HALF a billion pounds is set to be spent on projects that could transform Inverness by 2035.
Highland councillors have approved an ambitious strategy for development across the city, which places emphasis on partnership between the public and private sectors.
Merging together the Inverness Futures Group’s "Inverness One City, One Vision" for 2035 and the council’s masterplan for the city, it aims to make the Highland capital into a sustainable and successful city.
Highland Council’s executive chief officer of infrastructure, environment and economy Malcolm Macleod said the £500 million figure could be used as leverage to attract even more funding to the city.
He said: “When we put together all the commitments that are made on projects that are under way or have been committed to, the figure we reached was half a billion pounds.
“That’s fantastic for the city. But the key thing now is to make sure that amount of money is used to lever in as much extra as we can and the spend is as integrated as possible.”
The figure encompasses projects such as the £50 million transformation of Inverness Castle and the upgrading of Bught Park Stadium, which is set to include an interactive shinty museum.
A railway station for Inverness airport and the redevelopment of the Port of Inverness are also proposed, along with various improvements to the transport infrastructure around the city.
The city has already seen major investment since 2018, with the opening of a £2.6m hydroelectric station and upgrades to the Inverness Town House.
Tom Arthur, Scottish minister for public finance, planning and community wealth, attended a meeting with stakeholders last week and has pledged his support to the project.
He told The Press and Journal: “What’s impressed me is the way it’s brought so many people together.
“That’s so important as it’s one thing to have a vision, but you need that collective buy in to see it through to delivery.
“It’s an example of what can happen when communities work together, build a shared vision and then begin the often more challenging step of taking that vision and transforming it into reality.
“At the heart of it is that regeneration can’t be about doing things to communities, it has to be doing things with communities.”
Local MP Drew Hendry, who is leading the project, said it will allow Inverness to live up to its name as a city.
“I believe this is a pivotal moment because now we’re into the matter of discussing some of the actual developments that will impact people,” he said.
“These are things that will make a real difference to the way our city will be developed into the future.
“It now gives us a sense of purpose, that we’ve not had since we became a city in 2000, to live up to the title of being a city.”
