A new and imaginative approach is needed to the built environment of the Highland capital of Inverness, according to Dr Jim Hunter, chairman of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), and well-known historian and author. He says the potential is there to emulate the spectacular successes of other local economies worldwide and addressing the area's architecture could be a major step on the road to future growth.

With the right decisions, and building on current trends, Dr Hunter argues the Highlands and Islands as a whole could follow the particular example of the 'Pacific North West' in the United States, where the city of Seattle and its hinterland have experienced rapid and sustained growth in just a few decades.

Dr Hunter's views were made clear during the Provost Smith Memorial Lecture, delivered at the Inverness College yesterday evening (Monday 6th March).

According to his address, the Pacific North West has developed rapidly through embracing modern and technologically advanced industries - it hosts the world headquarters of the Microsoft corporation, and aircraft manufacturers Boeing - and by making the most of its natural environment and setting. The architecture of Seattle reflects and enhances these surroundings, achieving a 'liveability' which has made it one of the most popular areas to live within the United States.

Dr Hunter said the Highlands and Islands could play a similar role in a United Kingdom context, becoming an 'Atlantic North West' with a vibrant, modern and growing economy.

He said the area already has many of the ingredients which have made Seattle a success, such as an outstanding natural environment, a highly-skilled local workforce and an increasingly knowledge-based economy and a high quality of life - these have contributed to the area's growth in recent years.

In his lecture Dr Hunter highlighted the establishment of the AGM battery plant in Thurso, the development of the Inverness Medical facility and the expansion of the tele-business and e-commerce sectors as examples of the Highlands adopting new industries.

He said these industries also address another potential obstacle to the development of the Highlands and Islands as the 'Atlantic North West' - the traditional perception that economic activity and new business needs to take place in the same locations as in the past. Increasing use of computers, coupled with the north's advanced telecommunications network, make the Highlands a more viable business location, capable of attracting new companies in these knowledge based activities.

Dr Hunter says that a great deal has been achieved in the Highlands and Islands over the past decade, reversing a long period of decline, however he argues the area, and Inverness in particular still lacks the 'liveability' which could further boost growth. He said Inverness could do much more to capitalise on its natural assets, particularly the River Ness, which is almost ignored and difficult for residents and visitors alike to take advantage of.

He is also scathing about the architecture and design of modern buildings occupying key town centre sites - including HIE's own headquarters - which he says are inappropriate in such prominent locations. According to Dr Hunter the poor quality of this built environment stems from a historic, and long-term lack of confidence on the part of the Highlands and Islands, and he has called for the area to address the issue immediately, with the same spirit which has led to economic and cultural growth in recent years.

Dr Hunter said: " I'm looking for the Highlands and Islands to take an active part in the national debate about Scottish architecture, this process would help us move towards a built environment which does justice to our natural settings. If we achieve this I am convinced it will boost our efforts to attract business and jobs to the area, and raise our profile as a place where people would want to live."

Dr Hunter's lecture was the first in what is hoped will become a series of annual events at Inverness college commemorating Provost William Smith, a three-times former Provost of Inverness Town Council.