Inverness Campus set for expansion plans as public welcomed to give views on the site
Inverness Campus is about to get even more of a facelift as the final phase of development is in the works.
The community is currently being given the opportunity to shape plans for the site, which is being led by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).
HIE has been developing Inverness Campus since 2007 with construction starting in 2013. The purpose of the development is to support the growth in life sciences industries and encourage collaboration between business, academia and research.
Since its opening in 2015 the Campus is now home to 14 commercial enterprises as well as organisations such as UHI, SRUC, NHS Highland and HIE.
Highland councillor Ken Gowans said: “Inverness Campus has been a huge success and I think it will continue to be in the future.
“There is a huge variety of people and an eclectic mix of high-tech businesses already between UHI Inverness, the National Treatment Centre, HIE and other smaller innovative businesses.
“Inverness and the Highlands are very progressive at the moment and if we have the right type of investors at the campus it is great.
“The campus itself is a fantastic amenity for the public; people use it for recreational use, walking, running and cycling. It’s very much a place for everyone.”
More business space - and a new city hotel - look already set to take shape at Inverness Campus.
HIE has appointed strategic planners Turnberry to lead on preparing an updated masterplan for the remaining undeveloped area of the site, based the vision set out in the original design concept.
Turnberry has submitted a ‘Proposal of Application Notice’ to The Highland Council setting out plans for a programme of pre-application public consultation, with a view to a full planning application in the spring of 2025.
The consultation will include a public exhibition of the proposals with members of the team on hand to answer questions. This will be at the HIE office An Lòchran,10 Inverness Campus, on Friday, January 24 and Saturday January 25.
Four weeks later, on Thursday 21 and February 22 there will be a further consultation event, an update on the plans, at the same location.
David Oxley, HIE’s director of strategic projects said: “We need to make sure that the masterplan to complete the development of Inverness Campus continues the momentum created by phase one. It’s important that public and stakeholders can contribute to this process and that’s what this consultation is all about.
“We look forward to welcoming people at the two events and hearing their thoughts on the draft proposals. All the feedback we receive will be considered carefully as part of the planning application.”