A team has been selected to lead a regeneration project for Academy Street, Inverness, the Highland Council has confirmed.

The development is part of the Townscape Heritage project in the area.

Last year, the local authority secured a Townscape Heritage stage 1 pass from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and cash has since been ringfenced for stage 2. This has allowed the project team to work on detailed proposals for a five-year programme of funding to regenerate Academy Street.

Already, areas identified for grant support under the Townscape Heritage project include bringing vacant buildings back into use, reinstating original shop fronts, improving historic public spaces and education and training.

Lorna MacLennan has been appointed as the Strategic Project Officer to lead the project. She will work alongside Conservation Architect Alan Marshall, Neil Sutherland and Brian Burns from the Makar Consultancy.

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Commenting on the appointment, Ms MacLennan said: "Academy Street is the key gateway to Inverness City Centre for most people arriving by car, bus or train. The Townscape Heritage project is a very exciting opportunity and we have identified a number of key priority heritage restoration projects.

"My team are also working on activity to better engage the wider community in the areas heritage and address some of the key employability issues which are apparent in the area.

"I am delighted to be involved in the development and delivery of this scheme, it is not only the opportunity to address some of the key issues on Academy Street it will also act as catalyst in the wider Inverness Regeneration plans and influence future investment throughout the city."

Leader of the City of Inverness, Councillor Ian Brown, added: "I'm delighted to welcome Lorna and look forward to her and the team taking forward the regeneration of this area of the city which has the potential to really bring both social and economic benefits.

"There are some exciting and creative ideas already on the table which is why we want as many people and local businesses to get involved at this early stage and help breathe new life into this part of our city."

A series of public consultation events will now take place over the next two months. The first event will take place on Thursday 22 January in The Iron Works on Academy Street, from 2pm to 5pm.

(JP/CD)