The first property in the Highlands to benefit from grant and loan funding from the Empty Properties Initiative, together with grant funding from the Inverness City Heritage Trust, has been completed.

The property, which is a former Royal Bank of Scotland branch on Tomnahurich Street, has been lying empty for a number of years. It was eventually transformed and brought back into use by ARK Estates.

ARK Estates purchased the building in July 2013 and were successful in their application for funding from the Empty Properties scheme and Inverness City Heritage Trust which allowed the refurbishment to begin.

The property, now named Tomnahurich House, has been converted into three residential flats which will be leased to the Council for a period of 15 years.

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Visiting the site, Councillor Janet Campbell said: "I am happy to see an empty property brought back into use for city centre living. The building shows innovative use of space and it is finished to a high standard. The developer has ensured that many of the original features are retained and these compliment many of the neighbouring Victorian properties."

Councillor Donnie Kerr added: "As a local Councillor, I welcome the renovation of the old bank buildings into the residential flats development. I hope that this development, where The Highland Council's Housing Services have worked in conjunction with local developer William Gray, will lead to many more joint ventures with the private sector which will increase the number of leasing properties available in the centre of the City."

Managing Director of ARK Estates, Willie Gray, commented: "We are delighted to have been able to restore the building back to its former glory and, I am sure that anyone going in to live there over the next few years will find it to be a great spot.

"Equally I think that the commitment that is made by the Council to find the financial support to make small developments such as this possible is hugely important to the city centre."

(JP/IT)