Two planning firms have been appointed to draw up the master scheme for a new Inverness College Campus.

It is hoped that an outline planning application for a new college campus including research and other new facilities for UHI Millennium Institute, might be submitted by early 2009.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise is leading the project in partnership with Inverness College, UHI and The Highland Council to develop a 200-acre site at Beechwood, just off the A9 south, by the end of this year.

The campus is also intended to comprise a new business school; research and innovation incubation facilities, student residences and a regional sports centre of excellence all set within a parkland environment. Edinburgh-based MAKE Architects and Turnberry Consulting have been appointed to work up a masterplan and application for outline planning permission for the development.

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The project is dependent on the completion of the proposed Inverness Trunk Link road. This route, for which two sections have already been completed, needs to be joined up so that traffic can circumnavigate the city and provide access to the Beechwood campus.

James Gibbs, HIE's area manager for the Inner Moray Firth, said the proposal had huge significance for the Highlands which would make a major contribution to the North of Scotland's knowledge economy.

"However completion of the Inverness Trunk link road is absolutely essential if this campus vision is to be a success. We want to outline our proposal to Transport Scotland, so that they can include this information when considering how to allocate their expenditure programme," He added

The deputy principal of UHI, James Fraser, said: "This is a flagship development which will provide Inverness with a proper university campus and vibrant student life."

Negotiations to secure land for the campus from the Department of Rural Affairs are being finalised and HIE hopes to be able to submit an application for outline planning permission early in 2009. If approved and agreement is reached on completion of the distributor road, the college building should be completed by 2012/13.

(GK/JM)