Inverness is poised for a “once-in-a-century” economic boom as plans progress to transform the castle, the Victorian Market and the city’s railway station.
Councillors on the City of Inverness area committee also backed a draft development brief for the east of the city, which includes a vision for 3,000 new homes and the preferred routes for the so-called East Link road, which connects the A9 and A96.
It has also emerged that the Inverness Castle Viewpoint – which offers 360 degree vistas of the city and beyond – has attracted 22,300 visits since it opened in April, an average of 98 a day.
Plans by Dutch company Vastint Hospitality to invest in a hotel at the derelict Glebe Street site were also welcomed by the council’s development and infrastructure director, Stuart Black.
The vision for Inverness is set out in the Inverness city centre development brief, which went before yesterday’s committee.
Money from the City Region Deal has provided the local authority with the support to deliver much of the regeneration.
At the committee meeting, Highland Council’s leader Margaret Davidson said: “I don’t think I have ever seen so much positive development and opportunities in Inverness. There is a tremendous amount of stuff going on in the city.
“The opportunities around the castle and surrounding area are going to be a once-in-a-century opportunity and it’s up to us all to really get behind that.”
Inverness Castle currently functions as the city’s courthouse, which will be relocated to a new justice centre off Longman Road that is expected to open in 2019.
The new castle tourist attraction will benefit from £15million of City Region Deal money – with more help expected through extra capital funding – and is scheduled to open in 2021. Mr Black has previously talked of furnishing the castle with artefacts from across the Highlands to encourage tourists to travel further afield, and to create the “same sort of excitement” as Dundee’s £80million Victoria and Albert Museum.
Yesterday, David Haas, city manager for Inverness, announced the appointment of Jo Murray as the new manager of the city’s Victorian Market.
She will use her 35 years of experience to promote the venue to boost football and progress major projects – inspired by the likes of the English Market in Cork, Ireland. Late-night dining, cafes and live entertainment could also be developed at the market over the next 12 to 15 months.
Mr Black also revealed that Abellio ScotRail is progressing with its £6million plan to revamp the railway station, with work expected to go out to tender in early 2018.
Completion of the project, which will also involve revamping Station Square, is expected in 2019. The Inverness Townscape Heritage Project is in its second year of delivery and will invest just over £3million in regenerating Academy Street through a grant scheme.
Other city centre developments include construction of 18 new homes at the gap site by Raining’s Stairs, as well as the redevelopment of the Midmills Campus which will involve creating both art studios and housing for older people.
Kingsmills Hotel owner Tony Story has also pledged £5.5million to create a stylish hotel at the council’s former service point in Church Street, while the Ballantyne House in Academy Street is to be turned into a 59-room Travelodge.
Mr Black said: “Inverness is starting to punch above its weight in terms of investment.
“We are making significant progress across a number of fronts. The main focus is on the castle.
“We are looking to turn it into an international class visitor attraction and there is serious hope to bring investment into the city centre.”