The Co-operative’s plans for Portree to go on display

The Co-operative Group is to stage a public exhibition outlining proposals for a major redevelopment of the site of its Dunvegan Road food store in Portree.

Local people will have a chance to study the plans, and discuss them with representatives of the consumer-owned business, on Friday 3 and Saturday, 4 February, at the town’s Community Centre.

In November the Group submitted a planning application notice for the site to Highland Council. Plans included a new-look food store, petrol station, improved car parking and additional shop units for both food and non-food retailers.

Next month’s public exhibition is part of the consultation process, and is a chance for local people to help shape the final plans.

Andrew Coles, The Co-operative Food’s National Acquisitions Manager, said: “This will be major redevelopment of a key site, and it is important to us to gauge the views of local people and for them to help shape our plans.

“We want to provide shoppers with an improved Co-operative food store, but we also want to make space for other retailers, both food and non-food. It’s an opportunity to improve the choice and range of shopping on Skye, but, at the same time, it’s vital that we don’t harm the vitality of Portree’s town centre.”

The plans will be on display, at the Portree Community Centre in Camanachd Square, between 10am and 8pm on Friday, 3 February, and between 9am and 3pm on Saturday, 4 February.

Additional Information:

The Co-operative Group is the UK’s largest mutual business, owned not by private shareholders but by over six million consumers.  It is the UK’s fifth biggest food retailer, the leading convenience store operator and a major financial services provider, operating The Co-operative Bank, Britannia and The Co-operative Insurance. Among its other businesses are the number one funeral services provider and Britain’s largest farming operation. As well as having clear financial and operational objectives, the Group has also set out its social and sustainability goals in its groundbreaking Ethical Plan, which specifies almost 50 commitments in these areas.

The Group operates 4,800 retail trading outlets, employs more than 106,000 people and has an annual turnover of more than £13bn.  Further information is available at www.co-operative.coop

Contact Information:

Steve Broughton      
Assistant PR Manager - Regions
The Co-operative Group
Tel: 0161 246 2760
Mobile: 07834 090 014
steve.broughton@co-operative.coop