The Highland Council has reasserted its support for the route chosen for the £27.2m Inverness West Link Road.

The route will link the Dores Road Roundabout to the A82 at Torvean.

Next month will see a draft Development Brief for the Torvean and Charleston areas published, which aims to highlight various opportunities for enhanced recreational and tourism provision as well as new homes.

The Leader of The Highland Council Councillor Drew Hendry said he was "looking forward" to the publication of the report.

Mr Hendry added that since a decision was made to proceed with the Option 6 for the Link Road last March, the Council has made "significant progress" in the design of the route and a planning application is expected to be made by the Council in late summer.

Planners will also present a report to the City of Inverness Area Committee on 15 April. In the report, they will share their ideas for land use in the Torvean and Charleston areas,including opportunities for enhanced recreational and tourism provision, as well as new homes and businesses.

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Speaking of the plans, Councillor Hendry said: "I am very pleased with the hugely positive response we are getting to the future development of the lands made available as a result of the route chosen for the road.

"We have identified the funding for the road in our capital programme. It is important to recognise that included in the costs are the "like for like" costs of replacing the displaced holes at Torvean Golf Course and the displaced recreational area at Canal Pitches.

"When we unveil the Draft Development Brief for the Torvean and Charleston areas, we will have indicative costs for the various enhancements. We will then work on identifying how these costs can be funded."

The chosen route will follow a sweeping alignment along the river bank from Dores Road Roundabout to cross the River Ness at the Precast Yard/Weir, after which, the link road will follow the lower end of the Caledonian Canal embankment to a tandem canal bridge arrangement at Tomnahurich.

Hendry added that before the planning applications are submitted, a further period of consultation with the public will be held. This will include inviting comments on the Draft Development Brief for the area, and these will be on public display at Kinmylis Church on 17 April and Culduthel Christian Centre on 18 April.

(JP)