Call for engagement with city vision amid wave of support for One City, One Vision as agencies, academics, and representatives from a range of sectors line up to back the bid by Inverness Futures Group to create a strategy for the city ahead of a key Highland Council vote
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MP Drew Hendry has issued another call for everyone to not just get behind but to take part in shaping the vision put forward by the Inverness Futures Group for the city.
The Inverness: One City, One Vision 2035 prospectus outlined a host of potential avenues to explore that would boost the city economically, socially and culturally while underlining the need for a multi-agency participation.
According to the group: “It set out a high-level prospectus for the city, as a welcoming, successful, green, sustainable city at the heart of a thriving Highlands by 2035.”
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After publication, the report was positively received and since then has secured the backing of several key organisations across the city – something that goes a long way to its stated aim of engagement.
Now, as the project moves into the next phase of development, business leaders and public organisations are coming together with local residents and businesses to develop key milestones to turn the vision to reality.
Next week, Inverness councillors are due discuss the One City, One Vision approach as part of the Highland Council’s strategic discussions that could see it “integrated” into the local authority’s efforts in that direction.
Mr Hendry said: "Creating a shared vision for Inverness, one that belongs to us all, rather than any one organisation, means we will get the best outcomes for the city. The Highland Council is such a vital part of the story.
“They have been an active partner in creating Inverness 2035, and developing the vision alongside the Highland Council City Strategy will be a huge step forward for our collective ambitions for the city.
"It was great to hear the enthusiasm we've seen from other organisations, boards, and businesses echoed by city councillors when I met with them last week.
“The support of local councillors, of all parties and none, will be an important milestone for Inverness 2035, catapulting our shared vision for the city forward and moving closer to making it a reality.”
He added: “Since Inverness became a city, we have collectively missed this opportunity to co-create a prospectus of what kind of city we want to me – that includes me when I was Council leader.
“With Inverness 2035, that is changing and the many discussions we are having across the community are helping shape the milestones over the coming years to 2035.”
So what have key signatories of Inverness 2035 said about it?
Stuart Black, Highlands and Islands Enterprise:
“Inverness, the capital of the Highlands, is a city which has gone from strength to strength over the past 50 years. One of the key features of its success has been strong collaboration between the public, private and community sectors in the city.
“A successful region needs a thriving centre and ongoing partnerships around a shared vision will be vital as Inverness and the Highlands develop in the coming years to 2035 taking advantage of new opportunities like offshore wind, hydrogen and the space sector whilst remaining a key tourism driver for Scotland.”
Rebecca Holt, Eden Court:
"Eden Court is proud to play a role in developing and supporting the Inverness 2035 strategy. It provides an ambitious vision for the future of our region, which can only be achieved through collective action.
"We’re pleased to see Culture, Arts and Leisure feature prominently in the strategy – as Scotland’s largest single-site arts venue, Eden Court is ideally placed to play a central role in driving forwards these ambitions which put creativity and culture at the heart of a thriving Highlands."
Steve Walsh, Highlife Highland:
“Starting with the end vision in mind makes for better alignment across sectors and communities. The challenges we face are significant but agreement on where we are headed will create a sense of purpose with the forward momentum to move through barriers more easily.
"One vision, one voice creates powerful lobbying capacity to promote Inverness as a forward-thinking City where public, private sector and communities speak with purpose and alignment on our collective ambitions for the future. The Inverness of 2035 should be a place where all can reach their potential, regardless of their circumstances, a place where opportunities in sport, culture, health and wellbeing are both plentiful and reflective of the rich heritage of our history and society.”
Trish Robertson, Culloden & Ardersier Councillor and Previous Chair of Environment & Infrastructure Committee:
“Inverness 2035 seeks to bring all parties together to improve and update the city centre. The lockdowns during the pandemic has changed the way we shop and move around. The facilities in the city must be welcoming to everyone and meet the needs of all visitors. Now is the time to consider how we can adapt to ensure Inverness continues to be an attractive place to live, work and play.”
David Beaton, Stagecoach Highland:
“It's vital that we all work together to achieve the Inverness 2035 vision. We welcome these proposed changes, which are of great benefit to our local communities, as well as the many thousands of visitors the area attracts each year.
