Stamp of approval for new Royal Mail base - Inverness

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PLANS by Royal Mail to shift its Inverness operation centre to the Longman have been hailed as a "fantastic opportunity" to develop the city centre.

At present the principal base for Royal Mail in Inverness is in Strothers Lane, behind the Farraline Park bus station where it occupies a large site including its sorting office, garage facilities and mail collection counter.

Highland Council has granted planning permission to the postal giant for change of use of the former AI Welders building in Seafield Road from industrial use to a storage and distribution centre.

Background reports by council planners state: "The intention is for the building to be fully operational by October 2017, but it will be used as overspill accommodation during this year’s Christmas period.

"This application by Royal Mail seeks a change of use which will allow the relocation of Royal Mail’s Inverness operation from its current site at Strothers Lane in the city centre."

The decision has been welcomed by Inverness Business Improvement District manager Mike Smith, who told The Inverness Courier: "This is a fantastic opportunity for the city centre.

"This is something that I am aware of happening in other cities where the sorting office has been moved to a secondary area, and it opens up a massive opportunity for its existing building which is in a prime site.

"It needs to be looked at as to how it can best be put forward for development in terms of expanding what the city centre offers."

Mr Smith said he thought the Strothers Lane site would be an ideal place to develop a modern offices complex.

"I presume the site is owned by Royal Mail and I think it should be looked at in the context of the wider area," he said.

"You have got the library there, Farraline Park and the railway station. You have a concept of opening up that whole area.

"I would hope talks are going on between Highland Council and Royal Mail as to how that site can potentially be developed.

"I saw this happening in Birmingham when Royal Mail did exactly the same thing and moved about half a mile out of the city centre. Obviously there is a fantastic opportunity for this site. It is really, really good news."

Strangely, however, Royal Mail did not appear to know about the application, the relocation plans or the timescale of the proposal despite the Courier detailing the council report.

A spokeswoman said: "As part of Royal Mail’s ongoing transformation of its business, we do periodically scope opportunities to relocate parts of our operations where it is feasible and sensible to do so.

"This is in order to provide offices that are fit for purpose for our staff and for our customers.

"There are no immediate plans to change the way we sort or deliver mail in the Inverness area.

"Royal Mail operates an open and honest policy with its staff and any modernisation or efficiency proposals are always discussed first with them."

Royal Mail submitted detailed architectural drawings of its proposed development at the AI Welders site, including external alterations to the building which were granted planning approval.

Also included in the permissions is the creation of two dock levellers, the creation of a new hardstanding area for the service yard, the installation of a vehicle maintenance compound and new parking areas.

A special condition attached to the consent is for Royal Mail to submit a full travel plan for the site to the roads authority within six months of the facility becoming fully operational.