Council welcomes progress on construction of SNH HQ

He recalled that, along with Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Inverness and Nairn Enterprise, the Council had pitched hard for the dispersal of key civil service jobs to Inverness and were absolutely delighted when the Executive confirmed the headquarters of SNH was to be based in the Highland capital.

He said: "We have since worked closely with SNH to highlight to relocating staff the options for housing, education, child care and health care as well as the wealth of amenities, leisure and cultural facilities that the Highlands now offer. The Council and its partners were also pleased to support SNH throughout the site selection and appraisal process. The fruits of these endeavours are now plain to see and a credit to all concerned.

"The Executive is to be warmly congratulated for delivering their promise on job dispersal to rural parts of Scotland. It shows great faith in our vibrant area.

"Being home to Scotland's key environmental agency, together with the opening of the United Kingdom's newest national park in the Cairngorms, recognises the core importance of our natural environment to the Highlands.

"The gain of 300 quality jobs is a real confidence booster for Inverness and the Highlands and their presence fits in perfectly with our vision for Inverness as a well-connected modern go-ahead city. Not least in those ambitions will be the opportunities for ever-closer association with our ground-breaking University of the Highlands & Islands. The opportunities for suppliers and consultancy development will also add to the overall spin-off benefits locally.

"Being home to SNH will surely also act as a catalyst for further pioneering environmental projects, new forms of sustainable development and will also link them more closely to rural communities who are the local guardians of our splendid heritage."

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