Local priorities for City of Inverness and Area

Highland Councillors of the City of Inverness Area Committee have agreed priorities for the city of Inverness that will be submitted to The Highland Council. 

The priorities will link with the Council’s 5-year Programme “Local Voices - Highland Choices” for 2017-2022 and will support the case for more investment from both the private and public sectors in Inverness city centre while developing the relationships between the city and the wider Highlands.

City Vision themes have been identified for Inverness city centre as a distinctive and attractive place to live; a great place to live and learn, for business to thrive, and to visit; and an accessible, easy and safe place to move around.

Provost and Leader of Inverness and Area Cllr Helen Carmichael said: “The new city priorities are designed to link in with the Council’s Programme and to support the growth and development of our communities We will do our best to establish ways in which decisions that affect our communities can be made locally and will take steps to implement powers to achieve this without delay.”

The priorities for a place to live include: improving the quality of life and job creation in deprived communities; delivering more affordable housing; and putting long term development master plans in place for the city and area. Some of the city centre regeneration projects highlighted include the former Inverness College, Longman and Midmills sites; A&I Welders Building, Academy Street, Inverness Railway Station and Station Square, the new Inverness Justice centre, Inverness Town House, Porterfield site and Viewhill House.

Priorities for Inverness as a place to learn will ensure that investment in the schools education estate will provide for the continued growth of the city and area; support the continued success of Inverness Campus for learning and recreation; developing the presence of the University of the Highlands and Islands within the city and area; and working with partners on the continued growth of Gaelic Medium Education.

Projects identified for Inverness as a place to thrive (supported by the City-Region Deal) include; transport and infrastructure; Inverness Castle and Upper Bridge Street; City Centre Wi-Fi; business development; partnership working and air quality carbon emissions.

To help make the city centre a more welcoming place priorities will address tourism development; Inverness castle, the Riverside Arts; Inverness Victorian Market and the Old Town; new signage and wayfinding; partnership working in particular with Police Scotland and Inverness BID on safer communities projects and improving transport connectivity.