The Highland Council has granted planning permission for a new block of student accommodation in Inverness.

The development of the 8-storey high building will be the first regeneration in the city centre for a number of years and will cost £6m.

This is the first phase of a £30m re-generation project within the Rose Street and Farraline Park areas of Inverness City Centre.

It is being developed by Inverness Properties Ltd. and is being overseen G H Johnston Building Consultants Ltd., The Highland Council Planning Authority and The Inverness Civic Trust.

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Shane Rodgers, Senior Architect with G H Johnston Building Consultants Ltd, said the design had been a team effort which saw consideration given to the economics of the project and the sensitivity of building in a location on the edge of a Conservation Area.

Councillor Thomas Prag, Chairman of The Highland Council’s Planning, Environment & Development Committee said: "We are keen to work with applicants and others to refine projects at an early stage in the process and this is a good example of where it has worked. This is an important site on the edge of the conservation area and it was vital that it looks good, as well as providing an important boost to the vitality of this part of town."

Chairman of Inverness Civic Trust John West said he welcomed the opportunity to discuss new developments and to raise concerns.

He added that the building had been redesigned following discussions and a solution had been reached that was acceptable to the Trust, The Highland Council Conservation Officer and Inverness Properties Ltd.

(IT/CD)