NHS Highland has announced its preferred site for a proposed new hospital and health and social care resource centre.

The proposed development would be located at Aviemore, and forms part of a wider redesign of services in the Badenoch and Strathspey area.

At this stage, the body has said the choice is based on quality and access factors, and work to appraise further sites will be subject to "other crucial considerations".

The announcement follows the completion of work last week (27 August), when four sites were assessed, based on a number of quality and access factors, including public preference.

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Views from the public had been gathered as part of a public consultation on the matter.

Nigel Small, NHS Highland's Director of Operations for South and Mid, said: "We had another very successful workshop. The steering group had four sites to consider and the Technology Park emerged as the preferred site, followed by Grainish Farm.

"Before we come to a final decision, however, other important factors such as development costs, land purchase and the suitability of the land for construction also have to be considered."

Mr Small continued: "I am delighted to say that both the public preference and the working group's deliberations came up with the same conclusion. The steering group considered the sites from the perspective of people who would need to travel from outside Aviemore, as well as those residents in Aviemore.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank all landowners for allowing us to consider their sites. They have now been informed of our deliberations."

Feedback received from the consultation is now being looked at, with a recommendation being submitted to the board of NHS Highland next month

(JP/IT)