Progress is continuing on drawing up a strategy for future development to the east of Inverness.

The Highland Council's City of Inverness Area Committee approved elements of a new draft Inverness East Development Brief on Thursday, 23 February.

Feedback generated via public workshops and an online survey has helped shape guidelines for future development in the area.

Key features include:

• a central location for community, commercial and leisure facilities

• a central district park that connects with the wider green network

• the delivery of sports facilities in the east of the city

-- Advertisement --

• a high level of pedestrian, cycle and road connectivity in the area

• a strategy for design, travel and layout that prioritises walking, cycling and public transport usage and promotes diverse neighbourhoods

• a framework to deliver a viable high-quality city expansion

The council will also seek out financial contributions from developers to help deliver new infrastructure, including:

• road network improvements including the East Link Road

• community facilities including education provision, sports facilities, parks, and serviced allotments

• a protected cycle lane across the area and infrastructure for bus routes including shelters and real-time travel infrastructure

• public art

In addition, councillors the proposal of an additional lane on the southbound A9 as an early priority within the East Link project; and also agreed that the Council should progress the design and contract for the construction of an additional westbound lane across the B9006 Culloden A9 over-bridge as an early priority.

The draft Development Brief will now be prepared in full and brought back to Committee, before being published for consultation later this year.

(LM/MH)