Estates boss reveals more on land plans
Jahama Highland Estates boss Duncan Mackison has continued his meetings with Lochaber community councillors.
Last week he met with representatives from Spean Bridge, Roy Bridge and Achncarry and land use, wind farms, hydro power and housing were on the agenda.
Asked about plans for the 114,000 acres of land that came with the purchase of the aluminium smelter at Fort William by Jahama’s parent company GFG Alliance, Mr Mackison highlighted a few of the company’s intentions.
‘We have plans to increase the amount of stalking on the Kiliechonate Estate,’ said Mr Mackison. ‘We are also looking at the feasibility of increasing some walked-up grouse shooting.’
There are also plans to look at increasing access for fishing on estate lands, he added.
There is currently some sheep farming on the estate and Mr Mackison said Jahama Estates would probably seek a partner to take on responsibility for this.
Killiechonate Lodge is also to be renovated. Mr Mackison explained: ‘Currently the lodge is sub-divided into four flats and we’re looking at renovating these flats for residential or holiday accommodation. There are also a number of outbuildings and cottages we are looking at renovating.’
Mr Mackison spoke about hydro schemes following GFG Alliance subsidiary Simec’s acquisition of Green Highland Renewables (GHR).
‘There is the potential for a number of hydro schemes, five or six options, and we are starting to look at the feasibility of these,’ he told the community council meeting last Tuesday night in Kilmonivaig Church Hall.
Asked if the company would ‘honour’ previous agreements on community benefit by GHR, Mr Mackison said consultation was starting to see which hydro projects were commercially viable.
But he assured those at the meeting that community benefit would be offered if such a scheme was deemed ‘feasible and viable’. Mr Mackison touched on progress with the new alloy car wheels plant earmarked for Fort William, saying most of the tender packages for construction and installation works had now been submitted.
Housing came under the spotlight, given the large influx of workers required to staff the car wheels plant.
He said it was likely any large-scale housing scheme would be in Fort William rather than Spean Bridge.
He continued: ‘One reason for the lack of private development is the treatment of ground conditions given the large amount of peat involved.
‘Once you have addressed all that, there is very little money left for a developer, so we are looking to do something differently with peat and the construction model.’