Scottish Canals and the Highland Council are to hold a public consultation to help shape the future of Muirtown Basin and South Kessock in Inverness.

The workshops will be held later this month.

The Muirtown Basin and South Kessock area have been identified by the local authority as a key regeneration priority in the Inner Moray Firth Local Development Plan. Muirtown Basin is the northern gateway into the Caledonian Canal, while the study area also includes South Kessock and its adjoining Local Nature Reserve, as well as Carse Industrial Estate.

Through the public workshops, the information gathered will be used to prepare a Development Brief for the area which the Council aims to have published by the end of June 2014. This Brief would later be adopted as Supplementary Guidance to the Local Development Plan, which means it would guide any future planning applications for development in the area.

Councillor Ian Brown, Highland Council's City of Inverness Area Committee Leader, said: "Development opportunities within Muirtown and South Kessock are key elements of the development strategy for Inverness. This event will allow us to review what type and layout of development is best for key locations and to reflect on people's ideas for regeneration and general improvements to the area.

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"The workshop will be interactive and people will be able to see the designs as they develop, so even if they can only spare a few minutes I think it will be very worthwhile to drop by."

Christopher Breslin, Planning and Regeneration Manager at Scottish Canals, added: "Muirtown Basin is an area of incredible interest and activity and has tremendous potential for tourism and leisure opportunities.

"There is an opportunity to improve physical links between South Kessock and the basin to bring amenity, health and economic benefits to the wider area and we're very excited to collaborate with the local community to decide what shape these plans will take.

"Muirtown Basin is intrinsically linked to the history of the 200-year-old canal and it's vitally important to Scottish Canals that it plays a key role in the future of the waterways. I'd urge anyone who is interested in helping us to create something special at this beautiful location to come along to the masterplan workshops."

The masterplan sessions will be held on Wednesday 26 February from 10.45am to 4.45pm at Merkinch Community Centre and from 5.30pm to 8.30pm at Muirtown Primary School.

On Thursday 27 February, from 6pm, progress of the design work will be on display at the Merkinch Community Centre.

In addition, there will also be an opportunity for the public to take introductory walks around the project area, starting at 9.30am on Wednesday 26 February.

One walk will focus on Muirtown Basin and will start from Scottish Canals' Caledonian Canal Office at Muirtown Wharf, while the other walk will look at South Kessock and the nature reserve and will start at Merkinch Community Centre.

(JP/IT)