The project is the initial phase of a longer-term “master plan” for the Mosstodloch site’s expansion. 

The company has secured up to £315,000 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) towards total costs of the first phase.

Included in the project is the construction of a new 4,000 square metre building which will be home to two new production lines that will further process timber for use in construction, fencing and packaging markets.

General manager for JJSL Sawmills in the north of Scotland, Robert Mann, said: “Not only will this bring new capacity to our production, [but] it will [also] create a more modern and safer working environment and enable us greater flexibility in meeting our customers’ needs with high quality and exceptional service.

“Investments of this scale require Scottish Government’s support with new planting and restocking of productive woodland to secure the long-term viability of these types of projects.”

The funding from HIE will help to cover the costs of new automated machinery for advanced timber manufacturing.

Senior development manager with HIE in Moray, Steve Richards, said: “This latest project is about long-term sustainable growth. It will help safeguard skilled jobs, create new opportunities and support the company’s transition to net zero. 

“It will also strengthen Moray’s role in a sector that’s important to Scotland’s construction supply chain.”

JJSL operates 29 sites in the UK and 25 in Australia and New Zealand. Nine sites are in Scotland, with two of these being in Moray.