Inverness Campus plans for major growth as go-ahead is given to create modular village to generate more space for technology-based businesses
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
The go-ahead has been given to start creating a new “modular village” on Inverness Campus to generate more space for technology-based businesses to come to the city.
Economy is the watchword, however, as Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) which owns the campus, looks to attract private investment after the post-Brexit loss of major European funding and a bid to energise growth in the wake of the Covid pandemic.
As part of the plans there is even the possibility of shipping containers being repurposed to provide labs and workshop space.
HIE say it wants any construction firms becoming involved in the project to think innovatively when it comes to providing cost-effective modular buildings.
Highland Council has given planning permission for the plot 14 modular village’s enabling phase on the site, allowing roads and services to be laid for five units on the almost five-acre site on the south-east corner of the campus.
Engineers for HIE, Will Rudd Davidson, said in the planning application: “Adopting a modular approach aligns well with HIE’s aim to encourage innovation in the construction sector, while opening up opportunities for owner-occupiers to build, or developers to build and let.
“This is important in a post-Brexit market where public funds are stretched and there is no further access to EC funding.
“To date, buildings on the
campus for commercial use have been funded and delivered by HIE, with 40 per cent support from European Regional Development Fund.
“With this funding no longer available, HIE need to look to the private sector for future development investment if technology-based businesses are to continue to be attracted to the area.
“This modular village proposal will create fully serviced sites for sale or, more likely lease, which are capable of flexible future development to respond to market demands.
“This new development approach will also reduce the capital burden on HIE in the provision of property options on the campus, while supporting an increasing range of strong technology-based inquiries that have started to emerge since the Covid-19 lockdown has eased.
“These inquiries are currently being developed in collaboration between HIE and the commercial sector, and will create jobs that will deliver high value and rewarding careers at a time when the region will need a strong commercial sector to tackle post-Covid and post-Brexit economic challenges.
“By adopting a modular approach, the Plot 14 development will provide a range of more flexible and scale-able property options, which will be quicker to build and therefore more reactive to this market demand.
“Ultimately this will offer cost benefits that are particularly critical for new businesses and start-ups.”
Ruaraidh MacNeil, HIE’s Inverness Campus project director, said: “The modular village will see options for new and flexible types of commercial buildings, that are in keeping with the quality building and environmental standards of Inverness Campus.
“When complete, it will offer flexibility to the growing organisations who are benefiting from the advantages of Inverness Campus as a business location.
“It’s great to see progress being made on developments at the campus that will ultimately bring benefits to communities across the Highlands and Islands.”
HIE is developing the 215-acre Inverness Campus to support the growth in the region’s life science and technology sectors, with an emphasis on collaboration between education, research and business.
Low Carbon Day at Inverness Campus
