Members of the Highland Council's City of Inverness Area Committee have welcomed and endorsed the role of the council in their partnership with the Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) at the new Inverness Campus.

The campus is being labelled as a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the region and will provide world class facilities for business, research and education organisations to work together.

It is also being developed to provide high quality provision capable of attracting inward investment to Scotland.

In a report to Council members, it was confirmed that the first phase of construction – which comprises of 89 acres of serviced land with planning consent for 55,000sq m of development – is due to be completed in the summer. The campus aims to provide a range of facilities for the use of the local community and include a mix of recreational and sports amenities.

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Members were also informed that the Council's contribution towards the development of phase one is in the provision of improved road access, including road widening at key access points off the A9 and the installation of improved public transport access into the site.

Another area of the site (5.46 hectares) has been designated by the Scottish Government as a Life Sciences Enterprise Area, and this will attract further Council assistance in the form of a Simplified Planning Protocol.

Elsewhere, work is due to commence on the site of the new £50m 20,000 sq m Inverness College UHI building.

At the meeting, it was also revealed that the HIE is actively marketing the Inverness Campus, with a total of 15 plots available for sale in phase one of the development. The Council, as part of its Scottish Cities Alliance activities, is also working closely with the Campus management to bring the development to a wider national and international developer/investor market.

Discussing the update of the project, City Leader, Councillor Ian Brown said: "We welcome the progress that is being made on the Inverness Campus site.

"The project fits well with the Council’s Programme aim of developing our urban centres, and supporting the creation of quality jobs in the Highlands. It will provide exciting opportunities for us all living, working, studying, researching and enjoying recreation in Inverness."

(JP/CD)