

In addition, 88% felt that the proposed development was ‘realistic and achievable’, while 81% felt the proposal for the delivery of a supermarket was ‘more achievable’ than the proposed Waterfront development and an additional 17% felt it was ‘as achievable’.

The 55,000 sq ft store will increase choice for shoppers and boost the local economy by providing approximately 200 full and part time jobs and regenerating a neglected brownfield site.

Depending on the planning process it is anticipated having the new store built and open in time for Christmas 2011, making it realistic and achievable.

The store would be only the second of its kind in Scotland, in that it would be on two levels – with the ground floor forming a well lit, secure and weatherproof car parking area and the sales floor on the upper level. Shoppers will have direct access from car park to store via ‘travelators’ capable of carrying shopping trolleys. 93% liked the indicative design of the proposed store.

Morbaine Director, Alex Brodie said:

“We were delighted to have such overwhelming support for our proposals. A broad cross-section of public opinion was received, all extremely positive, and it is clear that such a store meets the needs of local people and increases competition.

“The key difference with our proposal is that it is realistic and achievable, a fact recognised by the community. That means if we receive planning permission, the people of Fort William could see the benefits in terms of extra choice and new jobs as soon as Christmas 2011.”