Hastings new Inverness Airport Business Park chairman

DAVID Hastings, chief executive of Strathleven Regeneration Company, has been named the new chairman of Inverness Airport Business Park (IABP) as it seeks out occupiers for its 250 hectares of development land.

Hastings, who remains in his post at Strathleven, will work closely with IABP’s strategic development partner Roxhill Developments, which signed a deal to develop phase 1 of the park in 2011.

He replaces Alan Price who is standing down after six years as chair of IABP.

Overlooking the Moray Firth and adjacent to Inverness airport, IABP has outline planning permission for 3.5 million square feet of commercial and industrial buildings. It is anticipated over 700 people could be working on the site within seven years and over 1,200 in the next decade.

Just weeks ago the Scottish Government confirmed it would go ahead with development of a railway station next to Inverness airport.

Hastings said: “I believe the business park was one of Scotland’s most exciting commercial development locations.

“The Highlands has a growing reputation as a place to do business and IABP, which sits in a transport hub with access to skilled workforce and the support of both Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Highland Council, is an attractive location.”

In his five years at Strathleven, Hastings has played a pivotal role in a joint venture which has attracted more than £50 million of private investment to the Lomondgate development on the A82 at Dumbarton.