Due to the June 2006 fire which destroyed McTavish’s, West Coast Leisure, and the Gift Box, a new development has sprung to life in Fort William.

A 10 million pound redevelopment has been planned at the old site, comprised of 20,000 square feet of retail shopping on the ground floor, and a new Travelodge Hotel on the two upper floors.  Travelodge is the UK’s quickest growing hotel chain, having over 300 hotels in the UK.

The new development is a joint project between Kilmartin and Ashford Property Group, and has been submitted to the Highland Council for approval.  If everything goes according to plan, construction will begin in the summer of 2008 and be completed some time in 2009.

The site was acquired in February 2008 at a cost of 2.4 million Pounds and is said to be an important part of Travelodge expansion in Scotland.

Let’s just hope this development gets through the process better than the Waterfront Project!