Fergus Ewing MSP, Scotland’s minister for business, energy and tourism, opened a new asphalt plant at Daviot quarry near Inverness, which represents a £2.2m investment in the area by Breedon.

Breedon’s new plant will be capable of producing up to 180 tonnes of asphalt per hour, substantially more than the previous plant on the site, and it also has a significantly larger hot storage facility. Importantly, the plant will be able to process asphalt planings, the waste material created when roads are resurfaced, increasing the proportion of recycled raw material used in production at Daviot.

Mr Ewing opened the plant as guest of honour at a formal ceremony hosted by Breedon Scotland’s chief executive Alan Mackenzie and his senior team, in the presence of a number of Breedon’s largest customers.

Mr Mackenzie said: “This new plant provides us with the capacity we need to service a number of major projects in the area over the coming years, including the dualling of the A9 between Inverness and Perth, the dualling of the A96 between Inverness and Nairn and the Inverness West Link Road.”

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr Ewing said: “Infrastructure investment is central to the Scottish government’s economic strategy and our vision for a prosperous, fair and well-connected Scotland. I am pleased to be here today at the opening of Breedon’s new multi-million pound facility which will provide a boost to the economy in and around the Inverness area.”