Inverness Campus is one of the most important developments proposed for the Highlands and Islands in the next 20 years. Construction will start early in 2012 to create a multi-stakeholder academic , research and business park that will deliver significant economic benefits.
Following a Europe-wide tender, HIE appointed construction firm Morgan Sindall a £12.3m contract to provide access, transport links, essential services and an attractive parkland environment affecting 100 acres of the site. Works are scheduled to begin early in 2012.
HIE has approved a total of up to £25m over five years to develop the first phase of site, located on the east side of the Highland capital.
HIE and its partners envisage Inverness Campus becoming a premier business location for inward investment to Scotland. It has the capacity to support up to 6,000 jobs over the next 30 years, and generate more than £38m for the regional economy every year.
The masterplan for Inverness Campus already envisages a wide range of business, education and community benefits, including:
- Inverness College UHI - New state-of-the-art premises will enable Inverness College to realise its ambitious vision of creating an iconic, modern, tertiary education environment. The new premises will allow expansion of research and business development, making it a catalyst for economic development.
- UHI - Along with developments at other locations of the University of the Highlands and Islands, Inverness Campus will help create the infrastructure necessary to deliver a university for the region.
- Scottish Agricultural College - SAC's Farm Business Services team will assist farmers and its Veterinary Services team will provide diagnoses, analysis and advice to vets throughout the Highlands.
- Centre for Health Science - CfHS plan to expand its Inverness operation onto Inverness Campus.Plans include a multi-disciplinary health centre and a research at the centre will investigate the use of digital technology in preventing and managing disease and serving rural patients.
- A partnership between Albyn Housing Society and the Calman Trust, the training hotel will provide opportunities for disadvantaged young people in a real business environment. Hotel staff will train 16 to 25 year-olds in customer service, housekeeping, food service, maintenance and general skills for living. This hotel model is a UK first.
- Sports facilities - A high quality sports facility is planned for phase one, available to both campus users and the local community. Further phases, including sports pitches and extended indoor provision will be developed over time. The aspiration is to create a regional venue catering for a diverse range of sports, attracting users from across the Highlands.
- Community Centre - A pivotal site on the Campus is earmarked for community use and the views of local people are being sought. Early discussions have focused on the potential for a centre for Gaelic culture which would encompass social space, community arts and adult education.
Why HIE is investing in this project:
Inverness Campus will be developed on 215 acres of former farmland known on the eastern side of Inverness. The core site of 120 acres sits in a wedge created by the convergence of the A9 to the west, the railway to the east, and to the south, the proposed new Inverness Trunk Link Road (TLR).
HIE has taken a leading role in the project bringing together partners to develop the site as an academic and economic stimulus for the Highland region. In September 2009 the Board of HIE agreed to invest up to £25 million to start Phase 1 at the Beechwood site. This money will be used for site servicing works over five years, creating access, transport links and essential services, within an attractive parkland landscape.
In addition to the academic aspects of the Campus, the project includes an innovation science park for private sector R&D, and business incubation which will stimulate new employment and bring greater economic benefits to the Highlands.
A public sports facility will be an important asset not just for the success of the academic campus, but for the wider area. The aspiration is that it could become a regional hub for sports and a core training centre of excellence for athletes and other sports specialists based in, or coming to, the region.
Independent research estimates that Inverness Campus has the potential to support up to 6,000 jobs over the next 30 years, with figures showing the completed Campus could attract future investment of over £100 million, while generating £38 million to the Highlands and Islands economy every year.
For more information, visit www.invernesscampus.co.uk
