The City of Inverness is widely acknowledged as a dynamic and vibrant place making a growing contribution to Scottish business, civic and cultural life. The next 30 years promise equally invigorating changes as the city looks to consolidate its performance and reputation as ‘the natural place to be’.

 

The core strategy is to ‘cherish the best of the old while capturing the zest of the new' – rooted in Highland traditions, proud of a distinctive heritage and quality of life but eager to assimilate new ways, to champion social change and pioneer sustainable forms of development which will raise the standard of living and the city’s international reputation.

 

Viewed in three, 10 or 30 years time, the Vision’s aspiration is for Inverness to progressively achieve more of 10 change characteristics.

 

A place with critical mass – The population of the Inverness built-up area will double to some 100,000 by 2030. Inverness needs impetus. It must get bigger more quickly if it is to create the economies of scale, achieve the diversity and complexity of a ‘capital’ city, and acquire more of the self-perpetuating forces that sustain economic momentum.

 

A competitive place – The city’s workforce will be younger, better trained, more adaptable and achieve greater productivity than Scottish or UK counterparts. Unemployment will be consistently below national levels, per capita GDP no longer lagging 20 points behind the European Community norm and people will enjoy living standards comparable with most affluent international comparators.

 

A connected place – Broadband capability will be the touchstone for business expansion, e-commerce, service delivery and social interaction. But face-to-face contacts will remain important. Travel facilities must change out of all recognition, with cheaper air travel to more domestic and international destinations, prospering rail services and increasing bus patronage on improved road networks. The city centre will be freed up to pedestrians, with the completion of distributor roads and the introduction of major park ‘n’ ride schemes.

 

A comely place – Inverness must finally break the mould of continuous peripheral expansion characterised by bland, anonymous and undistinguished suburban developments of the last century. New parks and green wedges will link with and complement the previously unrivalled splendour of the city’s Victorian and Edwardian inheritance along the Riverside and Ness Islands. Inverness will nestle comfortably into its Great Glen setting with every resident staying within walking distance of recreational and deeper countryside activities.

 

A creative place – With the advent, establishment and then rapid consolidation of the University of the Highlands and Islands, the learning potential of the city will blossom. Inverness will rank as a highly sought-after university city attracting students from all over the globe. An integrated learning network will link UHI, schools, companies, libraries and community learning centres, providing easy access to the learning of choice for people of all ages in every corner of the city and region.

 

A cosmopolitan place – Inverness will become a vibrant, progressive and welcoming place in which to live and work. An increasingly diverse population will bring greater tolerance and an enriched community life. A bustling, chic and '24 hour’ city centre will create that positive first impression that keeps visitors returning. The citizens of Inverness will be ambassadors for a wealthier and more sophisticated place. Its distinctive assets of a unique culture, exceptional clean environment, adaptable well-educated workforce and booming economy will underpin a personal quality of life and level of community wellbeing comparable with anywhere in Northern Europe.