"As part of our own aspirations for the future of the city, we have made a £9.1m investment in a fleet of 25 new electric midibuses, partly funded through the Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund (ScotZEB). These vehicles are set to be introduced from late 2022 across routes 1-9, replacing the city’s diesel bus fleet. It is very exciting to be able to deliver the UK's first fully electric city bus network in Inverness - improving air quality for 2035 and beyond while making Inverness a city of choice to visit.”
Michael Golding, Visit Inverness Loch Ness:
“There are many organisations and people who are committed to the success of the Highland Capital. The Inverness 2035 Vision will provide a clear strategy and united sense of purpose.
"We will deliver our activities, including marketing and development, with the values and aims of the vision. As other organisations do the same, together we walk a path to the welcoming, sustainable and thriving city that we all want.”
Fergus Ewing, City MSP:
“The City of Inverness is one of the fastest growing cities in Europe and has, at least in Scotland and the UK, and has a wealth of possibility and European outlooks for its future.
“As such, a collective vision for our city which brings together political parties across the spectrum, investors, sectors and communities is essential for us to build on our successes and deliver for the future.”
Lorraine McBride, Inverness BID:
"Fundamentally, we all want what is best for Inverness, for its businesses, locals and visitors and in this respect we are all on the same team. Collaborative working means we have the opportunity to get it right for every citizen and also to leave a legacy for future generations who can build on our successes and ensure that Inverness and the rest of the Highlands achieves its full potential.
"The further benefits of working together on Inverness 2035 is that a coordinated and planned approach can be achieved. Without collective action, there is a risk that actions and activities are siloed and disjointed, but Inverness 2035 will allow us to deliver a vibrant and visionary city in which business thrives and our people come first.”
Chris O’Neil, Inverness UHI:
“Inverness UHI is a partner in our city’s common future. We know that working at the heart of our complex community and responding to our everchanging need and ambition means we play our roll in defining Inverness as a connected and vital community that can respond locally and apply that learning to global concerns.
“Our vision as we move towards 2035 is to be an even more connected and embedded university. We see the Inverness 2035 vision as an opportunity for us to be even more embedded in our community as a university without walls; a place where students and stakeholders learn, grow and support the society we all deserve.”
Stewart Nicol, Inverness Chamber of Commerce:
"A collective vision for Inverness is vital as we move forward as a city and a region. A shared common narrative will ensure all partners, business, and civic leaders are each promoting the same honed aspirations for the city to the widest possible range of stakeholders. While our aspiration and ambition for Inverness is massive, our business and public communities are still of a scale where we know each other well and are able to collaborate effectively to achieve our common 2035 vision.
"As the city and region’s leading and most ambitious business organisation, Inverness Chamber of Commerce is ideally placed to ensure our 2035 Vision becomes a reality for the benefit of the business community in the city and across the region. A strong, innovative and thriving economy has to be the beating heart of the Inverness 2035 Vision."
Todd Walker, Principal and Vice Chancellor, UHI:
"Inverness 2035 represents a once in a generation opportunity to set a collective vision for the city and the region. A vision that will see our city grow and flourish around agreed themes of opportunity and development.
"UHI is ready to play an active role in leading Inverness 2035 by providing quality education to our youth, facilitating world-class research and connecting with the highlands and islands through our newly adopted engagement plan."
Catherine Bunn, Highland Campervans and Chair of Culloden Community Council
“A collective vision for the City of Inverness is vital to help consolidate all of the great ideas that communities, businesses and councils have for the growth of Inverness. If we want to help make Inverness a greener city to live in, then we need affordable houses with bike storage and bike routes into schools and workplaces.
“If we want the city to have buildings and facilities that attract visitors from around the world and within Scotland, and to become a springboard for visitors to explore the wider Highland area, then we need to work together to ensure that travel routes connect the city and the villages, and ensure visitors are spread across a variety of interesting and engaging venues. Working together we could create an amazing City that serves both residents and visitors, but we need a collective masterplan to drive that vision forward.”
