Inverness city leader says Academy Street economic impact assessment will happen
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Highland Council's Inverness city leader Ian Brown has confirmed there will be an economic impact assessment on the Academy Street plans but only after a decisive vote on Monday whether to continue with the project.
That is likely to anger the city’s business community who have been calling for such an assessment before Monday, when the council’s proposals for “Making Academy Street a Place for Everyone” will come before Inverness councillors for a ruling.
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Members will have to decide whether to continue with the design of the project and proceed to making a Traffic Regulation Order – including appropriate equalities and economic impact assessments. Or if that recommendation is not agreed. that officers stop work on the design and then remove temporary footpath widening bollards and reinstate Academy Street to its pre-pandemic width.
Councillor Brown said: “The project is in a live design process, and, subject to members agreeing the recommendation next week, officers would look to continue the design process, including consultation and engagement, as explained in the report.
“Whilst assessment of economic impact does not form part of the outputs for the design process officers are working through with the Scottish Government, this will be undertaken as the project progresses, building on the work developed to date.”
He was supported by deputy Inverness leader Chris Ballance, who said: “The council has been looking at ways to improve Academy Street for several years – this is the culmination of these discussions, and a substantial amount of consultation with groups of stakeholders.
“The intention is to turn Academy Street from a road into a place to visit. The plans will allow vehicles to access every business in the area for shopping, deliveries, meetings etc while discouraging through traffic.”
He then parroted a line from the official report, published yesterday, that: “It will improve the public realm, making Academy Street a more attractive place to spend time in, whilst being respectful of the architectural history, identity and importance of Academy Street within Inverness city; and make Academy Street safer and more accessible for active travel users.”
