Plans are in the pipeline for a new £2.5million housing development that could transform a city centre site blighted by antisocial behaviour.
Highland Council is working in partnership with William Gray Construction to look at options to erect up to 24 homes on derelict land next to Raining’s Stairs, just off Castle Street.
Properties will be a mix of social rent and mid market rent – similar to those already planned for the Academy Street project.
The proposals are at initial feasibility stage but a planning application could be submitted by March 2016, with construction on site due to start in 2017.
Building will take place on a sloped brownfield site located to the right side of Raining’s Stairs from a viewpoint looking up the steps.
Willie Gray, of William Gray Construction Ltd, said: “We are very keen to push ahead with this project as we feel it will transform a derelict area within the city. It would be a major investment in partnership with the Highland Housing Alliance and the Highland Council. We’ve been speaking to neighbouring owners and they seem to be delighted with our plans as it would be a huge improvement to the area. This is another project which will help the regeneration of the city centre.”
The announcement comes amid complaints from city centre businesses about antisocial behaviour blighting parts of the city centre.
Businesswoman Lisa McGougan, who owns 2 Tone Tattoos on the corner of Castle Street and Raining’s Stairs, recently complained to police several times about people vomiting and urinating on the steps outside.
Police are aware of recent antisocial behaviour and disorder in the city centre and are ramping up patrols during the festive period through Operation Respect.
Highland Council, police and Inverness BID are currently working on a post New Year strategy to tackle the problem and will meet in mid December to formalise a solution.
Funds have been used from the ward discretionary budget to improve the area in recent years by installing lighting, erecting fencing, cutting back hedges and fixing steps.
Inverness Central councillor Donnie Kerr said: “It will be good to see the site being developed at last because derelict sites do tend to attract the wrong types of people.
“If these people keep hanging about the area then these business owners should get on to the police about it.”