The long-awaited city deal for Inverness is expected to be announced in today’s Budget, the Press and Journal has learned.
It is understood George Osborne will confirm an agreement during his speech to the Commons.
The eagerly-awaited financial package could bring hundreds of millions of pounds of investment for major infrastructure projects in the Highland capital.
Schemes on Highland Council’s wishlist include a major new sports centre and city-centre enhancements.
A £3million advance on the proposed larger deal, which could be worth up to £300million, has already been confirmed.
The initial funding is to be spent on public wifi in the city centre and on enhancing the grounds of Inverness Castle.
SNP MP Drew Hendry, who met Tory peer Lord Dunlop last week to discuss progress on the deal, said afterwards he hoped to hear details soon.
And during a visit to Moray at the start of this week Scottish Secretary David Mundell dropped a clear hint a deal had been reached.
He told the Press and Journal that people in the Highland capital should “listen very carefully” to the chancellor.
He said: “I would listen very carefully to the Budget. If I was in Inverness I’d be listening very carefully to the Budget.
“I think the direction of travel is a positive one and I hope we hear something substantive in the Budget and immediately around it.”