Inverness city centre street to close temporarily for essential sewer works as retail and residential development nears completion
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Part of an Inverness city centre street will be closed temporarily next week as a multi million-pound retail and residential development nears completion.
A section of Church Street will be closed for essential sewer works at the redeveloped premises previously occupied by New Start Highland.
The building will comprise 10 one-bedroom flats for mid-market rental and a purpose-built ground floor retail unit.
Lead contractor IBI Joiners and developer Ark Estates worked with the Highland Council and Inverness Business Improvement District to find the safest solution to access the mains sewer located deep underground.
The street between School Lane and Post Office Avenue will be closed temporarily to traffic.
Willie Gray, managing director of Ark Estates, said: "It’s unfortunate that there has had to be a road closure to carry out these essential works but in the long term we believe that the new residential and retail development – which we expect to be occupied by October 2021 – will play its part in building a better city centre and breathe life into what was formerly a neglected site."
Brian Innes, of IBI Joiners, apologised for the inconvenience but hoped various measures would mitigate any disruption.
They include a facility to affected businesses to help with deliveries from a dedicated temporary drop-off and pick-up zone.
The four-storey development has been designed by Colin Armstrong Architects to replace a previous much-altered building.
The development has been designed to fulfil the criteria of the Inner Moray Firth Development Plan, the Inverness City Centre Development Brief and the Highland Historic Environment Strategy.
Inverness Provost Helen Carmichael, said: "This promises to be an exciting and much-needed retail and residential development which will enhance the city centre of Inverness."
Work set to begin on new city centre flats
