Work to redevelop part of the Inshes Retail Park in Inverness will start early this year, with Robertson Group set to take on the £3 million project.

Aberdeen Property Trust, owners of Inshes Retail Park, together with Corran Properties who act as development managers, confirmed the appointment of Robertson as the main contractor this week, with the work to be split between Robertson Northern and Robertson Civil Engineering.

The development will transform the southern end of the site, currently occupied by Harry Ramsden’s and the former home of Blockbuster Video. Both buildings will be demolished to be replaced with new retail space.

Groundwork will also be undertaken to make way for a new fast food restaurant with drive-through.

It is hoped the development will create more than 140 retail jobs, with Robertson Group set to employ up to 50 during the construction phase.

Speaking of the appointment, Frank Reid, regional managing director for Robertson, said: “The Inshes Retail Park is one of the key focal points for the city and this redevelopment will help maintain Inverness as the Highland’s main shopping destination.

“This is a demonstration of the continuing strength of the Highlands’ economy and we are delighted to be able to add further to that by employing local people to work on this project.”

The development, which will take approximately nine months, will also see Robertson create a new car park, service roads to the existing retail units, a new service road junction to Inshes Road and a new roundabout on Inshes Road to provide access to the customer car park.

Robertson Civil Engineering’s managing director, Tony Fry, added: “We are looking forward to starting work on this project having won the contract in partnership with our sister construction business.

“The efficiencies our delivery model offers has provided benefit to our client, and will be replicated in future tendering opportunities that have a combined civil engineering and construction requirement.”

Work is due to start later this month.