Work is underway on a new £2.9 million housing development in the Highlands.

The council has begun developing 22 flats in the Tweeddale area of Fort William.

The project, due to be completed by January 2017, will take the amount of council investment over the past five years to £40 million.

In the next two years, various housing projects will be carried out in the area, including:

• £2.9m development of Tweeddale in the Town Centre, to provide 22 housing flats for council rent by January 2017.

• A £1.8m redevelopment of the former Belhaven Ward to provide 13 housing units due for completion November 2016.

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• 21 new build flats for Lochaber Housing Association at Upper Achintore in a £2.5m project with work due to start on site next month.

• £1.2m to build ten new houses for rent by Lochaber Housing Association at Lochyside. Work due to be completed in May 2016.

• The demolition of the existing buildings at the former "Whisky” Shop on the High Street site to provide ten flats for Council rent.  The work is due to start in August 2016.

Councillor Thomas MacLennan said: "These are tough financial times for local government, but when you see the list of projects, it highlights just how much is being invested in our area.

"We also recognise that the town pier needs investment and we need to create opportunities to attract more marine tourism which will help drive Fort William forward.

"I look forward to more work taking place to create new business opportunities, boost the local economy and work with our communities to improve the quality of people’s lives in Lochaber."

(LM)