The Highlands and Islands region stands to gain by £72m a year if Inverness College UHI moves to a new site at Beechwood, rather than redevelop its current site on the Longman Industrial Estate.

The figure has been calculated by independent economic consultants Cogentsi, commissioned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).

Inverness College UHI currently offers tertiary education for 3,000 full-time and many more part-time students from Inverness and wider region.

Its current premises on the Longman Industrial Estate are not considered fit for purpose and the college board is currently considering whether it should redevelop its current site or pursue its previously stated preferred option to move to a new integrated campus at Beechwood between the A9 and A96.

An executive summary of Cogentsi's report published in advance of the full report being finalised, sets out the relative merits of both sites in terms of economic benefit in the short and long term.

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The report acknowledges the Longman Road site, if enlarged through land acquisition, would enable the college to expand; to offer some provision for UHI or other office accommodation and for around 200 residences, subject to a successful planning application.

The 120-acre site at Beechwood would, in addition, offer room to accommodate: integrated facilities for another 600 residences (making 800 in all), the Scottish Agricultural College, high quality sports facilities, a potential phase IV of the Centre for Health Science, a social hotel and hospitality training facility. There is also a proposed Centre for Gaelic Education and space in a science and technology park for businesses linked to the university and other establishments to operate.

The report calculated the contribution that a new Inverness College UHI development could make to the area’s economy on both sites, averaged over the next 30 years. The Longman Road site was estimated to provide £59m/year, plus £16m/year from additional benefits. The Inverness Campus at Beechwood was estimated to contribute almost twice as much, at £147m a year.

Douglas Yule, HIE's director of operations said: "By moving to this new site Inverness College UHI would be providing future generations with otherwise unobtainable opportunities for expansion, but that's not all.

"In addition, the College itself would also be able to contribute to and benefit from exchange and collaboration with its campus partners, presenting unquantifiable advantages for the future of education and innovation in the region."

(GK/JM)