Lochaber small ferry sites set for upgrades

The Corran Ferry service is operated by Highland Council

Plans are being progressed for infrastructure improvements at two ferry sites in the west Highlands.

Councillors have been asked to grant full planning permission for two new slipways, parking and a toilet block for the Corran Ferry near Fort William.

The five-minute, Highland Council-run crossing links the wider Lochaber area with communities in the Ardnamurchan peninsula.

Separately, an environmental impact assessment is being carried out at Kilchoan in Ardnamurchan ahead of upgrades needed for new CalMac ferries.

Highland Council describes the Corran Ferry as Europe's busiest single-vessel car ferry.

It carries about 10,000 foot passengers, 270,000 cars and 11,000 commercial vehicles a year.

Councillors meeting next week have been asked to approve the local authority's planned improvements, which also include new marshalling areas, electric vehicle charging and pedestrian shelters.

The work is needed for new electric ferries proposed for the service.

Natural habitats

Kilchoan is a small community on the southern shore of Ardnamurchan.

The environmental impact assessment is looking at the kinds of wildlife and natural habitats that would need to be protected during work to upgrade its ferry infrastructure.

The improvements form part of Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd's Scottish government-funded Small Vessel Replacement Programme.

The project aims to replace the smallest ferries in CalMac's with new vessels over the next 10 years.

Mallaig berth

Meanwhile, the Scottish government has pledged almost £6.5m for a new overnight ferry berth at Mallaig's harbour.

It said the facility would improve the reliability of CalMac ferry services to Lochboisdale, Armadale and the Small Isles.

Work on the berth is expected to begin later this year.