HIE reports ‘marked increase’ in activity at Wick Business Park
Wick Business Park has seen a “marked increase” in activity and almost all the existing office units at the site are now occupied.
The park was developed 20 years ago at Lochshell, on land near Wick John O’Groats Airport, and initially struggled to attract tenants to its advance office units.
However, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) reported this week: “Following sustained business demand over the past two years, there has been a marked increase in activity on the park, with almost all the current office units now occupied.”
Last year HIE undertook public procurement and appointed Caithness company John Gunn and Sons to develop four new small business units worth £2.7 million.
Part of a wider development by HIE to create flexible workspaces in rural locations around the Highlands and Islands, the new Wick units were completed and handed over to the development agency in August this year.
Designed by Threesixty Architecture and with a total 248m2 floorspace, the four new units are described as “flexible to suit the needs of different types of commercial activity and office space”.
They meet modern standards of insulation and energy performance, in line with HIE’s wider net-zero aspirations. Features include south-facing photovoltaic panels to convert thermal energy into electricity, electric vehicle charging points and air-source heat pumps.
HIE says they are already attracting interest from potential tenants and at least one lease is likely to be confirmed in the coming weeks.
Eann Sinclair, HIE area manager for Caithness and Sutherland, said: “It has been very pleasing to see the remaining plots on the original business park being taken up by a range of local companies recently.
“It puts us in a good position to continue offering excellent modern business space in the four new units, and to keep looking forward to future opportunities.”
Last week, HIE hosted a board engagement event in Wick where businesses and community development organisations from Caithness and Sutherland were asked to consider how they can play their part in making the far north as successful as possible over the next five years.