Planning application for Inverness Campus

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has submitted an application for planning permission in principle to make way for the second and final phase of development at Inverness Campus.

Most of the development in the proposals is for commercial floorspace, with other elements including hotel and academic space. The application also covers associated infrastructure, landscaping and green space.

HIE’s application is for permission to establish infrastructure, such as roads and utilities, to create serviced plots for sale to developers.

Inverness Campus extends to 215 acres, 89 of which has been developed. Of the remaining 117 acres, 27 are included in the Inverness and Cromarty Green Freeport.

This allows eligible companies locating there to benefit from a range of tax incentives. It also creates opportunities for the Campus to support industries such as the new renewable energy sector, to complement the established life sciences cluster.

HIE has been developing Inverness Campus since 2007 with construction starting in 2013. The agency’s initial £25m investment in the project has attracted more than £180m of further development to create a high-quality collaborative environment that supports 1,200 jobs across public and private sectors.

Since its opening in 2015 the Campus has grown into a world-class business location and is now home to 16 commercial enterprises as well as organisations such as UHI, SRUC, NHS Highland and HIE.

An updated masterplan for the remaining undeveloped area of the site was drafted by Turnberry on HIE’s behalf and based on the vision set out in the original design concept. This was followed by public consultation in January and February to give local people the opportunity to help finalise the masterplan.

David Oxley, HIE’s director of strategic projects said:

“We’re very pleased to have got to this important stage in the development of Inverness Campus. We’d like to thank everyone who took the time to examine the draft masterplan and provide feedback to help inform the planning application.”