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SAC Welcome For Inverness Development
SAC Chief Executive and Principal Professor Bill McKelvey has welcomed progress on the development of the proposed UHI campus at Beechwood Farm, Inverness.
The new building offers SAC modern new facilities for the SAC consultancy services in the area, as well as a veterinary investigation laboratory and the highly regarded research unit which advises Government and industry on the control of animal disease.
“SAC is committed to serving rural businesses and communities in the Highlands and Islands” said Professor McKelvey. "The proposed development can only strengthen our ability to do our job across the north of Scotland.”
The Board of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has agreed to invest up to £25m to open up the 120-acre Inverness Campus site, which is bordered by the A9 and A96 and a mile and a half east of the city centre. HIE acquired Beechwood Farm earlier this year, and has already invested or committed £5.4m to buy the land and develop a masterplan in consultation with partners and stakeholders. These include UHI, Inverness College and SAC.
Professor McKelvey is looking forward to working with the various bodies involved in the new development.
“SAC believes in positive partnerships. We already have a good working relationship between ourselves and the three rural colleges in Scotland while in Ayr we are looking forward to joining the University of the West of Scotland on a new campus. We believe the links we hope to establish with UHI and Inverness College can be equally productive.”
The Inverness Campus is the biggest project ever undertaken by HIE. The organisation believes its investment will attract many millions from other sources over the next 20 years and to have a huge economic impact on the city and the wider region. SAC will be just one of a number of businesses attracted to the new facility.
Bill McKelvey believes it is a bold step, but one that will allow SAC many new opportunities.
“Like the rest of Scotland the Highlands and Islands face enormous challenges in the next few years, challenges that will change the way we live and work. It is important that SAC is in a good position to help communities and businesses deal with that change.”