Planning application for Inverness Campus at Beechwood to be submitted

Issued: March 5 2009

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) will submit a formal planning application for an academic campus at Beechwood in Inverness within the next few weeks. Public exhibitions detailing the proposals will take place next week at Inshes Church on March 11 and 12.

Inverness Campus is a multi-stakeholder project facilitated by HIE, which aims to create a modern tertiary education and research centre. It is currently estimated that the project could ultimately generate in excess of £50 million per annum for the Highlands and Islands economy.

It is anticipated that the campus will play a major role in the future of UHI Millennium Institute (UHI), the prospective University of the Highlands and Islands, and will allow a number of key education and research bodies to come together and create a modern  academic environment in the city.

“The Highlands and Islands region has long suffered from an outward migration of talented young people from the region as they leave to study at universities in other parts of Scotland and further afield. UHI believes that an attractive, modern, education and research campus at Beechwood will help Inverness and the wider area to attract and retain the talent we need as the region’s economy develops,” said UHI Principal, Professor Bob Cormack.

Inverness Campus is the preferred location for new premises for Inverness College, as well as new consultancy and veterinary services for the Scottish Agricultural College (SAC) and a further extension to the Centre for Health Science (CfHS) which is based at Raigmore. The Campus will also allow UHI to expand its facilities and will provide the local community with modern sports amenities, including a swimming pool, gym and outdoor pitches.

It is anticipated that Inverness Campus will be developed in phases over a 20 year period, with the first users opening for business in around four years’ time.

“Submission of the outline planning application is a key milestone in the creation of a modern academic campus in Inverness serving the Highlands as a whole,” says HIE Director of Operations Douglas Yule. “It is a clear statement of HIE’s commitment to the continued development of the region’s economy in the next 20 years, and recognises the crucial contribution that further and higher education can make. This sustainable and attractive environment will create research facilities and new start up companies, which are key components in creating prosperity, boosting productivity, and attracting high quality career opportunities. Our vision is to encourage the creation of a collaborative community of students at further and higher education levels and provide exciting opportunities for postgraduate study and research.

“In addition to academic institutions, Inverness Campus will also be a place for the community, providing sports and recreation facilities for local residents and modern accommodation for business incubation and innovative new employers.”

Inverness College currently has a student population of 7,300. Inverness Campus should allow the college and UHI to increase student numbers to nearly 10,000.

“Beechwood has been the preferred location for new facilities for Inverness College since 2007,” said Inverness College Principal John Spencer. “We need to modernise and expand our facilities to ensure that students in Inverness enjoy the best learning environment possible. We expect to conclude our formal options evaluation process within the next six months.”

The outline planning application includes facilities suitable for Inverness College, UHI, SAC, CfHS, as well as office space, sports facilities, public green spaces and student accommodation. The proposed projects within the development include academic facilities for further and higher education and an innovation science park for private sector R&D, commercialisation and business incubation. The proposed sports facilities include a modern swimming pool, gym, sports hall and multi-use outdoor pitches. There will also be a major new public park.

The Inverness Campus site lies between the A9 trunk road and the main Inverness to Perth railway line. The outline planning application includes new access roads and a pedestrian access over the A9. The plans also make provision for the proposed trunk link road (TLR).

Details of the proposals will be available for public viewing at Inshes Church on Wednesday March 11 from 1pm to 6pm and on Thursday March 12 from 10:30am to 9pm and will be available online from March 11 at http://www.invernesscampus.co.uk

For further information contact Caroline Rham at HIE, 01349 868932, (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).